There’s no denying the lopsided results the 2013 RLWC has produced highlight the gap between the top and bottom rugby league playing nations, but it’s not the only sport that has its ‘top’ championship dominated by familiar teams each time around.
Since its inception, the RLWC has had four different nations take part in the grand final for three different winners; the Rugby World Cup has had five different nations take part in the grand final for four different winners and the FIFA World Cup (just to bring in another example) has had eight different winners from 12 contenders.
The RLWC has been dominated by league-playing nations (Australia, New Zealand and England), while the Rugby World Cup has been dominated by the Southern Hemisphere and the FIFA World Cup by South America and Europe.
There’s no doubt areas in which each code thrives will produce chamionship winning performances.
Critics of the RLWC have their place, certainly, but the volume (and frequency) at which its detractors have been airing their grievances is getting out of hand.
The lopsided results in question are no more horrific than some scores produced in recent Rugby World Cups.
Of the top five biggest winning margins across both the Rugby World Cup and RLWC, three belong to rugby (142, 128 and 98) all of which were winning margins for Southern Hemisphere teams.
The above statistics may be apples/oranges but my point remains that most (if not all) world sporting tournaments are, and always will be, contested by the same nations each time around.
We need to start appreciating the increased coverage of our respective sports and the extended reach these tournaments provide instead of focusing far too much on the (very predictable) scorelines in certain matches.
ahmad
Guest
I suggest to prevent blowouts which raised this point because someone claimed the RLWC was better because here were less blowouts until I (someone) pointed out the minnows were shielded from facing the big guys till the semis when the predictable blowouts occurred. The claim that it was to spread the game widely is lame when you consider you could have had 2 more minnow teams in the RLWC (even with lots of Aussies in the teams). These pages were screaming with delight when Russia hosted USA in RL and 30K turned up and that Russia was the new RL power. Well the crowd turned up because admission gave you entrance to the lottery for a car now suddenly there is no room for the Russians at the Cup and Russia will be at the Olympics in RU so the chance may have blown.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
Maybe the organisers were worried about too many blowouts? Maybe they were worried about finances or logistical concerns? Maybe the number of teams was a strategic choice? There could be any number of reasons, some based on reality, some based on paranoia. Who knows? Though I doubt there was anything sinister behind it all.
Ahmad
Guest
Col, I have never seen you on the AFL or RU sites or is that the other Col Quinn...
Ahmad
Guest
The question was why there are 14 not 16 so there are 4 groups - how many times can you avoid the question?? The soccer and Rugby world Cups have groups of 4 and then quarters. There are other teams - why not 16 so the talent is more evenly spread across groups where now 3 out 4 in both Groups A and B go forward and 2 of the 6 minnows...Its a simple question
Ahmad
Guest
Perhaps because RL is the No2 footy code and RU is No 4 footy code in Australia - in the rest of the world well that's different
Ahmad
Guest
So Serbia should have got an invite not Russia, that is the lamest point yet on this site...
karlos
Guest
As an Australian with English, German, Aboriginal and Jewish blood running through my veins, I would have been equally proud to represent Australia or an Indigenous Team should there have been one allowed in such a tournament. If I wasn't good enough (which I was not) then I would have been proud to represent Germany where I have many relatives. I probably was good enough too. Damned it! Another missed opportunity. I have no connection to any living Jewish person, so that would be ruled out.
Cathar Treize
Roar Guru
Actually the TV figures out rate even the Wallabies. NZ v PNG RLWC live & replay brought a combined figure larger than the Wallabies game live & replay. Go figure hey :)
Cathar Treize
Roar Guru
Shouldn't that keep you busy and off league threads? Mustn't be that exciting if you have all this time to troll.
Ra
Guest
I guess people don't care about what you have to say In Brief. But if you want to criticize so called heritage players then start with your own country, and especially SOO or good tru blu Aussie Ockers will be watching Polynesians and Kiwis battling it out on the park wearin blue and maroon. Those kids born in Roma or Toowoomba etc etc won't get a look in.
Ra
Guest
Said all that needed to be said there Rodney
Cathar Treize
Roar Guru
Ahmad, you've just answered with more spin. All those nations you've mentioned were involved in world cup qualifiers and all lost so hence they're not participating. I don't know what you're trying to achieve with all this mischief making?
Ra
Guest
Not when you are paying taxes and contributing to that system you are associating with deanp. Remember two NRL franchises in Australia are kiwi owned. Aussie rugby league is laced with Kiwis at all levels doing all sorts of thing for the game in Australia.but most don the black jersey when it comes to across the ditch rivalry - but who are you calling bludgers ? It can be Kiwis.
red Menace
Guest
"Apart from here, it ain’t that big at all." Hmmmm....last weekend's result from around the rugby world from the IRB website; Latest Results TOUR 09 NOV 2013 France 19 - 26 New Zealand Stade de France TOUR 09 NOV 2013 Romania 19 - 18 Tonga Stadionul National Arcul de Triumf TOUR 09 NOV 2013 USA 19 - 29 NZ Maori PPL Park TOUR 09 NOV 2013 Ireland 40 - 9 Samoa Aviva Stadium TOUR 09 NOV 2013 Wales 15 - 24 South Africa Millennium Stadium TOUR 09 NOV 2013 Georgia 19 - 15 Canada Dinamo Arena TOUR 09 NOV 2013 Chile 3 - 26 Spain Centro de Alto Rendimiento del Rugby, La Reina TOUR 09 NOV 2013 Italy 20 - 50 Australia Stadio Olimpico TOUR 09 NOV 2013 Portugal 13 - 36 Fiji Estadio Universitario TOUR 09 NOV 2013 England 31 - 12 Argentina Twickenham TOUR 09 NOV 2013 Scotland 42 - 17 Japan Murrayfield ENC/RWC 09 NOV 2013 Germany 43 - 14 Poland Berlin ENC/RWC 09 NOV 2013 Moldova 50 - 20 Sweden Chisinau ENC 09 NOV 2013 Malta 37 - 18 Croatia Hibernians Ground ENC 09 NOV 2013 Netherlands 34 - 25 Lithuania Sportpark Wouterland ENC 09 NOV 2013 Slovenia 3 - 34 Cyprus Ljubljana ENC 09 NOV 2013 Luxembourg 12 - 24 Bosnia & Herz' W INT 09 NOV 2013 England 40 - 20 France Twickenham TNRT 08 NOV 2013 Namibia 35 - 26 Zimbabwe Hage Geingob Rugby Stadium M INT 08 NOV 2013 Senegal 33 - 10 Cote D'Ivoire Stade Pierre Antoine Upcoming Fixtures TNRT 12 NOV 2013 Kenya Zimbabwe Hage Geingob Rugby Stadium WTOUR 13 NOV 2013 England Canada Twickenham Stoop TOUR 15 NOV 2013 Russia Japan Parc Eirias TOUR 15 NOV 2013 Brazil Portugal Arena Barueri ENC/RWC 16 NOV 2013 Moldova Germany ENC/RWCQ 16 NOV 2013 Czech Republic Ukraine ENC 16 NOV 2013 Switzerland Netherlands TOUR 16 NOV 2013 Georgia USA Akhali TOUR 16 NOV 2013 England New Zealand Twickenham TOUR 16 NOV 2013 Wales Argentina Millennium Stadium TOUR 16 NOV 2013 French Barb Samoa Stade Marcel Michelin TOUR 16 NOV 2013 Italy Fiji Stadio Giovanni Zini TOUR 16 NOV 2013 Uruguay Spain Estadio Charrua TOUR 16 NOV 2013 Ireland Australia Aviva Stadium TOUR 16 NOV 2013 France Tonga Stade Oceane TOUR 16 NOV 2013 Romania Canada Stadionul National Arcul de Triumf TNRT 16 NOV 2013 Namibia Kenya Hage Geingob Rugby Stadium TOUR 17 NOV 2013 Scotland South Africa Murrayfield
Ahmad
Guest
As someone did mention or alluded to , the Baseball World Series was named after a newspaper but still on the other hand they took the name so...
Ahmad
Guest
I don't think that's right about the USA - some Aussies were involved in the qualifying matches but whether the big guns were I don't know...
Ahmad
Guest
Name another world championship where the gerrymander is so obvious....
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
Hi Rodney, I was more commenting on the number of articles on The Roar in relation to the criticism, both positive and negative.
Linedropout
Roar Pro
Sorry, Ra, my next article will have a bit more subtance to it, just like your comment.
Linedropout
Roar Pro
You may have missed the last line, Ben, which is very similar to what you've said: "We need to start appreciating the increased coverage of our respective sports and the extended reach these tournaments provide instead of focusing far too much on the (very predictable) scorelines in certain matches."