Rugby World Cup

[nplymouth]

Hope this isn't controversial it thought I would see if any banter was forthcoming?

This was late August during the warm ups so, I enjoyed it that much I have decided, a smoke every time England play... If they get to the final I may smoke two!




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[Simon-JG-hr]

Excellent choice! I did a World Cup smokes sub-section on my website a few years back (for the football world cup - still not sure why, I don't even watch football...) Two hours of build-up and game-time is just right for a decent sized smoke!

Is this an appropriate thread for me to moan about Lancaster? Will also say how wonderful the atmosphere is around Gloucester - we're rugby mad anyway, but this just provides a little extra incentive for the natives to skip work...

[EdBlackadder]

I'm still pissed they're not using Welford Road to be frank...

Only have 2 tickets but as they land Saturday and Sunday with my 30th on the Monday so its going to be a good weekend!

[Emaresee]

I would have thought welford road was nailed on.... But hey ho, similarly mystified!

[nplymouth]

It was the last World Cup that got me hooked, England Vs Argentina I think...

Anyways, I'm looking forward to the game tomorrow and the matches in between!


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[dvickery]

Pure violence ... I like rugby .

no idea how they score and no idea what the rules are but I like it .

Derrek

[Simon-JG-hr]

I would have thought welford road was nailed on.... But hey ho, similarly mystified!

I understand it missed out because the playing area was not big enough - it's a very tight pitch as it is, so I suspect once they'd added enough room around the edges for safety and extra crew the pitch would have dropped below the minimum required. Shame, as it would have been a much more fitting venue than Walkers Stadium.

Pure violence ... I like rugby .

no idea how they score and no idea what the rules are but I like it .

Derrek

Haha! Posted from a country where ice hockey's the national sport...

(I'll be wearing my Rugby Canada kit for tomorrow's match against Italy - had a brilliant school rugby tour to Canada, amazed the kit I picked up still fits...)

[Emaresee]

I understand it missed out because the playing area was not big enough - it's a very tight pitch as it is, so I suspect once they'd added enough room around the edges for safety and extra crew the pitch would have dropped below the minimum required. Shame, as it would have been a much more fitting venue than Walkers Stadium.


Haha! Posted from a country where ice hockey's the national sport...

(I'll be wearing my Rugby Canada kit for tomorrow's match against Italy - had a brilliant school rugby tour to Canada, amazed the kit I picked up still fits...)

I too have toured canada.... ( Inc. Alberta too Derrek) .... Beautiful country full of large men with hard heads! They play tough rugby, but could cone unstuck if the Azzuri keep their form and move the ball around with some pace and flair. Their bug lumps wont cover the ground as rapidly, which after 60 mins could really show through.

[Simon-JG-hr]

Very hard heads - it's from all that falling on ice when they're younger...

I too fear that Italy will have too much over the full 80 minutes. Canada haven't been the same since the Rees and Charron generation retired. I remember the Churchill Cup when O'Toole burst onto the scene as a fantastic flanker for them (think it was 2009). Shame they find it difficult to get a good few players into the Championship and Rabo12 for development. The Americans have had a ton of money thrown at them by the iRB/World Rugby, but Rugby Canada is having to be propped up by the RFU.

[Emaresee]

That is a shame.... The funding choices are often baffling. I nearly took a club-pro year out there, but figured i wouldnt come back.... And uni was calling.... Certainly a great country and culture.

[Simon-JG-hr]

It is indeed. That would have been amazing - I can well imagine you would never come out. I used to be out there once or twice a year (relatives, skiing, rugby, hiking etc etc) but haven't been for a few years due to work/money.

The key to Canadian (and American) rugby development has to be the formation of a professional league and the use of university/college sports scholarships (whether funded for rugby, or sweeping up NFL rejects). The raw talent is definitely there, I think combining some of that with rugby people, and full-time coaching and we'd have to be wary. I was sent to Colorado to referee at a few tournaments several years ago and the role of college sports was the big discussion point and the place where some big inroads could be made relatively quickly if it was well managed.

[Emaresee]

Reckon we could burn theough a few beers and a few sticks on this topic!

Heres hoping for a humdinger of a game!

[Simon-JG-hr]

We certainly could - such an interesting topic - hopefully it'll all come good eventually.

Managed to find my old Canada shirt... Manufactured when they were still proper rugby shirts (sadly my dietary and drinking habits in the intervening years has given it the figure hugging characteristics of modern shirts...)



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[nplymouth]

That was a bad loss for Canada, very unfortunate circumstances! Excellent game as a spectator!


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[Simon-JG-hr]

They certainly deserved the win in my book. Some very entertaining rugby from the Canucks. A few unfortunate calls went against them - but fair play to Italy, they didn't give themselves much to work with but were just clinical enough when it mattered to bag the win.


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