Re: Fiji
Posted: Sun Aug 27, 2023 2:42 pm
They were far more credible opposition n Dublin than England were. After yesterday’s results Japan and Samoa will fancy their chances.
They were far more credible opposition n Dublin than England were. After yesterday’s results Japan and Samoa will fancy their chances.
Japan got stuffed by Italy yesterday.Sandydragon wrote: ↑Sun Aug 27, 2023 3:19 pmThey were far more credible opposition n Dublin than England were. After yesterday’s results Japan and Samoa will fancy their chances.
Agree with that. What is not clear until we play them in a fortnight, is just how good are the Fijians. They struggled against a 2nd/3rd choice France and beat a tidy England side, who themselves struggled to overcome a 2nd/3rd choice Wales at Twickenham.Sourdust wrote: ↑Sun Aug 27, 2023 10:22 am In a normal world, if you saw a scoreline like England 22-30 Fiji, you'd assume (a) it was England's 3rd XV and (b) Fiji lived off their mistakes and ran in sevens tries.
In fact, a clueless all-round rugby team was beaten by a decent all-round rugby team. Although I'm worried for Wales of course, I still didn't see anything from Fiji that I found particularly scary; they were just solid in a way they haven't been before. They actually looked like a team coached to play 15-a-side, rather than the Sevens team plus the Sevens "A" team plus a 38yo fly-half from Worcester.
Right now you look at Wales v Fiji, Wales v Aus, Eng v Arg and Eng v Sam and have to wonder where any wins are coming from there. But in my glass-half-full mode, Operation "Under The Radar" has been concluded with stunning success. No more chortling under the breath that "Wales might not beat Fiji" - Fiji are incontestably genuine favourites now, and because of that how we work, that can only help us.
I watched some highlights, Japan were within a score for most of the match but gave some late tries away when they were in possession, which distorted the score a bit. I think they were 7 points behind with about 5 minutes to go. They don’t seem to be the team they were 4 years ago, though. I can’t see them threatening England or Argentina.pompey-zebra wrote: ↑Sun Aug 27, 2023 4:14 pmJapan got stuffed by Italy yesterday.Sandydragon wrote: ↑Sun Aug 27, 2023 3:19 pmThey were far more credible opposition n Dublin than England were. After yesterday’s results Japan and Samoa will fancy their chances.
No, looking back on recent results, Japan dont look like a form team at the moment. Still, Samoa gave Ireland more of a fright than i was expecting, so I suppose Japan couldn't be ruled out completely from causing an upset.Wallpaperman wrote: ↑Mon Aug 28, 2023 9:28 amI watched some highlights, Japan were within a score for most of the match but gave some late tries away when they were in possession, which distorted the score a bit. I think they were 7 points behind with about 5 minutes to go. They don’t seem to be the team they were 4 years ago, though. I can’t see them threatening England or Argentina.pompey-zebra wrote: ↑Sun Aug 27, 2023 4:14 pmJapan got stuffed by Italy yesterday.Sandydragon wrote: ↑Sun Aug 27, 2023 3:19 pm
They were far more credible opposition n Dublin than England were. After yesterday’s results Japan and Samoa will fancy their chances.
The failure of England and Wales does suggest a reboot is required along lines of the Irish model. We can only hope our new CEO can move us in that direction (before she resigns, dispirited at her inability to effect change).UKHamlet wrote: ↑Mon Aug 28, 2023 2:38 pm The interesting thing is what will happen post-RWC. England have been dining out on 2003 for two decades, gradually edging towards perennial underachievement with a few bright spots. "As long as we beat the English" is starting to ring hollow. Maybe we'll shift our focus and start singing "As long as we beat the Irish." One thing is clear, Rugby Union will need a reboot if we both suffer ignominious failure. A genuinely radical rebuild from the grassroots up is called for. Otherwise supporters will drift away. I'll still take my place in the Gorseinon RFC stand, but I doubt I'll ever pay to see Wales again, let alone a region, and I'm pretty sure that's becoming increasingly widespread.
Agree there, Hammy. If there's not a focus on developing Welsh rugby so it provides the game with a depth of players and supporters, then the the national team will be increasingly reliant on exiles developed by other countries, and more supporters like you (and me) will support their local club and shun the stadium.UKHamlet wrote: ↑Mon Aug 28, 2023 2:38 pm The interesting thing is what will happen post-RWC. England have been dining out on 2003 for two decades, gradually edging towards perennial underachievement with a few bright spots. "As long as we beat the English" is starting to ring hollow. Maybe we'll shift our focus and start singing "As long as we beat the Irish." One thing is clear, Rugby Union will need a reboot if we both suffer ignominious failure. A genuinely radical rebuild from the grassroots up is called for. Otherwise supporters will drift away. I'll still take my place in the Gorseinon RFC stand, but I doubt I'll ever pay to see Wales again, let alone a region, and I'm pretty sure that's becoming increasingly widespread.
Wales isn't comparable to Ireland or England in the way that rugby is run, they have a strong public school background, most of the Leinster players come through St Mary's college for instance, also there is not the same amount of money in the game in Wales, if the regional teams could get crowds like the Irish provinces then that would be a start but rugby is far more parochial in Wales.Son of Mathonwy wrote: ↑Mon Aug 28, 2023 4:24 pmThe failure of England and Wales does suggest a reboot is required along lines of the Irish model. We can only hope our new CEO can move us in that direction (before she resigns, dispirited at her inability to effect change).UKHamlet wrote: ↑Mon Aug 28, 2023 2:38 pm The interesting thing is what will happen post-RWC. England have been dining out on 2003 for two decades, gradually edging towards perennial underachievement with a few bright spots. "As long as we beat the English" is starting to ring hollow. Maybe we'll shift our focus and start singing "As long as we beat the Irish." One thing is clear, Rugby Union will need a reboot if we both suffer ignominious failure. A genuinely radical rebuild from the grassroots up is called for. Otherwise supporters will drift away. I'll still take my place in the Gorseinon RFC stand, but I doubt I'll ever pay to see Wales again, let alone a region, and I'm pretty sure that's becoming increasingly widespread.
Parochialism is a problem. Put proper regions in place and people will still not be happy, but we don’t have the resources for clubs to rise and fall on their own. I don’t think we have enough resource for 4 regions, although folding one region may not mean that much more cash straight away. I would want all 4 in WRU control, and the focus resources on one or 2 regions. If the funded regions can get some success whilst the others give opportunities to younger Welsh players, that would be an improvement.Numbers wrote: ↑Tue Aug 29, 2023 12:19 pmWales isn't comparable to Ireland or England in the way that rugby is run, they have a strong public school background, most of the Leinster players come through St Mary's college for instance, also there is not the same amount of money in the game in Wales, if the regional teams could get crowds like the Irish provinces then that would be a start but rugby is far more parochial in Wales.Son of Mathonwy wrote: ↑Mon Aug 28, 2023 4:24 pmThe failure of England and Wales does suggest a reboot is required along lines of the Irish model. We can only hope our new CEO can move us in that direction (before she resigns, dispirited at her inability to effect change).UKHamlet wrote: ↑Mon Aug 28, 2023 2:38 pm The interesting thing is what will happen post-RWC. England have been dining out on 2003 for two decades, gradually edging towards perennial underachievement with a few bright spots. "As long as we beat the English" is starting to ring hollow. Maybe we'll shift our focus and start singing "As long as we beat the Irish." One thing is clear, Rugby Union will need a reboot if we both suffer ignominious failure. A genuinely radical rebuild from the grassroots up is called for. Otherwise supporters will drift away. I'll still take my place in the Gorseinon RFC stand, but I doubt I'll ever pay to see Wales again, let alone a region, and I'm pretty sure that's becoming increasingly widespread.
Yep, moved forward by 24 hours, press conference at 12.30.