Rugby World Cup

[PaulWinch again]

Well we won the game, wasn't great. Foden and Haskell did well. We need to cut down on the stupid penalties if we are going to further in this competition.

[TopDeck113]

To be fair, when it comes to missing a conversion, is that ITV's or the host broadcaster's fault?

I agree that the commentary isn't much cop, though.  As I said about Channel 4 and the World Athletics coverage, it is a pity that when it comes to flogging their TV rights, those doing the selling think only of the amount of dosh, not whether the winning bidders have got the necessary experience in covering the sport to do in justice.  No amount of money in the bank will compensate a sport's governing body for people either not watching, or worse, ridiculing the presenters/commentators/coverage. 

[Villan For Life]

To be fair, when it comes to missing a conversion, is that ITV's or the host broadcaster's fault?

I agree but you would have thought that a host broadcaster based in a Rugby hotbed would get the basics right!

[N'Rexy]

To be fair, when it comes to missing a conversion, is that ITV's or the host broadcaster's fault?

I agree but you would have thought that a host broadcaster based in a Rugby hotbed would get the basics right!

ITV will have their own replay machines so they can insert thier own replays of incidents of special interest to the UK. This could well have been their stuff up.

[JD]

To be fair, when it comes to missing a conversion, is that ITV's or the host broadcaster's fault?

I agree but you would have thought that a host broadcaster based in a Rugby hotbed would get the basics right!

ITV will have their own replay machines so they can insert thier own replays of incidents of special interest to the UK. This could well have been their stuff up.

It would have been. No problem with the coverage here. They don't show replays while someones lining up a conversion. 

[Jon Crofts]

What do we think of the Frenchies then? 
Is it a great tactic or devaluing the competition?

I was looking forward to some Gallic flair & a great encounter with the All Blacks as I'm sure 60 odd thousand paying fans were, I'd be livid.

[usav]

What do we think of the Frenchies then? 
Is it a great tactic or devaluing the competition?

I was looking forward to some Gallic flair & a great encounter with the All Blacks as I'm sure 60 odd thousand paying fans were, I'd be livid.

What have they done, Jon?

[paul_e]

Very good performance from england today, carried well, supported each other well and took the opportunities we had.  If we can keep that up and do the same against the bigger sides we're in with a chance here.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

I was looking forward to some Gallic flair & a great encounter with the All Blacks as I'm sure 60 odd thousand paying fans were, I'd be livid.

I don't think you'll find too many complaining at the moment. (snigger)

[PaulWinch again]

We did well today, all we could do really.

[taylorsworkrate]

The positives are that Englands performances have got better each week, and we started to play with a bit of ambition and width, albeit against a poor side.

Negatives are the lack of discipline and penalties still needlessly conceded, and missing a few opportunities to add more tries.

It is looking pretty open for us now though.  The French don't look much cop and i'd expect us to have too much for them in the quarters. 

[TopDeck113]

Whoops... Scotland lose to Argentina. 

Should make next weekend interesting.  If it was a dead rubber with both England and Scotland through, I'd have thought the English second XV would beat the Scottish XV.  Now both sides, but particularly Scotland, can't afford to lose, so the idea of resting players no longer comes into it.

[PaulWinch again]

The Scots would have to score 5 tries against us to get through, which isn't going to happen. Argentina will beat Georgia and I expect we'll win as well.

[cdbearsfan]

Scotland don't need to score five tries. They need to win by more than seven and stop England scoring four tries... preventing them from getting a bonus point. They would then finish level on points and Scotland would finish above England on head-to-head.

The only way this wouldn't be enough is if all three countries finished level on points, in which case Scotland would likely miss out on points difference. For that to happen, Argentina would have to beat Georgia, but not get a bonus point. I suspect the Argies will be going all out for a bonus point to finish tp of the group and avoid New Zealand.

[taylorsworkrate]

I cannot see England losing to this poor Scotland team.