Rugby World Cup

[big mean bunny]

The scene is so typically Scottish, anyone remember that clip from fantasy football!?

 

[Super_horns]

Kiwis just edge out South Africa.

Really competitive game with both teams exchanging the lead.

 

[Baz]

Was a good game. NZ should win this now. Looking forward to tomorrow's game which should also be a good game.

 

[Super_horns]

Sam Burgess to return to Rugby league?

Has he just become the scapegoat for England's performances in the Union World Cup..

The media a always have one regardless of the sport!

 

[Destruction]

Sam Burgess to return to Rugby league?

Has he just become the scapegoat for England's performances in the Union World Cup..

The media a always have one regardless of the sport!

Don't know why he was picked in the first place, absolute waste of a shirt.

And has Lancaster not been sacked yet?

 

[Super_horns]

Yes did seem to be a case of get a high profile name into the squad even when he wasn't ready..

Bit if a PR stunt I feel which backfired.

They won't sack the coach as it seems the RFU are all mates with Lancaster.

 

[Baz]

They'll give Burt until the 6 Nations I believe. As for Sam, Bath have said it isn't happening so yeah. As for the final, at least we get the best ref in the world out there, and NZ to win by 8 points.

 

[Master D]

Some of the greatest players of all time in this side so it'll be interesting to see how dominant they can be without those legends.

 

[Baz]

Some of the greatest players of all time in this side so it'll be interesting to see how dominant they can be without those legends.

It's going to be almost impossible to replace Carter & McCaw. Nonu & Smith will be tough to replace but i'm sure they won't be as hard as the previous two mentioned as they already have Sonny Bill around so that will lessen the blow somewhat. Who else is going?

 

[RavenBish]

The Sam Burgess stuff is a bit weird considering y'know, he actually played alright. Far better than a savvy veteran like Brad Barritt too. Don't really get it. The idea he was some sort of national embarrassment or 'waste of a shirt' (stupid comment) is absurd - he's an International Rugby player. 'PR stunt' - I mean, seriously...the bloke's a tremendous athlete and sportsman.

I'd like to see him make a go of becoming a top 6 at Bath but I wouldn't blame him for bolting back to the NRL, it's what 90% of people would do in his situation.

 

[RavenBish]

It's going to be almost impossible to replace Carter & McCaw. Nonu & Smith will be tough to replace but i'm sure they won't be as hard as the previous two mentioned as they already have Sonny Bill around so that will lessen the blow somewhat. Who else is going?

Sonny Bill's off to play 7s so he can play in the Olympics next year. Centres is where the drop-off will probably come - replacing one centre is something you'd expect a country like that to easily do, but replacing 3 world class ones is a bit of an issue. They'll probably have to just chuck in the likes of Fekitoa (who is a beast) and Ngatai

McCaw's replacement has been elected for ages now in Sam Cane, they've essentially been grooming him for it since 2012. He won't replace McCaw because you can't replace the greatest rugby player of all-time but at 23 he's a fucking good player to be stepping in.
As for Carter, there were jokes back before the summer that Aaron Cruden's injury was good as it meant Carter wouldn't go into a WC campaign with questions about whether he was really NZ's best outside-half. Cruden's 26 and Beauden Barrett is 24 and plays 10 for Hurricanes too.

Mealamu is the 5th player retiring but Dane Coles is already a better hooker than him anyway. Same with Woodcock and Moody.

...and then there's all the young All-Blacks not even household names yet who are going to be around in the coming years. Tevita Li, Damian McKenzie, George Moala, Steven Luatua.

A lot of the hand wringing about the end of an era stuff surrounds young All-Blacks bolting for Europe 'too soon' for a payday and perhaps being banished from the NZ Test team as it's not really the done thing when you're still under the wing and not established - but that's a bit hypothetical.

 

[Baz]

It'll be tough blooding a few at once though, but now is the start of the next 4 year cycle for them so whilst short term they may not be up to their high standards, judging by that information long term they'll still be there/there abouts.

 

[Super_horns]

Kiwis win and they deserved to but credit to the Aussies for making a game of it 2nd half.

New Zealand showed what champions they are though by pulling away in style.