BrƎИsꓘi
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They called it paradise, I don't know why...You call some place paradise, kiss it goodbye.
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Post by BrƎИsꓘi on Sept 24, 2023 9:36:50 GMT
Having really looked forward to this WC, it's great now it's finally here. It hasn't disappointed either.
My own Ireland currently ranked no1 in the world have recently got the edge over New Zealand having beaten them 5 out of the last 8 encounters - having never once beaten them in the previous 100 years. This certainly set things up for a possible changing of the guard at the top of World Rugby.
First there was France taking apart the once-invincible Kiwis. The home support definitely pushed the French through in that one. Will this be the pattern for the tournament or will the Kiwis come good when it matters?
Next up was England's 14-men beating Argentina convincingly, followed by Wales scraping past Fiji in the most intense last ten minutes. A week later Fiji showed us all that the Wales result could well be the fluke it appeared to be when they deservedly bested Australia.
However, the game of the tournament so far (for me) was South Africa vs Ireland (I know, I'm biased). This was a brutal matchup between the current World Champions and the currently no1-ranked team. The Bok's kickers let them down on a night that the Irish somehow found a way to negate the effects of the Springbok's 7-forwards replacements bomb. This is a stunning tactic that is incredibly efficient when it works.
The game itself was impossible to take my eyes off, brilliant rugby played by both teams in what many pundits (rightly or wrongly) are citing as a dress-rehearsal for the final.
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