RWC: Canada - Japan (27-09-2011, 17:00)

[LittleGuy]

Well, it's a dual purpose ground (like many grounds have been in the past, although this is starting to change) ... Hawkes Bay play their home ITM cup match games (rugby) there, and Central Districts play some of their cricket games there.

I would have said it's better suited to rugby, but it's been used for both for many years now ... I must confess, I haven't noticed a small in goal area before

Thankyou for clarifying Shaggy, I was just going off what the commentators at the beginning of the broadcast had said, didn't notice a particualrly small in goal area myself either. Most of Canada's grounds will probably end up being dual use, but shared between soccer and rugby. There was also a habit in the 60s-80's of playing football and baseball at stadiums which resulted in some awful and not intimate venues especially for baseball crowds.

 

[james5000]

The current rankings aren't distorted because Fiji is playing like a 16th ranked nation in the world right now. It happens, Canada's been there not to long ago. I agree that Fiji has been around top of the tier 2 (not a minnow) exchanging places with Argentina, Italy and Samoa.

Your second group of points are both terrible and completely wrong. From the top of my head I believe Fiji only has something like a 65% against both Tonga and Samoa and plays most of their games against those 2 teams. As well, Fiji have only beaten Scotland and Wales, whereas Canada has beaten Scotland, Wales and France. So those points are moot.

I never said that comparision, you should brush up on your reading comparision. I was comparing direct results against roughly similar teams that both Canada and Fiji played at roughly the same time and they show that Fiji played 1 really good game last world cup, they aren't so godlike that any game against anyone around their ranking is an auto win. They are apart of the upper echelon in their rankings but as rugby shows if a team is around your ranking then they have a chance.

Your last point is incorrect but rather than waste my time having a little look to prove your wrong, I'll just say source please.

I'm not trying to say Fiji haven't been a good team. I'm simply stating that you can't go around and say they are better then everyone else around them if they had so-so players. That argument is not applicable because they don't have those players for whatever reason.
As well, you cannot say that they would automatically thrash all of their opponents because unfortunately, history disagrees with you. Looking back at the last world cup, when they had their supposed awe-inspiring team they only beat a bad Canada team 29-16 (need a disallowed try as well) and Japan 35-31. Hardly thrashings against 2 teams vastly below their class.

Once again, if Canada played Sidney Crosby, Ryan Getzlaf and Shea Weber, Fiji would be annihilated. The ABs better watch out then. Exact same ridiculous argument that I'm making.

Samoa at the moment aren't a minnow at all they are very good and would easily beat any team ranked below them.

Fiji beat Tonga at a rate of about 67% which is basically 7 out of 10, whats wrong with that stat? They have also beaten Australia on a couple of occasions.

Fiji came in to this world cup as a threat in their pool, The top teams in their pool know they have to play well to get the W, so they put their top teams out.
Canada, Japan and Tonga were playing for third place, they faced B teams.

When was the last time Canada even beat Fiji? Wasn't this Millennium!!!!!

espnscrum educate yourself
http://stats.espnscrum.com/statsgur...14;template=results;type=team;view=opposition

*Just noticed they went 1 and 1 with Romania, I take it back

 

[peks89]

really...all the pacific islander teams should be up there with the tier 1 teams...its our number 1 sport!!

 

[Black Heart]

really...all the pacific islander teams should be up there with the tier 1 teams...its our number 1 sport!!

Yeah, you've actually got to beat the best sides aye.

 

[peks89]

talking about the quality of our rugby games..should be on par with you guys. Instead of a penalty fest. lol