Rugby World Cup

[GG.]

Unbelievable given their countries population of 100,000.

I had to Google that to check. That is absolutely crazy.

Not that it really makes much difference in the grand scheme of things but there is apparently a Tongan diaspora of about the same again, many of whom I expect would be eligible to play. Still barely the size of a middling city in the UK!

[mik]

Unbelievable given their countries population of 100,000.

I had to Google that to check. That is absolutely crazy.

Not that it really makes much difference in the grand scheme of things but there is apparently a Tongan diaspora of about the same again, many of whom I expect would be eligible to play. Still barely the size of a middling city in the UK!

It's like fielding a world-class team from Oxford alone.

[KiwiDave]

There's probably that many Tongans in Auckland. Huge amount of Pacific Islanders from all across that area in Auckland, essentially coming here to work to send money back home to the islands and forming not-so-small communities here too. Every Pacific Islander I've worked with has been absolutely wonderful, real great people to spend time with. Massively generic statement, but their cultures are very different to Westerners, in a deeper sense than you first appreciate. Sense of family, community and also the attachment to the land and ocean where they're from is huge.

I imagine some of you will have done holidays to a Pacific Island or two. I've personally only done the Cook Islands, but I did work hand in hand with a Pacific project for about 5yrs - it's almost shocking to realise how under developed parts of these Islands Nations are in places. But from those very humble communities come great teams and sportsmen. Great leaders too.

[Carlos]

A few families settled in Wales during the 90s as we moved towards pro rugby. Valley parochial/rugby locations seemed to work and they were well received and integrated. Salt of the earth type folk.

Faletau, Vunipola, Tuipilotu, Molotika have almost become Welsh names.

Mako Vunipola still has a Welsh accent!

[GG.]

There's probably that many Tongans in Auckland. Huge amount of Pacific Islanders from all across that area in Auckland, essentially coming here to work to send money back home to the islands and forming not-so-small communities here too.

I saw that 30% of Tongan GDP was remittances sent back home from the expat community!

[jamcg]

https://www.fijivillage.com/news/Tuisov ... Ba-x8r45f/

[KiwiDave]

I mean that's heart breaking stuff.

I imagine the Fijian team will mark that somehow, maybe prayer or a ceremonial something at the game. Potential that their Cibi may be directed at the player's son or something like that. There's no doubt at all that they will mark that passing and sacrifice somehow, it's more whether they will do it publicly or not.

[mik]

Ireland utterly dominating tonight. Fair play lads.

[duncs500]

England game was fun, probably really fun for a neutral.

Samoa were great, but they were flattered by England. Defensive organisation was awful, and some of the decision making was inexplicable. I knew Farrell was going to get timed out on that kick, he was just about timed out on a earlier one and got away with it and you could see he was laughing with someone before taking it this time so it wasn't even close. Symptomatic of how England are at the moment, just lackadaisical, not organised enough, not focused enough. We're going to get turned over soon enough.

[GG.]

England game was fun, probably really fun for a neutral.

Samoa were great, but they were flattered by England. Defensive organisation was awful, and some of the decision making was inexplicable. I knew Farrell was going to get timed out on that kick, he was just about timed out on a earlier one and got away with it and you could see he was laughing with someone before taking it this time so it wasn't even close. Symptomatic of how England are at the moment, just lackadaisical, not organised enough, not focused enough. We're going to get turned over soon enough.

Yep - if Fiji don't do a repeat number on us in the quarters we'll be knocked out in the semis and that would flatter us to be honest.

Sir Clive (echoing what I've said for months) is completely correct. Stop fucking playing people out of position - Eddie Jones' Frankenstein experiment did not work so ditch it. I also don't give two fucks about Farrell being the all time points scorer - for the stupidity of running the clock down (whilst having a chat with the opposition) and foregoing points in a game when we're behind I'd bench him for the next game and put Ford at 10. After the Argentina game the opportunity should be given.

The depressing thing is, watching Scotland play - their back line and passing accuracy was extremely impressive and would embarrass England IMO. And they got thumped by Ireland. We've absolutely no chance.

I also do not get the attitude of modern players. They're visibly grinning and joshing about whilst being humiliated by a Samoan side that were lucky not to have had several addiitonal tries allowed. Perhaps its 'professionalism' that they don't take it to heart when they're behind but you'd have never seen a smile cross my face when we were up against it and behind on the board - then again I'm sure that wouldn't have happened in 2003 either. Even Sinckler was nodding his head about during the Siva Tau like it was all a bit of a laugh. They're a bunch of clowns to be frank and their heads are absolutely not in the right place from what I've seen so far.

[duncs500]

Sinckler has always been like that more than the others, so I hold it against him least. That's just the way he is on the field.

I'd put Smith in at 10 and drop Farrell/Ford personally. Smith has looked lively when he's come on and it feels like he wants to prove that he belongs.

The thing that gets me is the attitude you describe doesn't just manifest in the open play. In the second half England generally looked marginally on top, but were still a good few points behind and they kept turning down easy 3-point penalties. My feeling was all they needed to do in that second half was play tight and knock over the penalties and it would have been fairly straight forward. They didn't need a bonus point, and it would have been a good way to control the game and the opposition's morale.

Mind you, seems a lot of teams have surprised me with their choice of turning down three points in this tournament. Must be some statistical analysis to back up the approach. Good for the spectacle, but if I was captain I would be grinding the scoreboard much more often.

[Carlos]

A day of cracking games

I thought England were lucky to win that. Their best rugby of the tournament was with Ford at 10 and a pair of proper centres, seems strange to force another distributor on at 12 rather than have to pick between the 2! I was looking forward to a physical Tuilagi and Lawrence centre partnership for that game

[Carlos]

Faletau broke his arm in the game yesterday and is out for the tournament.

Arguably our best player

[dinny_g]

Here we go!! The most important game in Irish History!!

I didn’t see Argentina beating Wales but the dug in and ground it out so fair play.

Whoever wins tonight will be in the final

[Carlos]

Really gutted, we were out played in the second half although I do feel aggrieved that the Tompkins clear out was deemed legal!

Moaning isn't going to alter the result so onto the Ireland game

[dinny_g]

Really gutted, we were out played in the second half although I do feel aggrieved that the Tompkins clear out was deemed legal!

Moaning isn't going to alter the result so onto the Ireland game

Yeah I don’t get that at all - not a Red but a definite yellow.

[dinny_g]

All tries scored by a Kiwi…

That’s got to be some sort of record

[IanF]

What a try!

[dinny_g]

Gutted - didn’t show up in the first half. Always chasing it and you can’t do that against NZ.

Best team in the world for 2 years and still do no better in the World Cup than we’ve ever done.

Devastated

[duncs500]

I thought Ireland might just get it done in those last few phases. Enthralling game to watch though. New Zealand were incredible in defence, made very few mistakes under the most extreme pressure. I do feel like Ireland lost their way for a spell though and forgot their normal game, they were just trying to force things too early in the second half when playing tight and clean would have been fine and got them points. The occasion just got to them a touch I reckon.

Close game though, could have easily gone either way. A bit gutted for Ireland, I'd have been quite happy to see them go all the way.