Rugby World Cup 2023 in France

[John Stonebridge]

Its been good so far of what I've seen of it.

- Wales showing that they will give anybody a game and are as tough as teak
- England showing pleasing persistence and a hitherto unseen ability to adopt a plan B.     
- Scotland showing why there is a fairly firm upper limit to their ambitions (style of play appears easily countered by the really top teams, cant see anything other than 3rd place)

I had a look earlier at the world rankings (cause of much debate with 1-3-5 immediately pre tournament all in the same pool)

https://www.world.rugby/tournaments/rankings/mru

The rankings have now been updated as at 11th Sep and England, Wales & Australia have all moved up two places to leapfrog Argentina & Fiji (the victories for England & Wales were both officially "shocks" in terms of those rankings).  Australia were previously ranked 9th presumably due to the Eddie Jones "Midas-touch-in-reverse" effect. 

[Steph]

Poor old American Samoa still propping up the foundations of the tower of sporting excellence...

[Wowbagger]

A bit moist in Toulouse this evening...

[Wowbagger]

One would have thought that commentators' preparation for this event would have included the ability to pronounce the team names correctly.

[Wowbagger]

I've never seen a goal kicker look as sneeringly supercilious as Damian McKenzie...

[Wowbagger]

I can't really understand why Wales are mostly wearing black when their opponents are in white tops and pale green shorts...

[Wowbagger]

I'm sure I've got something better to do than watch this dross...

[Peter]

I can't really understand why Wales are mostly wearing black when their opponents are in white tops and pale green shorts...

It's possibly to do with sponsorship requirements.  Years ago it might have been because of the level of TV technology.  I was once asked to change a predominately white shirt because it was "too bright" for the cameras.  However, I'm sure things have moved on and anyway, nothing about the current Wales set-up could be considered too bright, I would have thought.

[Jaded]

I do not know why the teams can’t play in their own colours, unless there is a clash. Although do Portugal wear red?

I’d vote for shirt selling as the main reason…

[Peter]

I think you would normally be right but I imagine Portugal play in red - their football team certainly does (for versions of red) and their athletes ath in red with green trimmings.  So I imagine a coin was tossed.

[Wowbagger]

I do not know why the teams can’t play in their own colours, unless there is a clash. Although do Portugal wear red?

I’d vote for shirt selling as the main reason…

Lots of the Portuguese in the crowd did seem to be wearing red, but their players weren't.

[Peter]

Ah!  I've been checking on text and hadn't seen the visuals.  Yes, shirt sales seems likely, unless there are separate sponsors for the different strips.  I think teams should play in their main colour, wherever possible - except England.  White is the most boring colour imaginable, being one of the definitions of no colour. 

[Peter]

Ireland v New Zealand OB shaping up nicely!

[fd3]

I need the beeb to help me with maffs obviously.
Wales "struggle" to a 28-8 win.

[farfetched]

The kit rules have been changed to accomodate colour blind TV spectators.

https://www.reuters.com/sports/world-rugby-breaks-with-kit-tradition-assist-colour-blind-fans-2023-09-15

[Wowbagger]

I need the beeb to help me with maffs obviously.
Wales "struggle" to a 28-8 win.

I thought the result massively flattered Wales - it did seem to be a struggle for a lot of the game.

Edit: there was a spell in which Wales lost 4 of their own line-outs consecutively.

[Wowbagger]

Ireland have a player yellow-carded since late in the 1st half. If he received his card at 38 minutes, does he come back on at 48 minutes, despite the fact that the first half was about 46 minutes long?

[Peter]

The kit rules have been changed to accomodate colour blind TV spectators.

https://www.reuters.com/sports/world-rugby-breaks-with-kit-tradition-assist-colour-blind-fans-2023-09-15

Thanks for that.

[fd3]

I need the beeb to help me with maffs obviously.
Wales "struggle" to a 28-8 win.

I thought the result massively flattered Wales - it did seem to be a struggle for a lot of the game.

Edit: there was a spell in which Wales lost 4 of their own line-outs consecutively.

I think that the view suffer from sport reporters who don't necessarily understand the sport. 
Sure, if Portugal were semi pro you would expect any pro team to post a cricket score against them.  But anyone who has watched cup Rugby (of either code) knows that a superior team (say a division higher) can be kept honest for 30-35 minutes of the half by a hard working weaker side.  It's pretty common that the weaker side can compete for much of the time because they know how to play the game, pass, tackle etc.  But in the last 5-10 mins of a half they tire and then ship a couple trys.

[De Sisti]

Ireland v New Zealand OB shaping up nicely!

That's a game I'd definitely watch.

[Steph]

Who is the awful ref for Fiji-Aus?

[Steph]

YES!

[fd3]

^that, but bigglier

[Wowbagger]

Well, that makes the Wales v Aus game quite a prospect.

[Peter]

Who is the awful ref for Fiji-Aus?

I'm not sure to what you are referring because I didn't watch the match, or at least not closely.  But in the England-Japan match (watching on a small screen), it seemed to me that both England's 2nd and 4th tries contained elements of forward pass.  But we don't see it the way the man on the pitch does, unless it's glaringly obvious, so it must be very difficult for referees, I think.