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2023 Rugby World Cup
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NZ - 25, Ireland - 17.
I’m happy and conflicted at the same time. Boru
‘But it does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are twenty gods or no gods. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg.’ - Thomas Jefferson
New Zealand Outplay Ireland, Show their class. NZ 28-24 IRE
What a breathless game. New Zealand showed up like they've been there before and Ireland looked sloppy at the start. The All Blacks pushed through what seemed like 396 phases to dominate the first 8 minutes of the game, with Ireland committing error upon error. As the nerves settled the game drew closer, with periods of dominance and idiocy on both sides. The teams entered half time NZ 18-17 IRE The All Blacks came out punching after some initial probing by the Irish into their 50. More gutsy play and more Irish errors put the All Blacks in the lead. Ireland pushed back as time expired, through an excruciating 35 phases, but New Zealand showed their chops and held on 28-24. A gem of a game and woe to Argentina next round! All Blacks should be favorites for the gold!
England 30 - 24 Fiji
Dominate the breakdown and good things will happen. England owned the breaks in this one from start to finish. Fiji drew close and had their chances but errors and stout England counter-rucking (and a fine drop goal!) sealed it. English fly half Owen Farrell kicked 20 of the English points. Entertaining game if not too technical. The Fijians found success with their broken play madness while the English forwards dominated. England face South Africa in the semi. South Africa 29 - 28 France The hosts felt hard done by the refereeing in this one, which otherwise was a hammering affair of skilled rugby. With France threatening their second try, the Boks' giant number 4, Eben Etzbeth (all 6' 9" of him) appeared to commit a deliberate knock on, only for the officials to rule the ball went backwards. It sure didn't look like it on TV. South Africa converted the try in three phases, gutting the French. The Boks scored again just 6 minutes later while their defense looked like a fortress. France led by 3 at the half. Three tries apiece for France and South Africa. Proper rugby. The Springboks came out like a wall of muscle, hammering the French ruck. France scored a couple of penalties and then on came the South African substitutes. An embarrassing attempt at a penalty kick went backwards on the French, pinning them behind their 22. The South African scrum then began to assert itself. France subbed off their props but the Boks were too stout. Big man Etzbeth powers over for a try, the Boks hit a 50 meter penalty, and the French are down with minutes to play. Another non-call by the officials, this time on a head-to-head contact left the French miffed. Trailing by 1 with the clock nearing red, the French were pinned deep. They seemed to lose their form in desperation for a penalty, but the Boks held, the French knocked one on, and the hosts exited the tournament.
Friday 20 OCT 2023 15:00 ETUSA
Argentina v New Zealand - Prediction: Argentina 15 - 38 New Zealand. I don't see this going well for Los Pumas. The only team that can beat NZ in this match is NZ themselves. Saturday 21 OCT 2023 15:00 ET USA England v South Africa - Prediction: England 24 - 30 South Africa. England survived on the boot of Owen Farrell. A more disciplined team in ZA should reduce the kicking chances for the England squad. South Africa is so deep with talent they should wear down the English. The scrum advantage should fall to the Springboks. The Lions will have to work in the air to defend prolific box kicking from the South African scrum half (de Klerk deserves the start after his inspired substitute performance in the quarterfinal). Could be a nervy first half but the Bok's squad depth should allow them to pull free in the second half. Here's hoping the rugby does the talking and not the officiating. (October 17, 2023 at 8:03 am)Nanny Wrote: Friday 20 OCT 2023 15:00 ETUSA (Bold mine) Distressingly, they have a history of doing exactly that. Boru
‘But it does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are twenty gods or no gods. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg.’ - Thomas Jefferson
RE: 2023 Rugby World Cup
October 20, 2023 at 4:54 pm
(This post was last modified: October 20, 2023 at 5:19 pm by Nanny.
Edit Reason: formatting/spacing
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Argentina 6 - 44 New Zealand
All Blacks Do Not Beat Themselves 12 costly errors by Los Pumas in the first half opened the gates for the All Blacks on a rainy night in Paris. Argentina looked strong on the ball, gaining territory with some thumping runs. For the first 5 minutes with ball-in-hand, Los Pumas looked determined to make a match of it. Then they kicked, committed penalties, and let the experienced New Zealanders in for a try. And another. Argentina fought back to a 12-6 deficit, but then they committed error after error. The New Zealand counter-ruck was bruising, costing 4 turnovers and a knock on. Argentina looked incompetent in the air. The All Blacks surged to a 20-6 lead at the half. Argentina knocked on the opening kick of the second half. It took a minute or so for the All Blacks to score a try. A silky angled kick by fly-half Mo’unga made it 27-6. The fifth New Zealand try would come in the 48th minute, 34-6. New Zealand would be on the ball for the opening 16 minutes of the half. In the 57th minute a clever kick pass put the Argentinians inside the New Zealand 22. A turnover on the ensuing phases gave it back to NZ deep in their territory. They went through phases, dominated kicks. Will Jordan fell in for his second try in the 62nd and the All Blacks increased the lead to 39-6. My estimate: Argentina had roughly 1 minute of the ball so far in the half. Dominance by the All Blacks. The biggest Barrett on the NZ team (there are 12 of them… kidding) went to the sin bin in the 65th minute for a cynical touch (sounds like an ‘80s Genesis song). Could Los Pumas find points with a man advantage? Not to be. Jordan made a highlight-reel hat trick try in the 74th, 44-6 to the All Blacks. Argentina had none of the ball, and when they did, they invariably made a bad mistake. New Zealand play for the title, while Argentina will look to secure bronze.
England 15 - 16 South Africa
In poor conditions with rain and a circling wind the boot of Owen Farrell was not enough for England, as the fly half's 15 (including a clever drop goal) didn't measure up to South Africa's deep bench. Controversy abounded in this chippy contest, with tempers flaring, questionable officiating, and allegations of racist abuse sullying the match. England came out to play, out-playing the Springboks physically throughout the first half. Indeed, South African scrum half Libbock was subbed off in the 31st minute following several costly mistakes. It was around this time that England flanker Tom Curry alleges that the Springbok's hooker, Bonji Mbonambi, used a racial epithet against him. World Rugby are investigating. Emotions were high throughout the game with the dark arts in the ruck on full display. England went in at half time leading 12-6. On came the South African replacements in the second half. The England scrum faltered. A lovely drop goal from Farrell in the 53rd extended England's lead. But could they find the try line for the first time on 20 years against the Springboks? Instead it was the South Africans falling into the end zone in the 69th minute to make it 15-12 in England's favor, but the England scrum faltered. South Africa may have benefitted from the confusion of a rotating scrum, as multiple angles showed the Bok's loosehead and hooker with turned hips, but the calls went against the English. With ball in hand and a try under their belt, the South Africans secured yet another scrum penalty in the 78th. An icy cool kick by Handre Pollard broke the hearts of the English, giving the Springboks the one point win. The final should be a good, if familiar affair between the Springboks and the All Blacks. England and Argentina play for 3rd.
Bronze Medal Game: England V Argentina
Tom Curry massive counter ruck leads to a penalty. Owen Farrell pk in 3rd min 3-0 England. Nervy Argentina knocks one on in the 4th. First scrum to England. England dominate territory in the early going. Crushing play by the English hooker, Theo Dan, created the space for a fine try by Ben Earl. Farrell added the kick. England 10 - 0 Argentina in the 9th. The referee sounds like Eric Idle doing an Australian “Bruce” sketch! England’s massive number 4 disrupted the Pumas line out at the 11:00 mark. A few smashing phases and Farrell was kicking again. England 13 - 0 Argentina. Argentina finally got the ball in the 13th minute. A line out led to a penalty and Los Pumas took the corner and the lineout. Spirited play pushed them inside the England 22. Scrum at the England 16 meter line in the 18th minute and Argentina knocks on! England play out Amazing box kick catch by argentina number 4 deep in English territory again leads to another penalty. More agressive play leads to Argentina first points at the 23 minute mark ENG 13 - 3 ARG Juan Gonzalez steals a lineout and romps for 25 meters in the 27th, and Los Pumas have the momentum. Play fizzles after a blasting tackle, and a few phases later and out comes the England kicking tee. 16-3 at the half hour mark. Another Argentine penalty (off feet) stuck the lineout at the Pumas 22. The English came in from the side a moment later to hand it back to Argentina. Strong phases from Argentina and Los Pumas find a try in the 36th. ENG 16 - 10 ARG at the half. After phases Santiago Carreras scampers 25 meters for a terrific try at the 43 minute mark. 3 broken tackles for the score! ENG 16 -17 ARG Tremendous individual effort by Theo Dan blocks kick, scoops it up, and falls in for a hooker’s dream try! Farrell kick. It was Carreras whose attempt at a clearance was blocked! Hero to goat. What a game. ENG 23 - 17 ARG Argentina get a 45 meter penalty to close it back to 3 points in the 49th. ENG 23 -20 ARG A punishing 16 phase drive ends with superior counter ruckung and the English find touch on the Argentina side of the field in the 54th. Argentina win it back a minute later. On come the subs. We play rugby for 10 minutes, then a questionable scrum penalty gave Farrell another kick in the 66th. 26-20 Offside gives Argentina the kick from 10 meters out. 26-23 Argentina miss a kick in the 76th. It was a tough angle from about 35 meters away. The kick started left and stayed left. The English win a penalty as the clock goes red and the final is ENG 26-23 ARG. RE: 2023 Rugby World Cup
October 28, 2023 at 5:14 pm
(This post was last modified: October 28, 2023 at 5:21 pm by Nanny.
Edit Reason: typos
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Title Match. New Zealand Vs. South Africa
Foul play by NZ leads to a yellow card and South Africa’s first points at the 3 rd minute NZ 0 - 3 ZA Penalty to ZA in the 12th and it’s NZ 0-6 ZA Penalty to NZ and lineout at the ZA 22. 16 phases result in another ZA penalty. NZ 3-6 ZA 17th minute The ref missed a clear NZ counter ruck jackal and awarded a pk. The ref admitted it. NZ 3-9 ZA 18th Kicking game puts the All Blacks inside the Springbok 22. Giant Etzebeth gets the ball back with a stout tackle. Back to NZ in the 25th. Boks clear. Another yellow to the All Blacks for a high hit from the captain Sam Cane. Could be a red. Direct head contact. 29th min. All Blacks back down to 14. Red Card to New Zealand. Cane is off, All Blacks continue with 14. Pollard hits the kick. NZ 3-12 ZA A try saving tackle by the Springboks leads to a New Zealand penalty. NZ 6-12 ZA 39th min. And we go to halftime. South Africa yellow, could be a red. 46th. We play 14 aside. 51st minute All Blacks go for the corner and the Boks get away with only a yellow. NZ knock it on. Aaron Smith benefits from ball in hand to score the first try of the final! But oh no a knock on! Try disallowed! A penalty lineout inside the Springboks 5 meter line leads to broken play and a Bowden Barrett try. Tough angle for the conversion but it goes wide right. On come the subs. 60th minute NZ 11-12 ZA Nee Zealand playing physically with 14, running phases and gaining territory. 64th min. A weak turnover ends the threat. More subs in the 66th. Intentional knock on puts South Africa down to 14 with 6 minutes to play. Jordie Barrett 46 meters…. Misses left! Springboks scrum 75th minute. Final subs on. Attempted drop goal blocked! New Zealand scrum at their own 15 with 3 to play. Spirited play ends with a New Zealand knock on at the 80th minute and the Boks have a scrum and 23 seconds to glory! And they hold on New Zealand 11-12 South Africa South Africa defend their title, making it 2 in a row. |
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