2023 U20 World Championships

[TRF_Olyy]

Christ, our scrum was completely dominant and then we bring on Chessum and the young London Irish (refuse to say he's a Glucester player) tighthead and it just looks straight up dangerous for the Fijian forwards now

 

[Which Tyler]

I particularly loved the commentator trying to make it seem closer just before half-time
"Fiji much more clinical than England, scoring with every trip into the 22"

 

[erwanseb]

I reckon it's nearly guaranteed after today's results. Ireland, France and England odds on for the QFs, the SH's hopes rest on SA, lost to Italy and made tough work of Georgia and Argentina, nilled by Georgia. Italy will be kicking themselves for their opening round horror show tbh.

A red card after 10 minutes did not help, Italy played at 14 for 70 minutes yet scored first.

 

[erwanseb]

I reckon it's nearly guaranteed after today's results. Ireland, France and England odds on for the QFs, the SH's hopes rest on SA, lost to Italy and made tough work of Georgia and Argentina, nilled by Georgia. Italy will be kicking themselves for their opening round horror show tbh.

Pool C is wide open, anything could happen

 

[Groundhog]

So because a lot of teams have fumbled we will go through to the semis with any sort of win over Fiji I think.

Rory Telfer had his yellow upgraded to a red (correct decision) after the match so now we're super light on backs on an already small backs contingent we brought over, and I don't think we're allowed to call anyone up.

 

[Which Tyler]

Who's fumbled?
I've not watched every match; but none of the ones I have seen appear to have been undeserved results.

Let's face it, France, England, Ireland, and whoever manages to come out on top of Pool C will all be absolutely deserving semi finalists*.

No, I don't think you can bring a replacement in for a banned player; just for injuries.



* For the sake of hilarity, I'd like to see a low-score match between SA and Arg (which unfortunately, kicks off after Italy v Geo*); then a relatively small victory for Italy, but with a TBP; so Italy go through, despite being the only team in the pool with a negative PD. If that does happen, I'll grant that Italy may not be "absolutely deserving" but there still wouldn't be much in it.

 

[dullonien]

Morgan Morse is an incredible talent for Wales. Guy's only 18, already has double figures of U20 caps, and is easily one of the best players in the side. The two tries he set up v Japan were belters, power, pace, vision. So excited to see him develop.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Morgan Morse is an incredible talent for Wales. Guy's only 18, already has double figures of U20 caps, and is easily one of the best players in the side. The two tries he set up v Japan were belters, power, pace, vision. So excited to see him develop.

Has Exeter signed him yet?

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Liking the Carnduff Chessum partnership idea
But what does Woodman have to do to start?
4. Carnduff
5. Chessum
6. CCS
7. Woodman
8. Fisilau

Would be tasty

 

[Which Tyler]

Looks like we're going first choice (rightly so, we do still have a chance to top the pool).
I still don't like a backrow of essentially 3 #8s though.

 

[Which Tyler]

Italy given a right humping by Georgia this morning, and it's head-to-head > points difference, so Argentina effectively need a bonus point win (or 15 point margin without a TBP) to qualify, South Africa need any win.

Weather looks good for Ire v Fiji, but Ireland looking pretty ruthless.
Of course, England have a 26 point head start on Ireland, so assuming both win, then Ire will need a big score.
kO times (bizarrely) mean that, barring a century for Ireland, England will have qualification in their own hands. But let's secure the win first.

ETA: oh yeah, Georgia's win essentially confirms that both Ireland and England qualify - it's just a case of who gets France in the SF

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Gloucester looking at the contract trying to get some money off watching this scrum performance

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Mad considering how dominant it was vs Ireland,
Do Australians lose their ability to scrummage once they turn 21, but before that are beasts?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Cassius Cleaves is very good

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I like this ref a lot as well, handled that scuffle very well and put the Aussie water carrier back in his box too

 

[Which Tyler]

Right, I don't see Ireland steamrolling the last quarter, so "all" England need to do is make sure of the TBP win... Which is far from being a given.

That one will help

 

[Which Tyler]

Ire 40 - 22 Fiji
73 min.

Ireland 2 scores away from neutralising our 26 point advantage.
England 1 try away from making that actually relevant

 

[Which Tyler]

Ire 47 - 27 Fiji

80 min, but conversion to come

Any TBP win for England will do it.

 

[Groundhog]

Ireland were really poor to be honest, as bad as I've seen this group play. Have to bare in mind it's been a really tough week for them of course. Line out was just awful throughout, the decision making was poor and I thought our backs were just way too passive. We lost the run of ourselves at times there.

Some decent players in that Fiji side too

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Sloppy from CCS, gotta go lower
Could be upgraded to red on review