Rugby Union

Scraping past Scotland twice recently, too, highlighted but disguised some of their problems.

Off topic but I'm a big fan of the Jaguares in Super Rugby.

 

From memory they shouldn't have beaten Scotland at the WC, bit of poor refereeing near the end.

I've always liked Argentine rugby, saw their national team play in my local park back in 01 when they were touring, thrashed the provincial side 70-26 but ended up losing 67-19 in the test match. Have come on leaps and bounds since then, having a successful club side is vital for growing the game.

 

2019 World Cup groups are out!

• Ireland, Scotland, Japan, (Europe 1), (play off winner)
• New Zealand, South Africa, Italy, (Africa 1), (repechage winner)
• England, France, Argentina, (Americas 1), (Oceana 2)
• Australia, Wales, Georgia, (Oceania 1), (Americas 2)

Tough group for England as the French and Argentines are much improved, but we will see how they fare over the next couple of years.

Ireland and Scotland are in a tricky group - Japan are the hosts and on their day can beat the top sides as proven by their win over South Africa in 2015. I fully expect them to continue to improve as a result of their representation in Super Rugby.

 

Not sure, France and Argentina aren't as good as they should be at the moment. We'll see what happens when the RWC comes around in a couple of years. France have made a decision to play only French born - that's about half of their current team going.

Argentina not as good as they were two years ago, some of the old guard retiring. We should have a preview of where they are in a few weeks as England are touring with a party devoid of BIL. Definitely toughest group but England would really have to fall apart to not qualify.

Japan has good, tricky, fast backs but the pack shouldn't pose too many problems. Probably Romania as the Europe 1 team.

Other 2 groups look fairly straightforward... don't they?

 

Am I right in thinking that the second placed team in the Ireland/Scotland group will likely play the All Blacks?

 

ONLY if the All Blacks qualify as top of their table

 

Argentina will be happy. They always love playing England, no matter the sport. Expect them to be really motivated for that one.

 

I know what you're saying - but a full England team would horse them at the moment.

 

Agree, but it's not right now. This gives Argentina something to train for for the next two years, which is a factor that shouldn't be dismissed. Stranger things have certainly happened before in the World Cup.

 

Personally I am delighted with that draw avoiding all the big 3 southern hemisphere sides at the group stages sounds good to me. Hopefully can make the Quarter-finals without being physically beaten all to * like we were last time out after the victory over France in the final group game.

 

OK, first match of the Lions tour this Saturday against Provincial Barbarians. All three Scots get a start, so we'll see how the team is gelling. I liked the quote by Sam Warburton when he said that in the space of three weeks the Lions have to become the best team in the world. It's going to be a tough tour and I am not too optimistic.

Team:

Hogg; Watson, Joseph, Te'o, Seymour, Sexton, Laidlaw; Marler, Best, Sinckler, Jones, Henderson, Moriarty, Warburton, Faletau.

Replacements:

George, Vunipola, Furlong, Kruis, Tipuric, Webb, Farrell, Payne

 

Good team there. Payne has unfortunately picked up a calf injury, so Daly takes his place on the bench.

 

First match just about to start. Link for anyone who doesn't have Sky:

http://cricfree.sc/watch/live/new-zealand-barbarians-vs-british-and-irish-lions-live-streaming

 

Half time - Lions getting beat 7-3. Very rusty and looking like a team that has flown half way around the world and are still getting to know each other.

Hogg; some good things (two try saving tackles) and some bad (knock ons, bad passes). Laidlaw showing experience at SH (box kicking exceptional) and Seymour getting into the right positions.

Faletau, outstanding (Bath have missed the big man for most of this season through injury). Sexton doing his best to make sure Farrell gets the 10 shirt. Bad positioning and terrible kicking/decision making. Needs to have a better second half.

Ref giving the Lions nothing. Gatlands son having a stormer of a game for the NZPB.

 

Full time - 7-13. It wasn't pretty but job just about done.

More time on the training pitch required.

 

Awful performance.

 

Awful match, generally!

 

Next game up for the Lions is against the Blues (Auckland Blues) on Wednesday - 08:35 KO. I'm informed (by Mr Fawlty) that they are the weakest of the NZ Super Rugby teams but they still have 8 All Blacks in their ranks. A very different team from last time out:

Halfpenny; Nowell, Payne, Henshaw, Daly; Biggar, Webb; McGrath, Owens (captain), Cole, Itoje, Lawes, Haskell, Tipuric, Stander

Replacements: Best, Marler, Sinckler, Henderson, O'Mahony, Laidlaw, Sexton, L Williams

It's just a coincidence that I happen to be working from home that day.

 

Yeah, worst NZ Super Rugby side still equals a better team than every Australian side and every South African side bar two. They'll give the Lions much more of a game than the Barbarians did. Tana Umaga coaching so press questions inevitably ended up steering themselves to the O'Driscoll tackle from 2005.

Crusaders at the weekend should be a great test for the Lions. Probably the best club side in the Southern Hemisphere at the moment.

 

Hoping for a much better spectacle in this one, boys! Be interesting to see how the Ioane lads do.

Crusaders vs the Lions could be a great match.