Rugby

Thoughts and prayers.

AB's killed themselves giving away too many penalties and didn't seem to have a plan for getting back into it. Dupont's kicked was bang on the money though.

Which Aldritt got MotM? There was surely more than one out there…

Mauvaka had a hell of a game for a bench player expecting 30 mins. Feel for Marchand. Looks like he’s done.

Jalibert looks so dangerous when he takes it to the line. But he only does it twice a game. Frustrating.

Talea going off was an odd decision. He was NZ’s biggest threat. Fantastic player.

France’s midfield defence sharpened up in the second half. But NZ discipline was ropey.

Excellent first game.

Was netural but was certainly happier when France scored, so not "that" neutral.

Looking forward to Namibia tomorrow

So much joy.

The first time the All Balcks have lost a pool game.

Ever?

What on earth is going on with the anthems?! I get the story and general worthiness of the choir behind it, but still...

Good job Farrell is suspended, there's nobody better at managing a game than George Ford. Red card looked marginal though?

Is there anywhere I can get alternative commentary to ITV? The drop goal frothing and references to JW has reached a fever pitch.

You must be loving the half time analysis 😀

Seems incomprehensible that Moroni didn't start for Argentina. He'd be so much more solid.

Argentina have been fucking atrocious tonight.

Truly. England have still won the game though.

“Royal approval” with a shot of a “hard working royal” (whose husband, as Head of the FA, couldn’t be arsed to take an all expenses trip to Australia for the recent world football rival) is properly egregious

Squidge rugby on YT has previously extolled the potential for George Ford to unlock the potential of this England squad.
Squidge never mentioned drop goals.

What a pile of atrocious wank. Both the game and the fully English commentary team and fully English half time punditry. It was basically a two hour game of soggy biscuit about a match where some South Americans were sub par and some colonial frotting enthusiasts came in their pants every time the ball was passed to the tiny speccy kid who slotted it over from 50yrds. I fucking hate English rugby and that game did nothing to change my mind. Caveat, I played for an English club for 15 years, am very good friends still with English rugby players, and am big fans of a lot of the English 1st XIV as individual players. The RFU and all the total cuntery that comes along with it needs to get in the fucking sea. Hundreds of brain dead twats bellowing out an African American Slave funeral song because they decided in the 80's it would be a fitting rugby anthem, often whilst dressed as twatting crusaders FFS. Jesus Christ there is not a more insufferable group of people you are likely to witness. I've already seen WhatsApp group messages where they're convinced this has gilded their path to lifting the cup.

Where as an Ireland fan, despite our biggest RWC win to date, I'm still fucking bricking it.

Rep for a quality rant

Thank the deities that someone else watched the same game I did. Anyone sane watching France and NZ yesterday would realise the ever so slight gap between basic competence and England. The only useful thing emerging from that performance is that Ford is a lot better than bloody Farrell, but so is Murphy (my younger labrador) at 10. Backs continue to be an afterthought, Mitchell who had a decent game will beyond doubt be replaced by the creative genius that is Ben Youngs.

Long day driving down to Exmoor, consequently slightly grumpy, the win helped yet the game didn't.

Where as an Ireland fan, despite our biggest RWC win to date, I'm still fucking bricking it.

Tough at the top init.

Is it just me or is the actual tv coverage of the games rubbish? It keeps jumping from camera to camera focusing on small parts of the field / action which loses the larger picture. (I’m not explaining that well)
The conspiracy theorist in me had be thinking it was to avoid showing France being offside on many occasions in the NZ match but it seems to be all the games.

Yeah it is quite poor. Barely any replays as well.

French tv coverage has been odd for ages. Loads of needless arty slow motion stuff instead of pertinent replays of the last play. I don’t think it’s any different from the usual Top14 direction.

Yes, Mitchell was the only one to actually impress. Tuilagi put in one OK hit and the commentary box nearly exploded. The tackled Argentinian got up and played on like it never happened. It's all he's there to do, and he did it once in god knows how long.

About 4 years

Agree about Mitchell - had a good game. Lawes was pretty good (mainly in defence). George and Marchant similar (someone actually chasing in a kick chase…). Ford already mentioned. The rest were just ok.

Seemed to me there was just a realisation yesterday that England have no penetration or threat in the 22 in the current setup. So they have to score their points from outside and that was the approach.

When you have often seen English rugby just standing around looking confused when their game plan isn't working (remember the no ruck, no offside against Italy) it was just good to see someone play what is in front of them and everyone else do a competent job.

It was by far Tuilagis best game for England in years and he was absolutely bang average.

England didn't fuck it up when the oppo shat the bed. That far exceeds my current expectations so I found it enjoyable.