2019 Rugby World Cup

As a non Rugby fan, I’ve really enjoyed watching Japan play along with Tonga against France and Fiji also. The 6 nations would bore you to death. It’s good to see these lads just go all out and not just boot the ball down the pitch or into touch.

YBIG Quiz Champion 2016, 2017 & 2018.

As You Were
Three in a row

NZ still strong favs.

Ireland around 18/1

Japan with France are available for around 33/1.

There hasn't been a new winner since England in 2003.

There hasn't been a new finalist since South Africa in 1995.

This is the 9th Rugby World Cup and it doesn't feel much bigger than the 1st one in 1987.

Mulvanystrasse wrote:

There hasn't been a new winner since England in 2003.

There hasn't been a new finalist since South Africa in 1995.

This is the 9th Rugby World Cup and it doesn't feel much bigger than the 1st one in 1987.

One of the three powerhouses ( Brazil, Italy and Germany) have had a representative in all but three of the FIFA World Cup finals. Eight teams have won the FIFA World Cup in 90 odd years; four have won the rugby in thirty.

Three continents have won the rugby tournament and only two have won the football.

Rugby has never really wanted to grow outside its traditional heartlands, which is why there wasn’t a global tournament until 1987, but I’m not sure football is in any position to gloat! The next FIFA tournament will be played in grounds built by slave labour and for all that is still likely to have a Europe vs South America final.

pre Madonna wrote:

Mulvanystrasse wrote:

There hasn't been a new winner since England in 2003.

There hasn't been a new finalist since South Africa in 1995.

This is the 9th Rugby World Cup and it doesn't feel much bigger than the 1st one in 1987.

One of the three powerhouses ( Brazil, Italy and Germany) have had a representative in all but three of the FIFA World Cup finals. Eight teams have won the FIFA World Cup in 90 odd years; four have won the rugby in thirty.

Three continents have won the rugby tournament and only two have won the football.

Rugby has never really wanted to grow outside its traditional heartlands, which is why there wasn’t a global tournament until 1987, but I’m not sure football is in any position to gloat! The next FIFA tournament will be played in grounds built by slave labour and for all that is still likely to have a Europe vs South America final.

The issues I stated above are not a comparison to the Football World Cup. Rugby Union has huge potential for growth but only 5 countries have reached the Rugby World Cup final and those were the same big 5 in 1987 although only 4 of those 5 were allowed to compete in WC '87 and '91.

Ireland: Kearney; Earls, Ringrose, Henshaw, Stockdale; Sexton, Murray; Healy, Best, Furlong, Henderson, James Ryan, O'Mahony; Van der Flier, Stander.

Replacements: Scannell, Kilcoyne, Porter, Beirne, Ruddock, McGrath, Carbery, Larmour.

Team for Sat. Only Ali suspended otherwise it’s a fully fit squad.

NZ have not lost a World Cup match since France 07.

We’ll need everything to go our way to win this one.

Is there any sense in me taking Ireland at 7/2 lads? Doesn't seem to be much value there.

I was thinking about putting that bet in my monster parlay with Arkansas football and The Yankees under.

Do Ireland have any realistic chance?

On paper England, NZ, Wales and SA should win but I reckon there will be one upset.

Don’t think it will be Ireland tho!

I have a feeling the upset might be France beating Wales.

England v Australia looks a bit of a physical mismatch sadly. They needed 7 points in that first 10 minutes when they had so much possession.

Difficult to 100% support Ireland when it probably means helping England win the world cup?Trust them to ruin everything. Cry