Losing momentum. What can be done about it?

[TRF_Ezequiel]

For a couple of days I've been thinking about this and when I watched Re-Union, they also brought it up. The days in between the knock-out matches are momentum killers at the Rugby World Cup. What can we do to break that? Some people feel that 5 days without any rugby is too much compared to the pool stages. From day 1 until the final pool match, we had something to focus on every day. Am I the only one on TRF who feels bored because of this? The World Cup takes 6 weeks, but in fact, the last 3 weeks only include 6 days of rugby. The rest of the days are pure boredom and waiting for the weekend.

I feel the solution is simple: Let the eliminated teams join a Sevens-type tournament with a Plate, Bowl and Shield version. That will keep the fans interested, have some extra fun for the spectators in the smaller stadiums in Palmerston North, Napier, Whangarei, Invercargill, New Plymouth, Pukekohe, Nelson and Rotorua.

It might not be such a popular concept to the European teams, missing their players even longer, but it would be great for World Rugby. Teams like Namibia, Georgia, Canada, Romania, Russia, Canada, Japan, Fiji, Tonga, Samoa and the United States would be able to play more than 4 matches and give them the chance to play each other for a change, in stead of being the victims of the big teams when they get 6 tries scored against them.

How cool would it be to see Canada take on Samoa after the pool stages? Or Namibia playing Russia?

Well, what do you guys think?

 

[Thingimubob]

Could use a similar structure to the u20s and Womens World Cups? Where teams go into a play off for 5th 6th 7th (and so on) places.
Would definitely help World Rugby, think thats why they put it into the u20s one, gives the young players as much exposure to a pretty top level tournament as possible.

 

[cardassian]

Love this idea

 

[Shaggy]

It's a great idea, and the extra expense keeping the teams at the tournament for longer, would be off set by the extra revenue from TV rights etc.

As an added bonus, the rankings at the conclusion of the world cup would be more accurate, and thus, fairer when it comes to qualifying for the next cup, and the funding that goes with it.

for example, Fiji finished fourth in their pool, after having to play three tough teams, and miss out on automatic qualification, where as Tonga finished third in their pool ... i'm not saying Fiji are a stronger team than Tonga, just that it would be great if they (and all the other teams not involved in the quarter finals) played off against each other, to eliminate the "weaker pool" factor.

... they could probably keep the losing quarter finalists around to play off against each other too

 

[Co2en5]

Teams like Namibia, Georgia, Canada, Romania, Russia, Canada, Japan, Fiji, Tonga, Samoa and the United States would be able to play more than 4 matches and give them the chance to play each other for a change, in stead of being the victims of the big teams when they get 6 tries scored against them.

haha double canada

but in all seriousness, it is a great idea, or how about a knockout tournament of all 4 teams that came 3rd, then other of the 4 teams that came 4th, and another for 5th, could be another way to do it.

 

[UilamOsa]

It's a great idea - it will also allow the lower tier teams to test themselves against level opponents.

BUT will they have enough gas in the tank. At least half the teams will have been subjected to condensed turnaround time and will be battered and bruised and to be frank

- I couldn't stand any more of Sapolu's bleating.

 

[M Two One]

I think that at the least the IRB could have the four teams that finished third in their pools battle for a shield or something. Automatic qualification for the next tournament is nice and all, but another incentive would make it even better.

 

[SavageLez]

In tennis they call it a back draw. If you are knocked out of your group you go into a Plate Section. The top 2 teams of each group would still continue as usual while the bottom two from each group would fight for the plate!

It would be great if this could be done. I personally feel that someone with big bucks (aka IPL) needs to take on the IRB and sign over all the top international teams. The IRB is incompetent, the refereeing has been horendous, rules have not been adhered to and as far as I am concerned they are responsible for the WORST RWC I have experienced.

This will go down as the worst RWC in all departments ever. Financially = poor, on the field poor play due to pathetic refereeing and off the field events leaves much to be desired.

Hopefully NZ wins this World Cup coz if France win it my opinion will only be strengthened and concluded.

 

[Tomsey]

Great idea. Call Bernard Lapasset and get it happening!

 

[smartcooky]

I would replace the Bronze final with either

1. An international World Cup XV v The Barbarians

or

2. Northern Hemisphere v Southern Hemisphere (players selected from all the 18 teams that didn't make the final)

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

I would replace the Bronze final with either

1. An international World Cup XV v The Barbarians

or

2. Northern Hemisphere v Southern Hemisphere (players selected from all the 18 teams that didn't make the final)

In both cases the teams have to stick around for the possibility of players being picked. I prefer a system where the team as a whole still has something to do at the World Cup, like my suggestion in the TS

 

[Tricia McMillan]

I've resorted to watching test cricket between two teams I don't really care about to not be bored.

What's gotten into me?