Rugby World Cup

[Simon Ward]

Why is it taking so long to play this RWC?

[PaulWinch again]

If you mean why are there such long gaps between matches, it's because the players need recovery time. You can't play two matches in three days at this level of intensity.

[cheltenhamlion]

I am off out with my Kiwi former boss next week. I may stir the pot a bit.

[Simon Ward]

If you mean why are there such long gaps between matches, it's because the players need recovery time. You can't play two matches in three days at this level of intensity.

Lightweights!

[UK Redsox]

From the bits of NZ v Tonga that I saw/heard, NZ looked excellent in the first half but Tonga put up a pretty good display in the second

[Jon Crofts]

Can't see past a back to back win for SA.
England & Oz to the semis & the All Blacks to blow up at some point against France maybe just like in 07.

[paul_e]

I think it's 1 from england, NZ or australia, none of the other eurpean sides impress me and SA look past it and too many of their players have had big injury troubles in the last 2 years.

From today I wasn't overly impressed with NZ, I thought Tonga just got their gameplan totally wrong and gave the all black backs too much space, they were just trying to pound them up front and stop the supply.  Once they started defending the space NZ ran out of ideas and it became a much closer game.  I think NZ had it in them to step up if they needed to but I certainly didn't see anything to justify the ludicrous odds they have to be the winners.

[spangley1812]

Japan really giving the French a game

[UK Redsox]

Argies have been dominating England in the tight but Englands backs look better when they get a chance to run.

Contemponi is off with rib damage so England should be able to take over now.

The Raging Bull is terrible as a co-commentator

[taylorsworkrate]

Really poor from England so far.  Unacceptably so.  They've had a long time to prepare and this is the shit they come up with.

A highly frustrating half of rugby.  Made even harder to watch by a referee who is doing all in his power to stop the game from flowing.

[UK Redsox]

Its not the Ref, it's the England players failure to grasp some of the basic laws of the game, like not diving on the floor at a ruck and failing to release the ball when tackled

[taylorsworkrate]

Its not the Ref, it's the England players failure to grasp some of the basic laws of the game, like not diving on the floor at a ruck and failing to release the ball when tackled

There was one especially bad.  Ashton was in no way tackled, was still making forward momentum, then released the ball as soon as he was tackled.  The Ref saw the flimsy attempt by the first Argentinian as a completed tackle. 

I also think the ref hasn't been aware to the tactics of the Argentine players at rucks, which has been to drag English players competing fairly for the ball off their feet.

Ref aside though, If England don't dramatically improve, they will lose this game and probably lose to a poor Scotland team aswell.

[UK Redsox]

If anything, England are looking worse in the second half.

They're really missing Ben Youngs

[UK Redsox]

Re the Ashton incident, I thought that he was tackled

[taylorsworkrate]

If anything, England are looking worse in the second half.

They're really missing Ben Youngs

Definitely. 

Youngs and Flood would change the whole dynamic.

Wilkinson is kicking and playing poorly.