Pool D - Australia, Wales, Georgia, Fiji, Uruguay

[Howe_zat]

Lynagh just said Genia's the most capped Australian scrum half. Gregan must be ahead still, surely?

Gregan's about 30 caps ahead. Weird claim

Gregan is 130 odd, Genia 105...maybe more capped at World Cups?

Gregan played 20 world cup games to Genia's 12, statsguru reveals. Four cups and two finals.

 

[ripper868]

Disappointing result for Fiji who were the better team. Wallabies assisted over the line by scoring winning points against an undermanned Fiji. This group of Wallabies, players to staff are such an irksome pack of arseholes they will convince themselves they were the better side. Next game against Wales should deliver to the wallabies the absolute belting they have been begging for and which I can’t wait to see. Hopefully they’ll be eliminated at the earliest possible exit. Only then can rugby here begin to critically look at itself and clean out the ranks - players, staff, management - the whole scurvy lot of them. Not that I’m confident they’d admit it to themselves even then.

Name the 31 players you'd have picked in the squad, not picking any of the players currently picked, to put some substance behind your 'clearout'.
Worry about all that **** post the cup, for now, try and enjoy some rugby and support the team.

If you're hope is to see the wallabies eliminated as soon as possible then you do t really have the interests of Aus rugby at heart. The 'golden period' in 90s and early 00 was direct correlation to world cup results.

 

[morgieb]

Yeah the problems with Aussie Rugby have nothing to do with the squad picked. It's just that no-one that doesn't attend an elite private school plays rugby anymore.

 

[ripper868]

That's kinda been how rugby in Aus has been since forever...tell me the time period that it wasn't?

Edit: I agree it's a problem, but how is it a new thing?

 

[morgieb]

That's kinda been how rugby in Aus has been since forever...tell me the time period that it wasn't?

Edit: I agree it's a problem, but how is it a new thing?

I mean today's side is a lot shittier than what it was 20 years ago and we're no longer poaching blokes like Tuqiri, Sailor or Rogers from league. But yes, it's always been a private school boys code, though Australian Rugby have a lot of questions to answer about how they butchered an expansion opportunity that the late 90's offered.

 

[GotSpin]

I mean today's side is a lot shittier than what it was 20 years ago and we're no longer poaching blokes like Tuqiri, Sailor or Rogers from league. But yes, it's always been a private school boys code, though Australian Rugby have a lot of questions to answer about how they butchered an expansion opportunity that the late 90's offered.

2003 was the year Union should have overtaken all other winter sports

 

[Spark]

2003 was the year Union should have overtaken all other winter sports

Tbh I think long term I think AFL is going to steamroller all other winter sports unless stopped by the Inevitable Era Of CTE Lawsuits. But it's bizarre that the last 15 years is when Aus rugby has collapsed of all times.

It's easy, and often right, to **** on CA and the AFL for the rampant commercialisation and monetisation of their sports, introducing stuff like the BBL and perhaps neglecting their traditional base. But they at least have seen which way the wind is blowing and have tried to sail with it. Rugby seems to have just sat still.

And how for the love of god does Alan Jones still have so much influence within the ****ing place?

 

[GotSpin]

Yeah perhaps dominating all winter sports is an overstatement, but Union was doing very well in the early 2000s and they should have launched themselves into it after the 2003 World Cup

 

[Flem274*]

australia are actually pretty good given how sidelined the sport has become over there. granted, a lot of it is due to peaking at the wc and having a couple of ridiculously good players but they are still pretty respectable given they play the two 'rugby = life' countries all the time.

playing us and sa all the time would help develop their more average players too of course, which is a good thing for keeping the southern hemisphere as a whole strong.

 

[ripper868]

Softest try of the tournament that first one for Wales.

 

[ripper868]

And waste of time by the TMO there. Never a danger of it being a penalty

 

[ripper868]

Wales going to have a field day, Georgia dont look up for this at all.

 

[Spark]

Georgia look miles off.

 

[ripper868]

Not seen reply but should be yellow card for deliberate knock on.

Edit...I guess that's gone backwards?

 

[Spark]

Working their way back into it now. Two good scrums there.

 

[StephenZA]

Georgia's scrum pushing Wales around is not a good sign for Wales going forward.

Knock-on is a pity.

 

[Spark]

Really odd refereeing in the last five minutes.

 

[Niall]

Georgia ain't ready for the six nations yet.

 

[ripper868]

Italy aren't ready to stay in it then.

Good start for Georgia, Wales dont look up for this...

 

[MrPrez]

A tale of two halves, this match.