Pool C - Wales, Australia, Fiji, Georgia, Portugal

[ripper868]

omg i want Portugal to win this
Fiji will stil lgo through on BP but this would be so so epic.

 

[Niall]

Yesssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss

 

[ripper868]

Holy wowza batman!

 

[Aidan11]

Wow.

 

[ripper868]

Minnows shouldn't be here though etc

 

[Molehill]

I don't really follow the mitigation excuse. If your tackle is reckless and you're relying on the other player moving at the last second, it should be the same as if you'd smacked him square on the head while standing still

It’s pretty clear that Curry’s red would only be a yellow now. They’re finding a lot more ‘mitigation’ now.

 

[Ali TT]

Amazing Portugal, rubbish Fiji, lol at Australia.

 

[Molehill]

Minnows shouldn't be here though etc

Been saying all along that Portugal have been great, and while they may have been in a weak group, they’ve avoided thrashings and always been competitive.
How did Australia lose to Fiji? They were dreadful.

 

[Niall]

Been saying all along that Portugal have been great, and while they may have been in a weak group, they’ve avoided thrashings and always been competitive.
How did Australia lose to Fiji? They were dreadful.

Fiji not that good or it Muntz been such a massive loss?

 

[Tom Flint]

That was a joy to watch. Start to finish.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Hats off to the Portuguese.

Got to be up there as shocks in WCs go.

Probably still have Japan surprising the Boks in '15 as #1, but this is up there with Western Samoa (as was) beating the Leekists in '91, Tonga stiffing (eventual finalists) France in '11 and Uruguay downing the Fijians last time around.

The French lost their last pool game in 2011 but still made it to a quarter final against England and then on to a semi versus yer Taffs, so good omens for Fiji there.

 

[RossTaylorsBox]

Can't wait for the top sides to give Portugal some games between World Cups

 

[ashley bach]

Bravo Portugal, good to see them get some reward for their efforts, they deserved it.

Imagine if they did score another try, the fate of Fiji and the wallies would of hung on the conversion.

 

[Molehill]

Fiji not that good or it Muntz been such a massive loss?

Muntz was key when Fiji won at Twickenham, but he's not been there all World Cup. Why has there been such a massive drop off since the Wales/Australia games? They had their gap week after those games and it's like they've yet to return.

England were average against Samoa (who played very well), but the Fiji lineout is so poor that you'd think Itoje will be stealing ball all day long.

 

[Ali TT]

Maybe nerves playing a part, being relative underdogs against England might spur them on again.

 

[Molehill]

Portugal's win has taken them up to 13th in the rankings - that's above Samoa, Georgia, Tonga and Uruguay and just behind Italy and Japan.

I'd really like to see them play Italy and I see no reason why there shouldn't be a promotion/relegation system for the bottom club in the 6 Nations.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Portugal's win has taken them up to 13th in the rankings - that's above Samoa, Georgia, Tonga and Uruguay and just behind Italy and Japan.

I'd really like to see them play Italy and I see no reason why there shouldn't be a promotion/relegation system for the bottom club in the 6 Nations.

Yeah, that's pretty much hitting the nail on the head.

I'd even go so far as to suggest a play off between whoever finishes bottom of the 6N and the winners of the Rugby Europe Championship. That way, should the latter triumph, there can be no complaining they don't deserve it.

Closed shops clearly stifle growth, and it would have the ancillary benefit of fewer dead rubbers in the 6N too.

 

[Howe_zat]

Yeah, that's pretty much hitting the nail on the head.

I'd even go so far as to suggest a play off between whoever finishes bottom of the 6N and the winners of the Rugby Europe Championship. That way, should the latter triumph, there can be no complaining they don't deserve it.

Closed shops clearly stifle growth, and it would have the ancillary benefit of fewer dead rubbers in the 6N too.

I think we would have probably seen this by now were it not for the regular comfortable champions of the REC being just too far and too unfashionable for the Six Nations members to want to go there. Spain and Portugal away days are probably a lot more sellable.

 

[Molehill]

I think we would have probably seen this by now were it not for the regular comfortable champions of the REC being just too far and too unfashionable for the Six Nations members to want to go there. Spain and Portugal away days are probably a lot more sellable.

Yeah, Portugal are credible contenders now and who wouldn't fancy an away day to Lisbon?

I like the play off idea too, Italy v Portugal for a place in the following year's 6 Nations would be an awesome game with lots riding on it.

 

[Uppercut]

I'd love it to happen but it would just be too much of a risk for the other 6N countries to willingly take on. IIRC Scotland, Wales, and France have all finished last since it went to 6, and a whole year out of the tournament feels like a big price to pay given that none of them were too far off being competitive again.

I'd support it anyway, I just prefer open competition with promotion and relegation on principle, but I can see why they don't do it.