Strange no one started a thread about it yet: knockout stage started three days ago, and the first round of game ended tonight.
Some minor surprises (New Zealand suffering against Argentina, as always they suffer when not playing on home turf),
some major, major ones (South Africa losing against Japan: I just finished watching the highlights of the match, and the last ten minutes are priceless),
and some certainties: Italy sucks at the game. <_<
L.
I commented on the Japanese v. SA game in the misc. sports thread, but yeah this probably deserves its own thread. So far I've only seen England do okay, Ireland own, Japanese surprise, Samoa kick American ass, and Italy not doing much.
It might help if you said what sport is involved.
Quote from: citizen k on September 20, 2015, 05:00:24 PM
Quote from: Admiral Yi on September 20, 2015, 04:45:44 PM
It might help if you said what sport is involved.
Rugby.
To be precise, Rugby Union... :contract:
Not that League crap... :yucky:
Edited thread title for Yi.
L.
Canada got destroyed. I watched France beat Italy. Good game but it is so slow.
Japan v South Africa was just brilliant. One of my all-time sporting highlights.
What is rugby? Bring back the old thread title.
Quote from: Agelastus on September 20, 2015, 05:04:45 PM
Quote from: citizen k on September 20, 2015, 05:00:24 PM
Quote from: Admiral Yi on September 20, 2015, 04:45:44 PM
It might help if you said what sport is involved.
Rugby.
To be precise, Rugby Union... :contract:
Not that League crap... :yucky:
To be even more precise : Rugby Union = played with 15 players on each side. Rugby League = played with 13 players and somewhat closer to gridiron.
Next year only Rugby 7 will be of interest to anyone.
I like rugby more and more, compared to the cynical circus of football that is the Premier League nowadays (not to mention the Spanish and Italian leagues). Rugby still feels genuine in so many ways (respect, sportsmanship and what I have you) and I try to watch as many games as I can each world cup (which was hard last time being in New Zealand). I actually watched the whole South Africa - Japan game and it, especially the ending with the Japanese decision to go for the try instead of the safer option of kicking for the tied game - and then actually SCORING against all odds - with crying Japanese fans in the stands and all - was one of the best sports moments I have ever experienced. A genuine upset and accompanying emotions like that is something you would have to go back a long time to find in the world of football...
Quote from: Delirium on September 21, 2015, 01:00:33 PM
I like rugby more and more, compared to the cynical circus of football that is the Premier League nowadays (not to mention the Spanish and Italian leagues). Rugby still feels genuine in so many ways (respect, sportsmanship and what I have you) and I try to watch as many games as I can each world cup (which was hard last time being in New Zealand). I actually watched the whole South Africa - Japan game and it, especially the ending with the Japanese decision to go for the try instead of the safer option of kicking for the tied game - and then actually SCORING against all odds - with crying Japanese fans in the stands and all - was one of the best sports moments I have ever experienced. A genuine upset and accompanying emotions like that is something you would have to go back a long time to find in the world of football...
Denmark in the Euro '92? EDIT: Greece in 2004?
Greece win '04 was achieve thru boredom.
Denmark in 92 is a good call, and they took Yugoslavia's spot so were not even supposed to be in the tournament.
Canada doing great against eyeties
What I don't get is how the Japanese team is half foreigners. It seems to be really easy to qualify to play international rugby.
Very embarassing for Italy to draw against Canada.
Still playing. Great try for the canucks, now ahead. They could do with a kicker tho
Quote from: Tyr on September 26, 2015, 09:36:02 AMWhat I don't get is how the Japanese team is half foreigners. It seems to be really easy to qualify to play international rugby.
It's been like that for a while, elegibility for national teams in rugby is very fluid, and almost every minor national team has a bunch of 2nd rate Kiwis, Bocks, Wallabis or random Pacific islanders in their squad. Even England has a couple of them, the Vunipola brothers, but they've actually lived in England since they were kids and have always played there. France this year has a ginormous Samoan prop in their squad, as well as a South African born scrum half and full back and a Fijian wing. Italy has also had historically lots of players of Argentine origin, something they also do ocasionally in footie.
So, yet another England side from a team sport goes from a position of decisive domination to one of craven capitulation. :mad:
More importantly, unless they can pull of a major surprise against Australia, this is yet another example of a Lancaster coached side being "nearly but not quite" good enough...just like the last four Six Nations campaigns (where England's win-loss record and finishing position has been disappointingly consistent.) The Quarter Finals should have been the minimum goal; victory over Wales was essential.
Quote from: The Larch on September 26, 2015, 09:58:14 AM
Italy has also had historically lots of players of Argentine origin, something they also do ocasionally in footie.
It's not unusual at all, considering that half of the argentinians have at least one italian grandfather :D
L.
Quote from: Pedrito on September 26, 2015, 04:53:53 PM
Quote from: The Larch on September 26, 2015, 09:58:14 AM
Italy has also had historically lots of players of Argentine origin, something they also do ocasionally in footie.
It's not unusual at all, considering that half of the argentinians have at least one italian grandfather :D
L.
Argentine milk delivery is run by the Mafia?
Yesterday was one hell of a day:
South Africa showing a exceptional defense against Scotland - it remains for me unexplainable how RSA let Japan score 34 points in the first match, for me they're a sure semifinalist, probable finalist;
and Australia trampling England, with the hosts already out of the tournament after three matches.
Today Ireland-Italy will be a massacre.
L.
Great game between Scotland and Samoa.
Great show of defence by the aussies
The Argies are walking all over Ireland. :huh:
Quote from: Liep on October 18, 2015, 07:22:59 AM
The Argies are walking all over Ireland. :huh:
After yesterday's results (Wales :(), I hope Ireland is going through; otherwise, the Southern emisphere will have 4 semifinalists.
New Zealand demonstrated a total superiority on France, I've watched only 20 minutes but it's been a massacre.
L.
Scotland. :(
Really surprised how well Scotland did.
Is it just me or are all the usual top teams not what they used to be? Except perhaps Ireland, they're better than usual these days. Well, usually, didn't see the Argentina game so no idea what was up there.
That was a very entertaining game. Very bad luck for Scotland.
Amazing how Scotland have transformed from being bottom of the Six Nations to running Australia that close.
NZ are in a league of their own. Find myself in the strange position of rooting for the Argies though.
Quote from: Gups on October 19, 2015, 02:23:16 AMAmazing how Scotland have transformed from being bottom of the Six Nations to running Australia that close.
That has been one of the things that always came to my attention in international rugby, how teams could turn their fortunes around in a very short time. Is it because the level is very close? High squad turnover?
Great final. New Zealand was best but a nice rally from Australia in the second half to give it excitement.
:allblacks: :showoff:
Australia really had no chance until the Kiwis went down to 14 guys for that yellow card. Then the drop put the final nail in the coffin.
There was a 10 minute spell in the second half when it looked exciting but...overall a bit of a NZ walkover.
Quote from: Tyr on October 31, 2015, 01:45:46 PM
There was a 10 minute spell in the second half when it looked exciting but...overall a bit of a NZ walkover.
When the Kiwis were playing with 14 players because one was sin binned. :P