[liverbaggie]

Why no names on back of shirts?

[MarkW]

Why no names on back of shirts?

Some teams do seem to have them. I think England did. Must be kit manufacturer's/team's choice

[Adder]

Wales get the vital win against Fiji 32-26. Hell of a game, good and bad from both sides. Good game for the neutral.

[Baggies]

Round 1 of the group games over and a World cup that promised the most competetive group stage ever and a potential shifting of the International sands, produces a set of results that on paper atleast, doesn't suggest much change at all.

Romania did take an early lead vs Ireland before being annihilated, as did Chile vs Japan before the inevitable happened. Australia saw off Georgia fairly comfortably, Scotland were despatched by South Africa and Italy found it very easy vs Namibia. Even England managed to get the victory with 14 men vs Argentina, while Fiji fell short against a Wales side who haven't fired on all cylinders for a few years now. The Fiji result was maybe unfortunate. Fiji went over the try line on 3 separate occasions where a try wasn't awarded due to failed grounding, while they lost the ball 5-10 yards from the try line a handful of other times, most painfully in stoppage time as the potentially match winning try went begging. They might hurt Australia yet, but missing Caleb Muntz is possibly hurting them. Maybe this world cup is 1 or 2 years too early.

Only really France beating New Zealand - the Kiwi's first ever group stage loss - hinted at something different, but they were favourites.

Over to Tonga, Samoa and Uruguay next round to show what they can do.

[Adder]

Felt for Fiji. It was a huge game for both sides. Fiji were unfazed by going 8-0 down early on and really tested the Welsh defence many times and came very close on several occasions. Wales also may have got off lightly on the yellow card front once or twice. Fiji will kick themselves for the missed opportunity at the end and a couple of straightforward kicks missed (doubtful they'd have kicked the conversion if they had finished off that last chance). A mention for the Josh Adam's tackle on the Fiji winger going at full tilt.
 
Fiji will have to regroup with a fairly quick 6 day turnaround before the Australia game. On the evidence of Saturday night, Australia and Wales will be keen to win the group and have a quarter final against Argentina rather than England....though Argentina should improve on their abject display.

[LiamTheBaggie]

I thought Fiji were excellent in parts - some questionable refereeing in that second half. Given the amount of penalties conceded on the try line I’m really surprised that Wales did not pick up another yellow card or two.

[Baggies]

I thought the reason we were getting so many red cards was down to us being a lot less disciplined than the rest of the world, but already this tournament I've seen very similar tackles to the ones we have been penalised for going unpunished. The latest one being in this France v Uruguay game where a French tackler makes contact with a Uruguayan head and not wrapping his arms but still only getting a yellow.

I don't like saying everyone hates the English, but...

[Baggies]

Interesting second round in the end.

3 of the big 4 steamrolled their tier 2 opponents, as expected. On a brighter note, Uruguay did very well against a second choice France side and were within touching distance for most of the game. Portugal also put in a respectable performance vs Wales and will be interesting opponents for Georgia and even Fiji, who would have wanted to rest some players for the game but would now be wise to name a stronger side.

England huffed and puffed their way to a win over Japan that was harder than the score line suggested, but the real result of the round was Fiji beating Australia to set up an incredible final 2 rounds. Fiji still need to navigate an opponent in Georgia who they have lost and drew to in their last 6 encounters, but if they can get bonus point wins in their last 2 games, it puts Australia and even Wales in difficult positions. My pre tournament prediction was for Wales 1st, Fiji 2nd. I expect on the showings so far for Wales to edge Australia and to knock them out, but it could still go either way and Georgia could yet have a say in proceedings.

[Adder]

Currently in Toulon having seen impressive Portugal showing against mediocre mostly 2nd string Wales. Looking forward to being in Lyon for the crunch Wales v Australia game next Sunday. Australia will be getting slated at home and must win that game. Fiji will now have some momentum and time to recover before their final 2 games. Interesting to watch this unfold.

[Albionic]

Adder, what's ticket availability like on the ground?
Not bothered about big sides

[Adder]

Adder, what's ticket availability like on the ground?
Not bothered about big sides

We had tickets sorted a while back but not sure on current situation.
I'd say have a look at official RWC 23 site https://tickets.rugbyworldcup.com
There seem to be tickets plus resale tickets available for quite a few games.

[Albionic]

We had tickets sorted a while back but not sure on current situation.
I'd say have a look at official RWC 23 site https://tickets.rugbyworldcup.com
There seem to be tickets plus resale tickets available for quite a few games.

Cool, cheers fella

[Adder]

Albionic -, I've spoken to a couple of friends who are better up on the current ticket situation than I am - apologies as there seems to be less availability than I thought. They are very thin on ground now.
Best places to look -
 There's the official RWC app which gives the current ticket situation.  It's worth keeping an eye on resales as people may pull out for various reasons and limited tickets may appear.
Apparently Twickets is another site /app which is worth checking. Face value tickets. You can put an alert on any match you are thinking of and it tells you when one becomes available....but you have to be quick off the mark.
Good luck if you decide to go for it.

[leeiswba]

Just got back from a weekend over there.

A lot of travelling which was tiring but managed to see NZ v Namibia, Ireland v Tonga & England v Japan.

Best place for tickets is the official website, just keep checking as some come available and there is resale tickets.

We looked every day for months and managed to bag Cat 4 tickets for the three games so only cost £120 all in for tickets.

[SmethDan]

Just got back from a weekend over there.

A lot of travelling which was tiring but managed to see NZ v Namibia, Ireland v Tonga & England v Japan.

Best place for tickets is the official website, just keep checking as some come available and there is resale tickets.

We looked every day for months and managed to bag Cat 4 tickets for the three games so only cost £120 all in for tickets.

How many of you were there? Looks like it's cheaper to buy tickets for the rugby world cup than adult tickets on the Tilton in the Championship...... OK so it's more expensive to get there than it is getting to Small Heath but the salient point remains the same  .

[leeiswba]

How many of you were there? Looks like it's cheaper to buy tickets for the rugby world cup than adult tickets on the Tilton in the Championship...... OK so it's more expensive to get there than it is getting to Small Heath but the salient point remains the same  .

  That’s £120 each person.

On your second point it depends where you are coming from as the flight to Toulouse was only £19 booked back in February

[Baggies]

Bad news from last night's France Namibia game, the world's best player Antoine Dupont has fractured his cheek and looks unlikely to play again this tournament. A major blow to France and the tournament as a whole. Their first choice half back pairing are now both out injured.

I'd say that removes France as favourites. Ireland, South Africa or New Zealand for me now.

[Baggies]

Bittersweet weekend so far for somebody who wants to see this World Cup expand the games horizons a bit.

England smash Chile, with some promising options appearing with Smith at 15 and Arundell showing something we have missed for a few years, but it comes at the expense of the only debutant at this years tournament. This England side shouldn’t really be smashing anyone by 70 points.

Portugal and Georgia play out one of the games of the tournament, making it 2 impressive appearances in 2 for a Portugal side who might have the population and financial muscle to catch the eye of the Six Nations, but it means Georgia will probably go winless this tournament. That will give the powers that be the excuse to exclude them not just from the six nations, but also from the planned 2026 12 team invitational tournament that is in the pipeline.

Then you have Ireland beating South Africa to back up their world number 1 ranking, but in doing so it increases the likelihood of an All Southern Hemisphere final as it probably splits up the top 2 European sides in the quarter finals. South Africa missed a few kicks tonight, there is already talk that the more free wheeling Libbok may be replaced by the better kicker in Pollard. They will go into the likely Quarter Final vs France slight favourites due to the latters injury woes.

Dupont has had a metal plate fitted in his cheek and Edwards is saying he might be back for the quarter final but I have some doubts.

So yeah, not sure what to think of it so far. Fingers crossed Wales best Australia and maybe Tonga shoe they are developing with the ex pat players.

[Baggies]

More knowledgeable members will be able to correct me, but is the second set of quarter finals near enough sewn up now?

On paper there are still 3 or 4 banana skin games that could change things, but I don’t see Wales losing to Georgia now, or England losing to Samoa, not on current from anyway. Georgia/Portugal vs Fiji might yet be the one if they catch the Fijians on an off day, but it’s looking like it should be Wales v Argentina and England v Fiji for the right to get beaten by one of the big 4 in the semi finals.

[Adder]

More knowledgeable members will be able to correct me, but is the second set of quarter finals near enough sewn up now?

On paper there are still 3 or 4 banana skin games that could change things, but I don’t see Wales losing to Georgia now, or England losing to Samoa, not on current from anyway. Georgia/Portugal vs Fiji might yet be the one if they catch the Fijians on an off day, but it’s looking like it should be Wales v Argentina and England v Fiji for the right to get beaten by one of the big 4 in the semi finals.

Yes I think that's a fair summing up of the situation (I don't claim to be any more knowledgeable by the way).
I'm just back after 11 days in France and attending last nights Wales v Australia match. Wales started fast, were disciplined, defensively good and took most of the right options. Australia were decent in the first 30 minutes but abject after that. It was a strange feeling after the game to be slightly disappointed that Wales' comfortable win wasn't the nail biter that would have made for more of a spectacle.
Lots of worried Aussie fans around, concerned about the rugby union future as Aussie Rules, rugby league and football are all more popular in the country these days.
 

[Adder]

A pretty low key round of games just completed this weekend.
Scotland the only home nation in action who predictably hammered Romania 84-0.
New Zealand demolished Italy 96-17.

Next weekend looks far more interesting. Wales have already qualified but need to pick up a minimum of a losing bonus point against Georgia to guarantee topping the group. Assuming that happens their opponents will be the winners of the Argentina v Japan game on Sunday.
England are already guaranteed to win Pool D and play Samoa on Saturday.
Saturday's biggest game is Ireland v Scotland. There are some complicated permutations in this pool but I think the simplest and most realistic summary is Scotland must beat Ireland and deny the Irish a bonus point (i.e. win by at least an 8 point margin) to finish second on the head-to-head rule with South Africa topping the pool. There is even a permutation that would see South Africa go out.
Ireland are potential winners of the competition and I think they'll will have too much power and ability in their pack for Scotland but if the Scots can get off to a good start things could get very interesting. Certainly one to watch.

[Baggies]

Samoa saved their best performance for us, earmarked this game as one to be concerned about pre tournament. We were saved by Danny Care’s late cameo at both ends of the pitch. His tackle at the death stopped a certain try and a 2nd loss to Tier 2 opposition in just over a month. I am convinced that Italy will get their first ever win against us under Borthwick’s reign.

Farrell didn’t learn his lesson. He was let off for letting the penalty clock run out on him first half, let it happen again and becomes the first player in World Cup history to get timed out. He has become a liability now. Ford and Smith offer more going forward and his tackle technique makes him a danger in defence. I don’t follow club rugby like I once did, but he can’t be the best option we have at his age now.

Fiji will surely be slight favourites when we face them next week.

[elmo_in_swansea]

Farrell needs to be pensioned off! Being timed out is criminal. His place kicking has gone well off the boil too, I think he's becoming a liability!

[Adder]

Meanwhile, Wales were moderate against Georgia but were comfortable enough winners in the end and it's confirmed that they'll meet Argentina next Saturday in the quarters. Faletau is out with a broken arm which is a serious blow to Wales.

Ireland were pretty awesome against Scotland. They have the ability to suffocate teams with their ability and efficiency. Other teams will have to hope they have an off day somewhere along the line, they seemingly have no weaknesses. New Zealand will have had an extra couple of days to prepare for the quarter final clash but Ireland's recent record against NZ is very good. NZ won't have had a meaningful contest since playing France on the opening night, while Ireland have gone into top gear twice against South Africa and Scotland.... we'll see who is sharper on the night.

[liverbaggie]

I want young Smith in the side for creativity and speed of thought, it. Looks to heavy and predictable with farrell in the team, hes got to go