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Ireland, not Wales, are now the main Celtic power of rugby (if we didn't know that already)
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<blockquote data-quote="Bruce_ma gooshvili" data-source="post: 1083683" data-attributes="member: 74121"><p>I'm always pretty comfortable with the rugby rankings being a reasonable reflection of where a side is (as long as they aren't disproportionately playing sides that are better than them, like Italy and Argentina). So I'd say the top 4 (including Ireland) are very close and England can bridge that gap a bit if their coaching team can get more out of the available talent. Oz, Scotland, Wales and Pumas are a significant step below those 4+1. The rankings would be consistent with this interpretation other than my subjective opinion on England. </p><p></p><p>[URL unfurl="true"]https://www.world.rugby/tournaments/rankings/mru[/URL]</p><p></p><p>Covid seems to have reduced the number of games that the SH have hosted more than the NH, which would likely skew the rankings a bit, but that should be fixed a bit in July. However, I dont think I could be persuaded by an argument that NZ and SA would be significant favourites over Ireland or France in neutral territory. Or that anyone inside that top 5 has no chance of winning the RWC. Or that anyone outside that top 5 is a realistic ***le contender (despite the slightly skewed draw). If anyone in that top 4 was hosting the RWC I'd make rhem favourite. </p><p></p><p>Ireland really need to be thinking about major game time for other 10s though. And I don't mean Carty sadly. I'd be giving 30-60 mins per game over to any non-Sexton 10 between now and the RWC, including in the next 6N in games where it was considered that this wouldn't jeopardise the result.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Bruce_ma gooshvili, post: 1083683, member: 74121"] I'm always pretty comfortable with the rugby rankings being a reasonable reflection of where a side is (as long as they aren't disproportionately playing sides that are better than them, like Italy and Argentina). So I'd say the top 4 (including Ireland) are very close and England can bridge that gap a bit if their coaching team can get more out of the available talent. Oz, Scotland, Wales and Pumas are a significant step below those 4+1. The rankings would be consistent with this interpretation other than my subjective opinion on England. [URL unfurl="true"]https://www.world.rugby/tournaments/rankings/mru[/URL] Covid seems to have reduced the number of games that the SH have hosted more than the NH, which would likely skew the rankings a bit, but that should be fixed a bit in July. However, I dont think I could be persuaded by an argument that NZ and SA would be significant favourites over Ireland or France in neutral territory. Or that anyone inside that top 5 has no chance of winning the RWC. Or that anyone outside that top 5 is a realistic ***le contender (despite the slightly skewed draw). If anyone in that top 4 was hosting the RWC I'd make rhem favourite. Ireland really need to be thinking about major game time for other 10s though. And I don't mean Carty sadly. I'd be giving 30-60 mins per game over to any non-Sexton 10 between now and the RWC, including in the next 6N in games where it was considered that this wouldn't jeopardise the result. [/QUOTE]
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Rugby Union
General Rugby Union
Ireland, not Wales, are now the main Celtic power of rugby (if we didn't know that already)
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