The Rugby Union Thread

crunchman

tbm said:

Couple of big calls in the pack there. Is there an attempt at a bomb squad type approach with Sinckler and Genge on the bench?

Marler is a better scrummager.  It's about making sure we don't give away lots of penalties in the scrum.

p90fool

VimFuego said:

well, I think it's a bold and exciting selection from Borthers...

Nice to see he's resting Smith until the final.

guitars4you

I dare say the French will be supporting the Argies tonight 
Who do they support tomorrow 

Hard not to bet on a NZ v SA final

guitars4you

I’d be no use as an All Black doing the Haka - I can barely get YMCA right or Aga Do

scrumhalf

Oh well, it's going to have to be one hell of a comeback from here. 

sev112

Ref calling the Arg knockonadvantage as over after 5seconds of going backwards was an appalling decision just before half time , then giving a penalty against Arg at the scrum that never should have been given to NZ .  Not impressed there .

digitalscream

sev112 said:

Ref calling the Arg knockonadvantage as over after 5seconds of going backwards was an appalling decision just before half time , then giving a penalty against Arg at the scrum that never should have been given to NZ .  Not impressed there .

Yeah, definitely feels like he's being quite harsh on Argentina - that one in particular would've been their scrum in any other game.

MaxA867

Argentina playing far too much rugby. One out runners waiting to get picked off, kick the bloody thing away! Gardner harsh on them on occasions but some of their discipline has been woeful. 

digitalscream

Yeah...having said that the ref's harsh, it really does look like the All Blacks just don't have any weaknesses. They're absolutely peaking at just the right time.

sev112

Ref just done exactky the same,  allied Arg advantage over even though they were 10 yards behind the point of the NZ knock on ????

sev112

And AGAIN gives NZ a penalty at the resulting scrum !?

MaxA867

digitalscream said:

Yeah...having said that the ref's harsh, it really does look like the All Blacks just don't have any weaknesses. They're absolutely peaking at just the right time.

Rumours of their pre-world cup demise have been greatly exaggerated. 

sev112

3 Arg defenders holding Talea up in the air, Ref calls release !? 

Rocker

Men versus boys, how the hell did that happen?

ewal

Yep Argentina didn't get much outa ref, especially in first half. But NZ were a step above, as they have been throughout the competition, except against France.

ewal

Tomorrow will be a lot closer.

digitalscream

ewal said:

Tomorrow will be a lot closer.

Sadly, I don't think it will

p90fool

ewal said:

Tomorrow will be a lot closer.

No, same distance, it's also in Paris.

guitars4you

So a nice question for you to mull over - Which players within the England starting line up would get in the NZ or the SA starting XV - So you obviously have to way up who they would be replacing in either the SA or NZ line up as well - So maybe easy to say Earl could start for NZ - But would he get in over Kane, Frizzell and Savea

MaxA867

guitars4you said:

So a nice question for you to mull over - Which players within the England starting line up would get in the NZ or the SA starting XV - So you obviously have to way up who they would be replacing in either the SA or NZ line up as well - So maybe easy to say Earl could start for NZ - But would he get in over Kane, Frizzell and Savea

Maybe Earl on the bench for NZ as a back up Ardie? But he’s not getting anywhere near the SA squad, their back row options are despicable! Elsewhere no one really comes close, we just don’t have anything like the quality of player currently.