Rugby Union World Cup.

[alf git]

Starts tomorrow.
Opening match is Japan V Russia.

First matches for the home countries.

Sunday
Ireland V Scotland
England V Tonga

Monday
Wales V Georgia.

https://www.rugbyworldcup.com/

[sendô]

England somehow getting the toughest pool again with France & Argentina.

I'll be happy enough to see anyone but the Kiwis win it.

[Patito]

I genuinely think we have a very good chance here.

The Welsh are pretending that Howley being sent home won't affect them and the Irish look a bit out of sorts.

I quite like the pool we are in as well. We are lucky we've got France as opposed to Wales or the Saffers.

[alf git]

The Welsh are pretending that Howley being sent home won't affect them and the Irish look a bit out of sorts.

Small margins, could well upset the Welsh camp. Didn't think they had a great warm up either.
The Irish were destroyed by the English. You're correct, they don't look right.

[Up the Junction]

Matt Dawson fancies England: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/49743261

[LincolnshireHammer]

Game v USA is the one I'm looking forward to most.

11.45am kick off on a Thursday. Off to the pub! Be interesting to see how many others in London will be nipping out for lunchtime pints!

[dodger]

Game v USA is the one I'm looking forward to most.

11.45am kick off on a Thursday. Off to the pub! Be interesting to see how many others in London will be nipping out for lunchtime pints!

I’ll be at that one in Kobe next week. Going with an American mate, should be fun.

Think it’ll be a great World Cup. The Japanese are always excellent hosts and although it’s a minor sport here, a lot of people are up for it.

Hoping Japan can do well to make it more interesting. Am going to one of their matches too.

[Loftyhammer]

Not a massive surprise for the opening game XV for England....personally would have started with Kruis; and would rather have Watson at FB than Daly, but decent side nonetheless!

[Puff Daddy]

About time this thread started. Have a slight fancy for The Springboks and I also think the French will fare a bit better than the experts think they will

[Toulouse_Iron]

About time this thread started. Have a slight fancy for The Springboks and I also think the French will fare a bit better than the experts think they will

This is often the case. They are in a perpetual state of disarray but the World Cup often seems to bring out the best in them. In 2011, they were awful and ****ed their way into the final. They are the All Blacks' bogey team and they would probably have beaten them, but for some of the most blatant homer reffing ever seen from Joubert. McCaw spent about 60 of the 80 minues of the game offside but was never pulled up for it. New Zealand choked bigtime but Joubert had read the script and France were robbed.
They didn't "Deserve" to be world champions, if you take into account their overall performance and by the same token, NZ probably did "Deserve" to be champions, as they were otherwise head and shoulders above everyone else BUT the better team lost the final, which is rare in rugby.

France could also do the unexpected and not get out of the group....

[dodger]

England somehow getting the toughest pool again with France & Argentina.

I'll be happy enough to see anyone but the Kiwis win it.

Seemed like that when the draw was made, but I’d say it’s now perhaps the easiest group.

Australia, Wales, Fiji
Ireland, Scotland, Japan, Samoa
New Zealand, South Africa

I’d say replace England with any of those teams (except perhaps Ireland) and we’d be much more likely to finish 2nd or possibly even 3rd in the group. As it is I think we will win our group even if we lose to one of Argentina or France, which I don’t think we will.

[Loftyhammer]

Have just seen the O2 ad on ITV for Englad...them getting kitted out in Samurai warrior gear....am still crying with laughter :lol:

[Toulouse_Iron]

F l u k e d their way into the final. Nanny Swearfilter is working too hard and should have a nice cup of Horlicks.

[bunk]

Game v USA is the one I'm looking forward to most.

11.45am kick off on a Thursday. Off to the pub! Be interesting to see how many others in London will be nipping out for lunchtime pints!

Guilty...

[old fart]

Love the Russian national anthem, don't know the lyrics but its so stirring

[dodger]

The Japanese team were telling their press beforehand they were nervous. They look it so far.

[Puff Daddy]

The Japanese team were telling their press beforehand they were nervous. They look it so far.

I thought Russia were supposed to be **** at rugby. They look pretty decent so far

[alf git]

Some decent play from the Russians first half.
Not too shabby from the lowest ranked team in the competition

[alf git]

Fiji give Australia a scare but blow up in the last quarter, as they are prone to do. They get well beaten in the end.

[bristolhammerfc]

Argentina have been disappointing so far.

France have been good in offloading the ball.

Some poor tackling from Argentina though