Roar Guru
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Former New Zealand journalist teaching in Istanbul. Fave teams - Canes and Jags. Can be found chatting live on Twitter: https://twitter.com/IstanbulWingman
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Last weekend, China booked their place at the Olympics. Hosting the Asian qualifying tournament in the southern city of Guangzhou, the Chinese women amassed…
The Six Nations begin to resemble Wile E. Coyote with their collective failures at the Rugby World Cup. Just as the Looney Tunes character…
I have to confess I did not watch the World Cup final live. That would have required time off work and a trip to…
The international rugby community's attention will be fixed on the World Cup semi-finals this weekend, with many wondering if the Brits can defy the…
South Africa's Bitzbok top the bill as the Safari Sevens return to Nairobi this weekend, thanks to a lucrative sponsorship deal with Kenya Breweries…
In reaching the quarter-finals for the first time, Japan have single-handedly hauled this World Cup out of the flames of disaster. The typhoon-induced cancellations,…
Japan stands on the brink of qualification for the World Cup quarter-finals after victories over Russia, Ireland and Samoa, but still needs to get…
It has been said that the 'real' World Cup begins with the quarter-finals. That is because the tournament is invariably confined by this stage…
The Rugby World Cup's expansion from sixteen teams to twenty after just three tournaments appeared premature, to say the least, but it also gave…
Nothing livens up a World Cup tournament like upsets, and while Fiji were one of the main hopes to produce a surprise in Japan…
Back in the day, it was fashionable for teams to include stop-off Tests in minor rugby-playing nations during overseas tours, and this undoubtedly helped…
Zimbabwe won the Victoria Cup on Saturday with a 41-5 defeat of Zambia in Lusaka. The four-nation tournament was revived this year after the…
World Cup-winning All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has blamed World Rugby for failing to stand up to the Six Nations and force through its…
One question that has certainly been settled in the World Cup era is that of hemispheric dominance. Those of us of sufficient vintage will…
The tiny island of Nauru made its international debut with an 89-5 loss to hosts Papua New Guinea in the Oceania Championships last weekend,…
Tiny Nauru made its Test debut in an 89-5 loss to Papua New Guinea on Friday, Zimbabwe got one hand on Africa's Victoria Cup…
Russia were beaten by Italy in their World Cup warm-up fixture at San Benedetto del Tronto last weekend, predictably enough, though it appears there…
Rugby is the ninth most popular sport in the world but its global appeal is restricted by too many players, complex rules, the widening…
If player numbers per capita are an accurate gauge, the most rugby-mad nation in the world is not three-time World Cup winner New Zealand,…
May the best team win at the Rugby World Cup in Japan this year, but preferably that won't be the All Blacks. Now, firstly,…
Fair comment, PR, but as mentioned already, this was an overview of 9 tournaments, not specifically directed at this one. Yes, the Northern teams had some great wins over their Southern counterparts in Japan. Probably had the better of us for a change, in fact – except for the Big one.
Collective failure of the Six Nations
By far the best team, Fionn. But that final could’ve gone either way.
Collective failure of the Six Nations
That’s why the Southern teams playing tough game after tough game is such an advantage, Mitch. The 6 Nations have their Le Crunch and then it’s on to Italy or Scotland . . .
Collective failure of the Six Nations
England have never reached the final of the Euros either! 😢
Collective failure of the Six Nations
The AIs have perhaps given the north a false sense of security, because the Southern teams really aren’t at their best and are generally just showing up to get paid.
Collective failure of the Six Nations
Wales were only ever great by 5 Nations standards. They haven’t beaten the All Blacks in 66 years remember. Still, they have the best record of the Celtic nations at the World Cup with 3 semi-final appearances – and two of those were very close.
Collective failure of the Six Nations
Great comments, Suzy. I agree with you that the Southern fans are the worst losers. The British just start talking about the Premiership and pretending rugby doesn’t exist. They are more likely to be sore winners, however; bragging endlessly on those rare occasions they do win.
Collective failure of the Six Nations
The 6 Nations by no means disgraced themselves this year. They had some great wins over the Southern powers. It’s just that repetitive failure to lift the trophy more than once from a collective seven attempts that warranted a little attention.
Collective failure of the Six Nations
I’m well past the bragging stage. I actually hope the Northern Hemisphere wins the next one – preferably France in front of their home fans.
Collective failure of the Six Nations
Yes, a big scrum is one thing, but you also need those game-breakers out wide.
Collective failure of the Six Nations
Teams are definitely more successful at home in the friendlies, Haydn, but it all goes out the window at World Cups. The Northern Hemisphere won its only World Cup in the south, remember!
Collective failure of the Six Nations
BBC report suggests Australia and the US are favoured for the 2027 & 2031 hosts respectively https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/50345644?fbclid=IwAR07DVRocNL0tPgRmbgPYBle5ij3R7L3Udybv2qc9xcH5ca3thvpZK629aA
Reflections on the World Cup
If that were the basis of the article, Partyhat, it wouldn’t need writing, as the stats are plain enough on their own.
Collective failure of the Six Nations
The numbers represent wins and losses, JN. For example, England have had one win and three losses against New Zealand at the World Cup.
Collective failure of the Six Nations
& Argentina’s even further. Tokyo to Buenos Aires is a 27 hour flight.
Japan must join the Six Nations
Africa 7s underway. Live feed here: https://livestream.com/accounts/1043772/events/8882386?fbclid=IwAR2Bh0ffldoCcOk1KiQXdhAAPZsQ9KQOy7hUJBXfSJ6oGMUodl3nH8w3w0w
First Round
M1: Zimbabwe 24-21 Nigeria
M2: Kenya 36-7 Ivory Coast
M3: Uganda57-0 Mauritius
M4: Madagscar Botswana – 11:06am
M5: Zambia vs Ghana – 11:28am
M6: Tunisia vs Namibia – 11:50am
M7: Senegal vs Morocco – 12:12pm
Kenya travel to Johannesburg in South Africa with a squad full of household names as they look to overturn last year’s shock 17-5 defeat to Zimbabwe and reclaim the Africa Sevens title. http://www.ragahouse.com/news/item/ogweno-kenya-out-to-reclaim-africa-7s-title
Nigeria Black Stallions will be captained by Onoru Jatto.
1. Onoru Jatto (Captain)
2. Azeez Ladipo
3. Nuhu Ibrahim
4. Declan Nwachukwu
5. David Oyekanmi
6. Isaac Agholor
7. Samuel Ekpo
8. Joshua Etim
9. Akpabio Samuel
10. Blaise Felix
11. Chinedu Joseph
12. Felix Maduchem
Reflections on the World Cup
6 Nations makes a lot more sense than the Southern Hemisphere Championships. SA and Argentina are literally the antipodes of Japan. & Japan would be more competitive in the 6 Nations too, certainly better than Italy right now.
Japan must join the Six Nations
The Wallabies of the 90s were both great sides, no question. Australia stole a march in the late amateur (shamateur) and early professional eras, while the Home Unions – in particular – struggled to make the transition.
Who is the best World Cup winning team ever?
Except the 87 All Blacks, Fionn. They were in a class of their own. But they did have home advantage, even if that doesn’t appear to count for much in rugby World Cups.
Who is the best World Cup winning team ever?
Closeness of score did not reflect the All Blacks dominance in that game, Paul D. Boks never looked like winning it and were lucky to stay in touch.
Who is the best World Cup winning team ever?
Agreed Sherry, and the World Cup host decisions always tend to surprise me, but if I am right in that World Rugby wants to pair the US with either SA or Australia as the next two host nations, I suspect the US will have to be 2031, as the tournament is overdue an appearance in the south. That gives them 8 years – and 16 seasons – to work with, and MLR looks like it’s really beginning to take off. Don’t forget Canada always has a team involved as well.
Reflections on the World Cup
Australia 7s qualified for the Olympics with a 19-12 win over Samoa at the Oceanias in Suva this morning. Poor old Samoa return to the repechages, where they lost in a nailbiting final to Spain last time.
Collective failure of the Six Nations