[RWC2023] South Africa vs Ireland (23/09/2023)

[IT157]

Ireland team looks strong. Think they will edge it.

 

[IT157]

the rugby fan’s obsessions with historical results and emotional patterns is akin to all mu ex girlfriend’s obsession with astrology and chakras

In the world cup prediction someone said Wales will make the semis because of their history and how they made it in 2011.....

If they do make a long run it will be due to the weak side of the draw, not because the 2011 team got to the semis.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Ireland team looks strong. Think they will edge it.

Have it on good authority Sexton has been edging for years, it's why he's so angry all the time

 

[Cruz_del_Sur]

I'm pretty sure I already used words to say why I think the reward is only mediocre:
"The reward is having 1 extra forward who's fresh for 20 minutes or so, versus a 6:2"

1 more fresh forward for 20 minutes isn't really what I would call a huge advantage, adding nitro, or anything else like that, it's an extra couple of percentage points. It'll make a difference in a tight game maybe by as much as a single penalty versus not having that 1 extra forward. It also comes with the sacrifice of a fresh back, so even the advantage is swings and roundabouts (a greater gain than loss, sure, but nothing revolutionary.
It's also... an opinion - not everyone has to agree with mine, or yours, or Matt Williams'
I've not seen anyone failing to see the upside - just disagreeing on how much of an advantage is it versus different balances of bench selection.

I dont think that explains the argument. To begin with, why are you comparing it to a 6;2?
The natural comparisons would be either to the average bench formation or to what the opposition is fielding in a specific game. Neither is 6:2.

And it's not one more fresh forward for 20 min. It's the ability to
a) push on that part of the game harder and longer (that's what she said!) than the opposition
b) put a lot of pressure on the fixed and dynamic formations and slow them down on defense, which is not a minor thing when playing against a team with Ireland's style.

Let me rephrase: most teams keep 1-2 people in the bench for 'just in case' situations. They are throwing that option out and exploiting it to their advantage (at a risk, course).

 

[big ginger 8]

Meant to be 30k+ Irish fans at this. Gonna be tropic.

 

[ncurd]

******* hell just discovered Canada (TSN) have decided to not show this match on cable...what ******* idiot decided to put on the England/Chile match but not this one....

ITV player over VPN it is...what a miserable experience that normally is.

 

[pagliaccio_euforico]

Same in the US. I’d imagine TSN will have CFL and American college football on this afternoon though.

 

[ncurd]

Same in the US. I’d imagine TSN will have CFL and American college football on this afternoon though.

But they have the same damn match on channel 4 and 5!

 

[IT157]

But they have the same damn match on channel 4 and 5!

That makes no sense.

 

[ncurd]

That makes no sense.

I'll check later during the England match but I think it might be one is in French and and the other English. It's the only explanation worth contemplating.

 

[Jer1cho]

Almost time lawd have mercy

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

I'm close to hammered. Enjoy, unless you're South African.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

I'm close to hammered. Enjoy, unless you're South African.

Not the only Irishman getting hammered tonight.

Putting it out there. SA by 22 to 13

 

[big ginger 8]

Not the only Irishman getting hammered tonight.

Putting it out there. SA by 22 to 13

Nah, man.

More seriously, atmosphere is buzzing. Going to be a cracker. Irish fans solidily outnumbering Saffas where I am, but not an insignificant amount of them.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

Hopefully this one lives up to the hype.

 

[Ferrari333SP]

If you all have a VPN service on your phone or computer, you can then access the official RugbyPass stream for free; just set your country to somewhere like Greece or Iceland and the stream comes up perfectly

 

[Ferrari333SP]

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Head says South Africa, heart says Ireland

I just hope that:

• It's a good game
• It's an exciting game
• Multiple players get long term bans and miss the knockouts

 

[pagliaccio_euforico]

I'll check later during the England match but I think it might be one is in French and and the other English. It's the only explanation worth contemplating.

It will make sense during nhl season. I think they are usually all the same except when different Canadian teams are playing.

 

[Rosso Verde e Nero]

With all due respect to Scotland, who could still put a spanner in Ireland's works, and to both France and New Zealand, this match has the potential to be a forerunner of the eventual final. But it's not a do-or-die game for either team, so part of me thinks it might be a bit more low key than the hype would suggest.