Rugby World Cup 2023

[waiopehu oldboy]

French may have lost another, according to Newshub:

"Hosts France have been dealt another injury blow, with lock Paul Willemse reportedly dropping out of their Rugby World Cup squad with a thigh injury, a week before their tournament opener.

"The South African-born second-row has been replaced by Bastien Chalureau, with Willemse placed on a standby list, should his injury settle and another change be needed during the tournament."

 

[Dctarget]

French may have lost another, according to Newshub:

"Hosts France have been dealt another injury blow, with lock Paul Willemse reportedly dropping out of their Rugby World Cup squad with a thigh injury, a week before their tournament opener.

"The South African-born second-row has been replaced by Bastien Chalureau, with Willemse placed on a standby list, should his injury settle and another change be needed during the tournament."

Man that sucks. France do not have much depth at lock. One thing they haven’t developed properly, hence their attempted rule bending to get Meafou hurried through. I haven’t been impressed by Flament in recent months too.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

 

[Wilson]

Man that sucks. France do not have much depth at lock. One thing they haven’t developed properly, hence their attempted rule bending to get Meafou hurried through. I haven’t been impressed by Flament in recent months too.

It's where the independence of the top 14 lets them down. Lock has become a really sort after position there and given the specific body type it's much easier for teams to buy in stars from overseas then find and grow them locally. Skelton, Arnold, Meafou, Amatosero, Simmons, Douglas, Coleman, Staniforth, Battye and Cummins - that's just the Australian qualified locks over there. Not all stars but that's also before you get to all the other foreign locks - Lavanini, Petti, Nakarawa, Halaifonua, etc.
I'd hazard a guess that there are at least as many minutes going into ineligible locks as eligible ones, if not more.

 

[Dismal Pillock]

French may have lost another

 

[qwerty51]

Looks like the chairman of World Rugby has CTE

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Too many long lunches.

 

[wamberal99]

Late night games? No problem. Just get up early, resisting the urge to check the score, and watch the replay. Works for me.

 

[KOB1987]

Late night games? No problem. Just get up early, resisting the urge to check the score, and watch the replay. Works for me.

I have resigned to that MO as well. I've done for every EOYT I can remember, works a treat.

 

[KOB1987]

Looks like the chairman of World Rugby has CTE

View attachment 17416

does that mean we can select them?

 

[Highlander35]

Does anyone in that sort of role actually run their own public social media accounts?

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Supposed best players in the world.

 

[The Red Baron]

View attachment 17421
Supposed best players in the world.

That list isn't accurate. Three of those players are wearing headgear, and we all know that headgear wearing players are too lightweight to be any good, eh @rodha ?

 

[KevinO]

While I wish Ireland had won the bid for this RWC, I am super impressed by the excitement in France. 12K attended Ireland's open training session on Saturday.

 

[rugbyAU]

Ireland wouldn't really have the stadiums would they, and the Aviva 45,000 would be too small for the big WC games

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Ireland wouldn't really have the stadiums would they, and the Aviva 45,000 would be too small for the big WC games

Could share with Scotland and use a couple Soccer grounds surely.

 

[KevinO]

Ireland wouldn't really have the stadiums would they, and the Aviva 45,000 would be too small for the big WC games

They were going to use GAA stadiums, so Croke park is 88k, Cork, Tipperary, Killarney 38-45K, etc

Would be an amazing place to tour with a RWC on, Imagine the pubs.

 

[Footy head]

View attachment 17421
Supposed best players in the world.

Not sure if skelton would quite be there. A player like Itoje who is a very talented player that would deserve a mention also.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Personally think Itoje sells the dream but doesn’t back it up.

Agree about Skelton but this is a European page and he’s coming out of La Rochelle.

 

[Dctarget]

Not sure if skelton would quite be there. A player like Itoje who is a very talented player that would deserve a mention also.

Itoje's form has fallen off a cliff in the past two years. Peak Itoje is top 2 locks in the world. But haven't seen it for a while now.