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Completely agree, can we stop the pretence that the pool matches really matter, this is absolutely pointless.I love rugby but there is obviously no chance for Namibia. Such a dead rubber game which holds no interest for me.
All Blacks might be seething after that loss to France so I worry for Namibia even more. I just hope they score a try!
tell that to namibian players or fans, this will be the high point of their careers for lots of themCompletely agree, can we stop the pretence that the pool matches really matter, this is absolutely pointless.
And then what, we ignore Namibia for another four years, then remember them when we need a world cup?tell that to namibian players or fans, this will be the high point of their careers for lots of them
....not sure when i said that....if you'd been here for more than a couple of days you'd know that im the first to say we should be doing things like making everyone qualify for the World cup so tier 1 nations have to play tier 2/3 nations at least twice each over the intervening 3 yearsAnd then what, we ignore Namibia for another four years, then remember them when we need a world cup?
I like the idea of some sort of plate competition running along side the knock out rounds. Excluding the tier one sides or something.....not sure when i said that....if you'd been here for more than a couple of days you'd know that im the first to say we should be doing things like making everyone qualify for the World cup so tier 1 nations have to play tier 2/3 nations at least twice each over the intervening 3 years
but given the current situation, as wrong as it is....it does have some importance
i think if we made qualifying a bigger thing in the off years, spain and romania gatting to host England and France etc....then we could make the big show 16 teams, less mismatched games, more of a spectacle of rugby whilst giving emerging teams exposure to the top teamsI like the idea of some sort of plate competition running along side the knock out rounds. Excluding the tier one sides or something.
I've said before, I'd have 8 automatic qualifiers (the quarter finalists), and a 24-team qualifying tournament a year out to provide the next 8i think if we made qualifying a bigger thing in the off years, spain and romania gatting to host England and France etc....then we could make the big show 16 teams, less mismatched games, more of a spectacle of rugby whilst giving emerging teams exposure to the top teams
The whole round, outside Aus v Fiji, is a dead rubber.I love rugby but there is obviously no chance for Namibia. Such a dead rubber game which holds no interest for me.
All Blacks might be seething after that loss to France so I worry for Namibia even more. I just hope they score a try!
This this this. And sort out the draw at the same time.I've said before, I'd have 8 automatic qualifiers (the quarter finalists), and a 24-team qualifying tournament a year out to provide the next 8
Exactly.This this this. And sort out the draw at the same time.
It's such a random selection that reeks of being planless. why not do something like start who would be your top teams finishing 15, or finish with your top teams starting 15, or finish with your top teams finishing 15 but start other players. Something that helps with cohesion.i have no idea why savea and BB have to play this game, one is unbalancing our loosies forcing us to pick certain other players...and the other is just not in good form and this would have been a perfect game for jordan to get some minutes at 15
so, we're going to have to play close to our top team against italy, cant risk losing that now....so, assuming fizzell, BBBR, Lomax and Jordie are fit again...IF we make the QF....we might have 4 guys just back from injury and at least two that have played every game this year.....that does not sound like what people normally want going into knock out rugbyIt's such a random selection that reeks of being planless. why not do something like start who would be your top teams finishing 15, or finish with your top teams starting 15, or finish with your top teams finishing 15 but start other players. Something that helps with cohesion.
Savea is in the worst form f his career too, so maybe that is further evidence he could do with a rest.so, we're going to have to play close to our top team against italy, cant risk losing that now....so, assuming fizzell, BBBR, Lomax and Jordie are fit again...IF we make the QF....we might have 4 guys just back from injury and at least two that have played every game this year.....that does not sound like what people normally want going into knock out rugby
playing the two of them do often is actually stinting depth in those positions...like we havent even taken a number 8 in the squad....most of the squad gets rotated TOO much so lots of players dont get time to settle into a position...but those too are the opposite
and if savea is so god like that he never breaks, is undroppable and is the vice captain...that ends up being captain so often because cane gets so many injuries...just make savea the captain and let us develop someone else at 7....or play saeva at 7 and let us develop a big 8
damn fozzie
edit: i forgot Cane!....5!...5 guys coming back from injury
even when Savea is being awesome....its like having michael jordan/tiger woods/michael phelps in the team...yes, superstar, world beater...but is it working with the rest of the team? his unpredictable ball running etc just gets him isolated too often, yes he's just driven an extra five meters with a couple of tacklers hanging off him...but not hes behind their line surrounds by jackles and with no supportLet's assume they haven't changed their preferred 23. That means the finishing 15 would be something like
Ofa
Taukeiaho
Laulala
Barrett
Retallick
Blackadder
Cane
Savea
Christie
Mounga
Faingaanuku
Jordie
Alb
Telea
Jordan
So, I would have started that, but replacing cane with papalii, with reserves of
Williams
Coles
Newell
Vaai
Jacobson
Roigard
Mckenzie
Havili
Savea is in the worst form f his career too, so maybe that is further evidence he could do with a rest.