Pool C - New Zealand, Italy, Portugal, Romania, Scotland

[PhoenixFire]

so you've said. Shut up

Now now children

 

[Jamee999]

A thread about Romania and Scotland deserves better...

 

[JASON]

Italy to overcome the Scots and make it to the Quarter Finals.

 

[Somerset]

New Zealand play Italy tonight at a late-ish time for New Zealanders of 11.45pm. New Zealand without Smith (hamstring), Thorne (failed fitness test) and Robinson (probably anything). Big issue now is in the locks - with Jack and Williams starting, the next best option appears to be Sione Lauaki. Also interesting to see Muliana now starting in the mid-field with MacDonald at fullback instead of Toeava.

My pick - New Zealand by plenty, I'll go with 75-3.

 

[JASON]

WRT the TV coverage on 3 , did anyone else think the Teams (players names) were given in too small lettering to be able to read when the Teams were displayed on the screen at start of the game... Also the score was displayed in very small size as well during the game.

 

[JASON]

Too early to say this but, NZ's Crunch game will be the Quarter Final against France it would seem....

 

[Somerset]

WRT the TV coverage on 3 , did anyone else think the Teams (players names) were given in too small lettering to be able to read when the Teams were displayed on the screen at start of the game... Also the score was displayed in very small size as well during the game.

Personally I didn't have too much of a problem but I admit its not exactly the clearest a la Sky.

 

[Perm]

I thought the graphics were quite poor TBH, that could've been because I was watching it on my 14" TV. I'm cutting my rugby breakup short in order to watch this game, so it better be good.

 

[BoyBrumby]

I thought the graphics were quite poor TBH, that could've been because I was watching it on my 14" TV. I'm cutting my rugby breakup short in order to watch this game, so it better be good.

Less than confident, in all honesty. Think the Italians might be slightly keeping their powder dry for the big one against the sweaties as there's no Pez at 10.

Nice to see Stanojevic get a start tho; despite the name he's actually a Brummie who qualifies through an Italian mum.

 

[BoyBrumby]

64 seconds that took. McCaw powers through the defence like a knife through butter. Hard day at the office for the Italians ahead.

 

[BoyBrumby]

38-0 after 20 minutes. Jesus. Can't decide if NZ are that good or Italy are that bad.

 

[Matteh]

Stanojevic's parents run a hotel in Warwick apparently.

NZ very impressive the first 20 mins before Italy started to actually play. Great intercept try though by Stanjoevic tbh.

 

[Stefano]

New Zealand too strong for Italy. Our World Cup will start next Tuesday against Romania.

 

[steds]

Far better game than yesterday imo.

 

[Pup Clarke]

Nah, was sooooooooooooooo predictable.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Far better game than yesterday imo.

Ha, ha. What?

You jest, surely?

 

[steds]

No. Perhaps not in terms of competitiveness, but yesterday was a mess. So many errors, so much fussing about. So hard to watch union when it's like that. Both sides were far easier on the eye today, and I really enjoyed the second half.

 

[BoyBrumby]

No. Perhaps not in terms of competitiveness, but yesterday was a mess. So many errors, so much fussing about. So hard to watch union when it's like that. Both sides were far easier on the eye today, and I really enjoyed the second half.

Spoken like a league fan.

Today was just basketball Rugby with NZ in the Harlem Globetrotters role. They were clinical, but Italy were woeful for long stretches. Far more to enjoy in yesterday's game; Los Pumas came with a definite game plan (to keep it tight & pepper Haymans with as many garryowens as possible) & executed it pretty damn well.

 

[ohtani's jacket]

It was difficult to gauge anything from the All Blacks' performance since there was barely any structure to the game. Italy didn't give them a match. There were a few positives, however, particularly Carter's kicking game and Leon McDonald having his best Test in quite some time.

I agree that it was easier to watch than the opener, though. France were awful & Argentina's game plan was ugly. Love those Mighty Pumas though.

 

[Perm]

Italy to beat Scotland, you heard it here first.