Nalis Posted 14 September 2015 Posted 14 September 2015 At the risk of being slated by those who hate rugby, I thought the Rugby World Cup deserved its own thread with the opening game just 4 days away. How do you rate your teams chances? How much interest will you have in it? Who do you think will surprise and disappoint? Who's going to win it? Also, anyone going to any games? Personally think Ireland will get knocked out in the Quarters (again...) and NZ will beat England in the final.
AKCJ Posted 14 September 2015 Posted 14 September 2015 not bothered but will treat any england game as an excuse to get rat arsed.
isaidno Posted 14 September 2015 Posted 14 September 2015 England's group is the group of death. Playing at Twickenham should see us through. Need to win the group to avoid South Africa in the quarters. Think Australia will get past the Welsh. This tournament is a lot more open than the one 4 years ago. I'm going to watch Argentina vs Namibia at King Power.
Lionator Posted 14 September 2015 Posted 14 September 2015 I fancy Australia, they seem to have hit form at the right time. The final I'd imagine will be between the Group A winners and New Zealand given the way the draw falls.
Izzy Posted 14 September 2015 Posted 14 September 2015 At the risk of being slated by those who hate rugby, I thought the Rugby World Cup deserved its own thread with the opening game just 4 days away. How do you rate your teams chances? How much interest will you have in it? Who do you think will surprise and disappoint? Who's going to win it? Also, anyone going to any games? Personally think Ireland will get knocked out in the Quarters (again...) and NZ will beat England in the final. I'm taking a keen interest and would love to see England win it. Think some of the pool matches are vastly overpriced though to see some shite teams. Luckily I've got a ticket for the final. Feel a bit guilty as there's far more deserving people than me who should go - but I couldn't turn it down
deejdeej Posted 14 September 2015 Posted 14 September 2015 Looking forward to the 26th. Arsenal at home them down the pub for England vs Wales. It shall be a good day especially if the right results come in!
Jordan Posted 14 September 2015 Posted 14 September 2015 I'm not an avid follower of rugby by any means, but I played as a winger for a few years on my college's rugby club. It wasn't as much as I was fast as the rest of my team was really slow. USA recently had a friendly vs Australia, and I really enjoyed watching the game. They gave a good account for themselves for the first 50 minutes before Australia started cruising past our exhausted Eagles. I'm more interested in watching the World Cup because of that game, and I'll probably tune in for a couple of matches. Maybe we're just making up the numbers, but at least USA has a puncher's chance to finish 3rd and qualify for 2019. They've recently beaten Japan and lost by a try to Samoa, so they could scrape together a couple of wins. South Africa and Scotland will be losses. I can't look past New Zealand--their path to the final looks straightforward and I think they ought to be favorites. I really liked our fly half, AJ MacGinty, vs Australia and I think this World Cup could be a good showcase for him.
Finnegan Posted 15 September 2015 Posted 15 September 2015 NZ will piss it. Watch out for Nehe Miller Skudder, the next big thing. Probably the most exciting player in world rugby at the moment. Not guaranteed to start but likely to come on for impact if not. Don't be fooled by the AB vs Oz championship decider in NSW, it was like watching a training match. ABs are in red hot form, well up for this and their teams have just absolutely murdered Super 15 by a country mile. Don't like our chances at all. I'll write more about Wales when I'm not on my phone but I'd flip a coin as to whether we'll get out of the group. The media hype for England is ridiculous, second favourites? Ha okay. Home advantage is pretty big in rugby but it's about all England have to single them out, they're otherwise a very average side. Not that I think Wales are much better at the moment but I think any of the three in our group could fluff it up on the day. Ireland probably the most reassured of the home nations at the moment, wouldn't pay any attention to warm up games, they've an excellent coach and some solid players who are getting on with business quietly without too much hype. Saffers look bollocks, which means they'll probably bodge their way to the final and almost win.
Finnegan Posted 15 September 2015 Posted 15 September 2015 Oh and if they get any ball on the front foot, look out for Tim Nanai Williams of Samoa. Cousin of SBW, though you wouldn't know it to look at him. He's the Riyad Mahrez of rugby. Kinda shit defensively and a bit too skinny for his sport but absolutely magic feet. Great to watch on form.
ScouseFox Posted 15 September 2015 Posted 15 September 2015 as long as we do better than wales it's all good
Darkon84 Posted 15 September 2015 Posted 15 September 2015 Anyone managed to get tickets for any of the games? I tried to get some for Twickenham but they were like gold dust, and I can't justify the prices to watch Argentina at the KP, especially as I got to see them at Welford Road the other week anyway. I'm going on an outside bet of a NZ v Ireland final. It would be great to see Ireland finally win it, but you just can't look past the All Blacks, they're just too good, it's not fair!
Finnegan Posted 15 September 2015 Posted 15 September 2015 I was offered tickets for Wales Oz but the price made my nose bleed. Declined. Honestly at that much I'd rather watch it at home with my feet up in my pants.
Bert Posted 15 September 2015 Posted 15 September 2015 I'm one of these people that had World Cup fever when any decent sport is on. So I'll be paying attention to this. Can't see past NZ.
Darkon84 Posted 15 September 2015 Posted 15 September 2015 I was offered tickets for Wales Oz but the price made my nose bleed. Declined. Honestly at that much I'd rather watch it at home with my feet up in my pants. How much were you quoted for that then? They're about £150 at the lower end aren't they? Some of the prices are nonsense.
kingfox Posted 15 September 2015 Posted 15 September 2015 Will watch the games that are worthy of watching.
Finnegan Posted 15 September 2015 Posted 15 September 2015 How much were you quoted for that then? They're about £150 at the lower end aren't they? Some of the prices are nonsense. Between 150 and 200 each for two, ****ing disgraceful. I'm going to Malta for a week for cheaper than that.
Darkon84 Posted 15 September 2015 Posted 15 September 2015 Between 150 and 200 each for two, ****ing disgraceful. I'm going to Malta for a week for cheaper than that. Even for the smaller gams it's absolutely shocking. I'd love to do something and take part of go to a decent game, but it's unrealistic. Over £300 for tickets to see England, Wales or Ireland in some cases. FFS it's over £100 to see Argentina v Tonga at the KP!!
oakman Posted 15 September 2015 Posted 15 September 2015 Myself and some mates have got tickets for France v Romania, NZ v Namibia and Ireland v Italy at the Olympic Stadium. Cat D tickets are only £35 and there are still quite a few available. Didn't even try to get tickets for Twickenham, far too expense and pretty much sold out immediately. They're not going to be the most exciting games but I reckon they'll be quite high scoring and enjoyable nonetheless.
Manwell Pablo Posted 16 September 2015 Posted 16 September 2015 People who like Rugger have money, that's the problem. Dunno how much I'll watch seeming quite novel at the moment but I'm sure 20 minutes of Canada Vs Uruguay could easily fix that.
isaidno Posted 16 September 2015 Posted 16 September 2015 Cheapest ticket for Argentina vs Tonga was £50. £175 to fit in centre of east or west stand.
Izzy Posted 16 September 2015 Posted 16 September 2015 Even for the smaller gams it's absolutely shocking. I'd love to do something and take part of go to a decent game, but it's unrealistic. Over £300 for tickets to see England, Wales or Ireland in some cases. FFS it's over £100 to see Argentina v Tonga at the KP!! My final ticket has a face value of £150. Not sure where in the ground it is and I must confess it's a gift and I didn't pay for it myself. I think that's pretty good value for a major sporting occasion (especially if England get through). No doubt I could get 10 times that amount for it on e bay - but it ain't mine to sell!
LutterworthLCFC Posted 17 September 2015 Posted 17 September 2015 I'm going to Ireland vs Canada at millennium stadium, going down Friday night for a night out, looking forward to it.
davieG Posted 17 September 2015 Posted 17 September 2015 Leicester City ready to embrace challenge of hosting Rugby World Cup matchesLast Updated: 17/09/15 6:51am The King Power Stadium will welcome the Rugby World Cup next month Leicester City’s head groundsman John Ledwidge says the Rugby World Cup matches due to be staged at the King Power Stadium next month will not interfere with the team’s flying start to the season. The Foxes are unbeaten and currently sit second in the Premier League. Their flawless home pitch suits the quick passing, attacking style of play that has characterised their first five league games. But their home ground will host three World Cup group fixtures and three further days of rugby training within a nine-day period at the start of October. "We've been planning meticulously for this ever since we first learned that the KP would be a Rugby World Cup venue," Ledwidge told Sky Sports News HQ. "If you'd been here in June, you'd have seen me standing in a six-foot trench where the current six-yard box is, as we put in the huge supports for the 17-metre-high rugby posts." The area is now covered over with soil and turf, so that there is no blemish on the immaculate green playing surface. "One of the biggest challenges has been where to store the rugby posts. They're huge." he added. "In the end, we've put them in the concourses - strapped them inside the pillars that hold the stands up." When it comes to the pitch itself, there have been even bigger challenges. "Obviously, there are totally different demands for the two sports," Ledwidge said. Argentina will face Tonga and Namibia at Leicester City's stadium "For a start, the grass will be 28mm long for the World Cup, whilst we cut it to 22mm for Premier League football. That will help protect the surface a bit, but it is much more damaging to the pitch to have 18-stone brutes slamming their boots, and each other, on the surface instead of Riyad Mahrez gliding over it, who's probably eight stone wringing wet. "We've also brought the lighting rigs in about six weeks earlier than we normally would, to help grow the grass as strong and as healthy as possible in advance, and planned the nutrition for the (grass) plants accordingly, so that it's in the best possible condition to cope with the rigours to come." Those lighting rigs cost Leicester more than £250,000. They can be hydraulically raised and lowered to provide more intense heat and light for any areas of the pitch that have been badly damaged by the rucks and mauls. "If you have a scrum, for example, and it's a wet day, it can do quite a bit of damage to the pitch," he said. "So, after the game, we can quickly take the lighting rig and lower it quite close to the surface, to give the grass in that area a big blast of light. "We treat the grass very much like an athlete - the more work it has to do, the more it needs help to recover, and we've designed all the food and light conditions accordingly to provide the pitch with that. We also take soil samples regularly, to monitor the nutrient levels present." Ledwidge is certain that his pitch will be able to cope with almost 500 minutes of rugby in just over a week. Ledwidge admits it will be a different challenge in comparison to preparing for football matches at the stadium "It is pretty high pressure," he admits. "But me and the team thrive on that sort of pressure. The standards in the Premier League are so high, we put ourselves under pressure to produce the best pitch we can on a daily basis. "And it's a big honour to get the chance to stage some big international games in the Rugby World Cup. But we also have to make sure that the pitch is ready for a return to football, as soon as the rugby finishes." To that end, Leicester's groundstaff follow strict guidelines to produce a surface that suits Leicester's style of play. A TRACAB report which uses advanced image-processing technology, has shown that Jamie Vardy is the fastest player in the Premier League so far this season, at almost 35.5 km per hour. With Jeff Schlupp (35.26 km/h) and Marc Albrighton (35.0 km/h) Leicester boast three players in the top four. "Our team is full of pace, clearly, and Claudio likes the pitch to play fast," he said. "So we will always water the pitch more heavily than most clubs, immediately before kick-off and again at half time to give the ball that extra zip. "But we also know that the softer the pitch, the more resistance the quick players feel when they plant their foot as they try to push off. "So if we can make the pitch a bit firmer, the better it is for the quicker players so that they can get a firmer base, better acceleration and a quicker sprint. Jamie Vardy has topped the charts as the fastest Premier League player "But there's a balance to be struck. We do a lot of work with Dave Rennie (Leicester's head physio) to make sure that the firmer pitches don't give a greater risk of injury." He is clearly a master of his trade. Ledwidge and his team have been nominated by the Institute of Groundsmen for the "Groundsteam of the Year" award. They're down to the final two, and are up against their counterparts at Old Trafford. But Ledwidge admits the next month will represent the biggest challenge he's faced in the job so far.
Footballwipe Posted 17 September 2015 Posted 17 September 2015 I love the detail and science that goes into the pitch. It really is great to see. Really can't wait for the World Cup personally, I think there's also that extra magic when it's in your home country too. Looking forward to watching the tournament but a small, tiny part of me hopes some attendances are absolutely shocking. The fact they've charged some of these prices and will seemingly get away with it is stunning. Still, a full Twickenham, Wembley, Hammers Arena and Millennium will be a great sight.
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