2023 Rugby World Cup France

Jones was a massive failure last time around. Why anyone thought that would change this time up totally bamboozles me.

Rugby lost me as a supporter during the Jones / Gregan days. Totally over analysed & resulted in average results. When I heard him being interviewed after the Fiji debacle it was the same old stuff regurgitated from all those years back.

Always promising the world 

By the time Eddie had finished with him all those years later his whole approach was different. The post match interviews were more like a science / maths lesson 

A roster like that should result in a Top 4 minimum.

 Do you wear long pants yet?

 Repeat after me: "PanTHers.  SouTHs."

 Keep practicing. Eventually you will get rid of that troublesome lisp.

   

I don't know anything about rugby union stats. The top rated Wallaby in the ratings in the Errorgraph next to Alan Jones lengthy rant is 7.5. That's a pretty high rating, right?

The player in question, Rob Valetini, "ran for 27 hard-earned metres and made 8 tackles".

27 metres, 8 tackles - is that good in rugby union for a forward?

If not for yesterday's disaster the media might be talking about Australia's 5th straight ODI loss.

In other results, Argentina beat Chile 59-5 and Scotland beat Romania 84-0.

For each group the progress scenarios are as follows.

Pool A: France ahead of New Zealand, unless NZ manage to go down to Uruguay and/or Italy stun the French, neitrher is happening.

Pool B: Ireland win the pool if they defeat Scotland, South Africa will join them with a win over Tonga tomorrow morning our time, Scotland can also advance should they defeat Ireland.  Tonga also have a mathematical chance, should they perform the miracle and defeat the Boks and Romania and Scotland lose to Ireland.

Pool C: Wales need only to defeat Georgia to advance as pool winners, Fiji will join them should they defeat Portugal.  Georgia cannot advance even with a win over Wales, last night cruelled their chances.  The Wallabies need a bonus point win against Portugal and a Fiji loss to the same opponent to advance.  Portugal can also advance if they defeat both Australia and Fiji, I'm here for the chaos but that ain't happening!

Pool D: England will advance regardless of their result against Samoa next week, although a win or even a bonus point loss seals the pool.  Argentina and Japan play next week in a virtual knock-out match as the winner will advance in second.

Likely 1/4 finals, England vs Fiji, Wales vs Argentina/Japan, France vs South Africa, Ireland vs New Zealand.

Likely semi finals, England vs France, New Zealand vs Wales.

Final: France vs New Zealand.

Based on this years results you should be able to buy the whole Chooks team for that amount 

Two of next weeks 1/4 finals are now settled, France vs South Africa and Ireland vs New Zealand.

The final pool matches tonight first see Argentina and Japan clash in what is essentially a last 16 match up of sorts, with the winner playing Wales in a 1/4 final, Fiji play Portugal only needing a bonus point to book a 1/4 final against England, the other match-up is for pride only with Tonga and Romania both looking to finish with a win before heading home.