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England v USA, Friday, 7.30pm, BBC1

That score

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Ok so you can tell has the standard of rugby really go up outside of England and NZ since you started watching?
Yes, hugely. Inside of Eng and NZ as well - I think it was this board I made a post of it the other day.

Until 3 years ago, England were the only properly professional side, whilst France and NZ were semi-pro.


ETA: post #5 on the RWC pools thread, as a reply to a post on this thread yesterday
 
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Idk a lot of the build up was over USA having the most famous rugby player in any variation, and people just saw that person get over 60 points out on them
Sorry, I missed this bit.
Also talked about Maher earlier.

Build up is trying to big up the underdog - shocker.
Build up was also talking about the most famous rugby player outside of rugby circles. Note - she's not a great rugby player in 7s, let alone XVs. She's a social media influencer who's famous in America, and happens to play rugby well enough to have an olympic medal, and now play in a RWC for the 10th ranked team, who've always relied on trying to teach rugby to natural athletes (sorry pagliaccio). She absolutely brings eyeballs onto the sport that wouldn't otherwise watch it, of course the press are going to feed on that.
I don't like the "social media influencer" is even a phrase, let alone a profession. But that's the world we live in.
 
Only the English could complain that their team are winning too much

But the fact they’ve won so much tells its own story. Sport is nothing without jeopardy.

Unless you’re a total flag waver, games like that are so what. BTW there are plenty of mismatches that I dislike in the men’s RWC too.

If Eng win the thing I can just see the hype machine ratcheted up to warp speed 100, despite them maybe only having one serious test.

I watched some of the Lionesses in the Euros where there was genuine drama with results in doubt that made compelling viewing. That’s the essence of sport and I just hope this tournament can serve up some of the same.
 
It was a bit of a slow start but we built into it well, and should continue to do so. My concern is 10 - Aitchison and Rowland injured and Harrison seemed to have her knee strapped, we’re not far off an injury crisis already.
On a positive note, it’s not what she’s known for but I was really impressed with Abby Dow’s defensive work rate.
 
The sport has grown to its current level of popularity with scorelines like this.
It's not going to lose popularity because of scorelines like this.

Yeah, it was a blowout.
It was always going to be a blowout.
That won't have surprised anyone who was already following women's rugby.

Eg, first post on this very thread
Recent results
2024: USA 21-61 Red Roses
2022: Red Roses 52-14 USA
2021: Red Roses 89-0 USA
2019: USA 5-38 Red Roses
2018: Red Roses 57-5 USA
That's an average score of Eng 59.4 - 9 USA over 5 matches
 
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But the fact they've won so much tells its own story. Sport is nothing without jeopardy.

Unless you're a total flag waver, games like that are so what. BTW there are plenty of mismatches that I dislike in the men's RWC too.

If Eng win the thing I can just see the hype machine ratcheted up to warp speed 100, despite them maybe only having one serious test.

I watched some of the Lionesses in the Euros where there was genuine drama with results in doubt that made compelling viewing. That's the essence of sport and I just hope this tournament can serve up some of the same.
The one and only time England won a world cup was when they were dominant and popularity for the game exploded.

Womens rugby is growing and part of that is because of increased coverage and no doubt success.

I think if the men's games was half as successful again in England it would help. But realistically the SH have dominated the world cup for 40 years and it's probably not changing soon except for maybe the French. I don't think men's international rugby is as even as we always like to think
 
Sorry, I missed this bit.
Also talked about Maher earlier.

Build up is trying to big up the underdog - shocker.
Build up was also talking about the most famous rugby player outside of rugby circles. Note - she's not a great rugby player in 7s, let alone XVs. She's a social media influencer who's famous in America, and happens to play rugby well enough to have an olympic medal, and now play in a RWC for the 10th ranked team, who've always relied on trying to teach rugby to natural athletes (sorry pagliaccio). She absolutely brings eyeballs onto the sport that wouldn't otherwise watch it, of course the press are going to feed on that.
I don't like the "social media influencer" is even a phrase, let alone a profession. But that's the world we live in.
THANK YOU. I've thought she was an average player for ages. Bristol weren't interested in hanging onto her for long and other than being a bit Manu in the carry I don't see what else she offers
 
She is strong, some times it takes three players to take her down but yes, she is not all that skilled.

What I meant earlier about kildunne being a star is that she should be as big as Maher if the British press does it right.

I hate the whole “stick to sports thing” but I think Maher puts more energy into being part of the brain rot than she does being an athlete.

England were fun to watch even in domination. Hopefully we get to see them challenged and even beaten, if not, they deserve it.
 
THANK YOU. I've thought she was an average player for ages. Bristol weren't interested in hanging onto her for long and other than being a bit Manu in the carry I don't see what else she offers
She offers eyeballs, ticket sales and merch sales.

Out of interest, I've just had a look at the rankings table.
USA are 25.7 ranking points behind England - slightly more than the gap from New Zealand to Uruguay in men's rugby. Last time those 2 played, it was 73 - 0 (Oct '23). Let's not pretend similay blow-outs don't happen in the men's game.
 
She offers eyeballs, ticket sales and merch sales.

Out of interest, I've just had a look at the rankings table.
USA are 25.7 ranking points behind England - slightly more than the gap from New Zealand to Uruguay in men's rugby. Last time those 2 played, it was 73 - 0 (Oct '23). Let's not pretend similay blow-outs don't happen in the men's game.
Oh she's great at the hype, just not so good at the sport
 
She is strong, some times it takes three players to take her down but yes, she is not all that skilled.

What I meant earlier about kildunne being a star is that she should be as big as Maher if the British press does it right.

I hate the whole "stick to sports thing" but I think Maher puts more energy into being part of the brain rot than she does being an athlete.

England were fun to watch even in domination. Hopefully we get to see them challenged and even beaten, if not, they deserve it.
Thing is, Maher isn't famous for her rugby. She's famous for dancing, modelling, and posting on tiktok.
Rugby may have got her foot in the door for dancing, as a z-list celeb. (like Matt Stevens for singing - except being capable once there), but it's certainly not rugby that catapulted to fame
 
No one claims she's the best in the world

For some reason people get really really angry at the fact that she's the most famous rugby player in the world, and want to tear her down at every opportunity

Is she famous for being the best? No.
No. One. Claims. That.

She's still done more to get eyeballs on the sport than most and that should be celebrated not derided
 
No one claims she's the best in the world

For some reason people get really really angry at the fact that she's the most famous rugby player in the world, and want to tear her down at every opportunity

Is she famous for being the best? No.
No. One. Claims. That.

She's still done more to get eyeballs on the sport than most and that should be celebrated not derided

I think my thing is just, having the most known player in the women’s game involved in the wrong side of a blowout won’t help the game

Especially when she is prob moving to WWE after this World Cup by the sounds of it
 
I just don't get all the negativity, Englands women are great historically they could probably be accused of being very forward dominant and a little boring, that's clearly not the case they literally are the complete package, they can only play what's in front of them, if that's not currently to their level that's everyone else fault and as the game grows and becomes more professional the gap will naturally shrink. Been following the game internationally at least pretty consistently over the last WC cycle and what strikes me is the players actually seem to enjoy it and play with a smile on their faces that's contagious and offers a feel good factor often absent from the men's. Clearly there is a divide between top 4 and the others but the same is true of the men's game, France seemed to have regressed a little reflected by that heavy Hope defeat to England during the warmups but then they had a few players missing due to injury and discipline I believe, probably also a game where England played very well and France were just a few % off the intensity, IIRC France gave England a scare in the 6 nations with a late flurry. In summery anyone complaining get your head out you ass and enjoy a masterclass from elite athletes like Ellie, for me Jones should probably have got player of the match, it was her that gave England the momentum in the earlier quarters when things were a bit tense and set the tone for much of the game, Breach showed some defensive vulnerability whilst Abi Dowl showed how complete player she is, loves a rip and strong tackle, almost reminds me of that French winger that wears the scrum can in defensive terms.
 

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