The IRISH RUGBY thread

[LeoMc]

From watching the 2 semifinals (in all but name) I don't think New Zealand will be able to live with South Africa.
Those 2 games were a level above the Wal/Arg and Eng/Fij games.

[Tony Baloney]

TMO has been yapping in loads of matches but nothing for that Kwagga Smith turnover which led to the winning pen.

[Wildweasel74]

NZ are fit to contest the break down, SA a heavier team, we see come the final. France died with their boots on there.

[Wildweasel74]

Itchy and, Gael agreeing, suprise suprise there.

[Wildweasel74]

The 2pt block down from the conversion, which is the first I seen, the big difference in the end.

[Itchy]

Itchy and, Gael agreeing, suprise suprise there.

All sensible people agree with me. Look could you imagine the crying if Ireland won yesterday and SA beat the shite out of them in the final? It was better this way.

[rodney trotter]

The 2pt block down from the conversion, which is the first I seen, the big difference in the end.

Yea it proved to be the difference. In such a big game it was a very novel thing to happen. Kolbe was electric throughout.

[tyssam5]

Yes, they seriously challenged. How on earth can you disagree with that.

Inches from an almost certain world cup final, and inches from a new record of 18 test wins in a row.

Begrudgers will begrudge, as a rule I do my best to avoid people like that.

Hard luck Ireland Rugby, you have given us some memories these last few years. No doubt you will be back.

They were 'almost certain' to beat Argentina last time they got knocked out by them too I think.

You're definitely misremembering there in an effort to get a dig in. They weren't almost certain to win that quarter final in 2015 in the slightest. 

Checked

"Ireland go into the game against Argentina as odds-on 4/7 favourites with online betting site Bet365."

4/7 - maybe not almost certain depending on what kind of better you are, but strong favs. I will grant you that the the odds this year might have been even tighter had they beaten NZ. But the point is that talking about how easy hypothetical semi-final might have been when you are constant quarter final losers is what's wrong about Irish rugby.

[burdizzo]

From watching the 2 semifinals (in all but name) I don't think New Zealand will be able to live with South Africa.
Those 2 games were a level above the Wal/Arg and Eng/Fij games.

I agree. But still, the top four teams, and only 5 points separating them!

[tonto1888]

Like I said they little among the top 4, The SA try over the line won them the game, the hold up on the line cost ours. I say France be sicker than us, saying they were at home. That was the real 2 semis.

Charging down the conversion maybe won them the game

[Captain Obvious]

Look could you imagine the crying if Ireland won yesterday and SA beat the shite out of them in the final? It was better this way.

Better to lose a final and know there was only one team better than you than fail to get past the last eight stage again.

[Capt Pat]

Look could you imagine the crying if Ireland won yesterday and SA beat the shite out of them in the final? It was better this way.

Better to lose a final and know there was only one team better than you than fail to get past the last eight stage again.

And why would South Africa beat the shite out of Ireland in the final? Did we not beat them in the group stages?

[seafoid]

Look could you imagine the crying if Ireland won yesterday and SA beat the shite out of them in the final? It was better this way.

Better to lose a final and know there was only one team better than you than fail to get past the last eight stage again.

And why would South Africa beat the shite out of Ireland in the final? Did we not beat them in the group stages?

Because they know how to deal wtth pressure in knockout matches. We obviously do not.

[seafoid]

Unless England have been faking the last year it will be an all Southern Hemisphere final, probably SA v NZ.
The Southern Hemisphere teams are much better in this competition than the 6 N teams.
Here is the win vs losses in RWC finals situation followed by win ratio by country

New Zealand  3-1  75%
South Africa 3-0  100%
Australia    2-2  50%
England      1-3  25%
France       0-3   0%

Scotland, Ireland, Wales and Italy have never reached a final. Neither have Argentina.

The overall record is

Northern Hemisphere 1-6 16%
Southern Hemisphere 8-1 84%

The Southern hempiphere teams dominate the RWC but the Northern Hemisphere teams dominate the money in rugby.
Ultimately that is  more important for the alickadoos in the IRFU

[Wildweasel74]

It's 2 countries where its their national sport, Ireland Rugby about the 4th sport and that's only cause golf and Horse racing doesn't count