World Cup: Final and Bronze

Posted on by thaumaturge

Can the Springboks make history and win two in a row? You wouldn’t have thought so when they lost to Ireland in the pool stages, but you also wouldn’t have the All Blacks could do it after their opening-night loss to the hosts (and first pool loss ever).

Rassie’s gone with a ‘courageous’ 7-1 split on the bench again, so it could well come down to injuries – or, indeed, cards.

As for the other match, it seems like a foregone conclusion, but Argentina will be out for revenge, and can this England put together two good performances in a row? We’ll find out soon!

All in all, it’s been a fabulous World Cup apart from the idiotic draw. Merci à la France for an excellent tournament!

Onna telly this week

Showing matches that are televised in the UK and Ireland or on popular subscription services. Bold indicates free-to-view.

Friday 27th October

Argentina v England20:00ITV1 / STV

Saturday 28th October

New Zealand v Wales (women)04:00S4C
Ospreys v Zebre13:00BBC1 Wales / iPlayer Viaplay Sports 1
Connacht v Glasgow15:00TG4 / Viaplay Sports 1
Stormers v Scarlets15:00S4C / iPlayer / Viaplay Sports 2
Bath v Leicester15:05TNT Sports 1
Leinster v Sharks16:55RTÉ2 / Viaplay Xtra
Edinburgh v Lions17:00Viaplay Sports 1
New Zealand v South Africa20:00ITV1 / STV / S4C / RTÉ2

Sunday 29th October

Treviso v Munster14:00Viaplay Xtra
Dragons v Cardiff14:30Viaplay Sports 1
Newcastle v Northampton15:00TNT Sports 1
Ulster v Bulls17:00BBC2 NI / iPlayer / TG4 / Viaplay Sports 1

306 thoughts on “World Cup: Final and Bronze”

  1. tichtheid2's avatartichtheid2
    27/10/2023 at 19:53

    Cheers Thaum.

    “All in all, it’s been a fabulous World Cup apart from the idiotic draw. Merci à la France for an excellent tournament!”

    Seconded, though the Tom Curry stuff this week has been terrible. I don’t think he did much wrong, tbh, but the internet went way over the top.

    Anyway, I’m thoroughly neutral on the remaining games, I just hope they are both a good watch.

    Liked by 1 person

  2. tichtheid2's avatartichtheid2
    27/10/2023 at 19:58

    I love that Argentina shirt

    Like

  3. refitman's avatarrefitman
    27/10/2023 at 19:59

    I skipped all the pre-match waffle. Why was Curry out ahead of the rest of the team?

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  4. thaumaturge's avatarthaumaturge
    27/10/2023 at 20:02

    Ticht – was just about to ask what was with the feckin’ sash!

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  5. refitman's avatarrefitman
    27/10/2023 at 20:04

    Oh, it’s his 50th cap.

    Like

  6. tichtheid2's avatartichtheid2
    27/10/2023 at 20:05

    Thaum, there is something tinpot dictatorship about the sash which makes me smile – I’m sorry if that is demeaning, but it just amuses me.

    Refit, Curry is one 50 caps tonight

    Like

  7. tichtheid2's avatartichtheid2
    27/10/2023 at 20:05

    The old knee.

    Again

    Like

  8. Borderboy's avatarBorderboy
    27/10/2023 at 20:10

    Don’t like South American teams with sashes on their shirts…

    (Although this Argentinian one is a corker).

    Like

  9. thaumaturge's avatarthaumaturge
    27/10/2023 at 20:10

    Ticht – my best mate from uni is Argentine, and you most definitely would regret saying that in front of her! She is short but very fierce.

    Like

  10. refitman's avatarrefitman
    27/10/2023 at 20:11

    I’m really enjoying Earl as an 8 for England.

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  11. thaumaturge's avatarthaumaturge
    27/10/2023 at 20:12

    Farrell looks to have learnt something in tackle school; he released immediately when he tackled someone around the neck.

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  12. tichtheid2's avatartichtheid2
    27/10/2023 at 20:15

    Thaum, it’s not meant to be against Argentina per se, it’s just terribly old fashioned maybe, like the village I lived in in the Pyrenees, which I adored, but the Second World War fire engine which was outrun by children on their bikes, the tannoy system from the mayor’s secretary’s office which had speakers around the village to announce the arrival of the fish van, the brass band with uniforms, the Mayor with the sash, the tiny circus arriving in the summer for a week – I love everything about it.

    Liked by 2 people

  13. tichtheid2's avatartichtheid2
    27/10/2023 at 20:16

    and besides, I genuinely like the shirt

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  14. refitman's avatarrefitman
    27/10/2023 at 20:18

    Good lord, the speed of passing by Argentina, in close as they got towards the England line.

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  15. thaumaturge's avatarthaumaturge
    27/10/2023 at 20:19

    I do not like the shirt! Chacun à son goût.

    The funny part is that other south Americans tend to dislike the Argentines because they are thought to be arrogant. Whereas they’d see themselves as more cultured, thereby possibly proving the others right.

    Like

  16. refitman's avatarrefitman
    27/10/2023 at 20:20

    Ooh, what a shove by England.

    Like

  17. tichtheid2's avatartichtheid2
    27/10/2023 at 20:20

    Oof, that’s a scrum and a half

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  18. thaumaturge's avatarthaumaturge
    27/10/2023 at 20:22

    Smith is not a full-back. Steward is, but isn’t great at much except catching high balls & kicking them back.

    Like

  19. tichtheid2's avatartichtheid2
    27/10/2023 at 20:24

    Steward v Boff would have been a good contest in the air tonight – no Phil Collins pun intended

    Liked by 1 person

  20. refitman's avatarrefitman
    27/10/2023 at 20:25

    If they want to play Faz and Smith, I don’t understand why they don’t move Faz to 12 and drop Manu – he’s not really done much this WC. Then you can have Steward at 15, where he’s most effective.

    Like

  21. refitman's avatarrefitman
    27/10/2023 at 20:32

    You don’t often see a player being fully launched into the air, at a lineout.

    Liked by 1 person

  22. thaumaturge's avatarthaumaturge
    27/10/2023 at 20:34

    Refit – yep, that was quite spectacular.

    Like

  23. thaumaturge's avatarthaumaturge
    27/10/2023 at 20:35

    I found a great pic once of POC at full stretch on the line-out, and haven’t been able to find it again. But he wasn’t chucked up in the air with no support!

    Like

  24. refitman's avatarrefitman
    27/10/2023 at 20:39

    Thaum – this one?
    https://images.app.goo.gl/3hUMyfXfHrbK4zgZ8

    Like

  25. thaumaturge's avatarthaumaturge
    27/10/2023 at 20:40

    Ooh, Argentina score with a forward pass in the lead-up. But too far back to reconsider?

    Like

  26. thaumaturge's avatarthaumaturge
    27/10/2023 at 20:41

    Refit – the one I have in mind was closer in, and I think his back was a lot more arched.

    Like

  27. refitman's avatarrefitman
    27/10/2023 at 20:41

    The speed of Argentina’s hands, in the tight, is really impressive.

    Like

  28. refitman's avatarrefitman
    27/10/2023 at 20:42

    This one?
    https://images.app.goo.gl/gXExH6w2C6iYgLkeA

    Like

  29. thaumaturge's avatarthaumaturge
    27/10/2023 at 20:44

    Could perhaps have been this one from a different angle:

    https://media.gettyimages.com/photos/dublin-ireland-irelands-paul-oconnell-wins-a-lineout-assisted-by-john-picture-id73423972

    Like

  30. thaumaturge's avatarthaumaturge
    27/10/2023 at 20:45

    Ha, turns out there are lots of photos of him taking ridiculous line-outs! But it’s none of those.

    Like

  31. refitman's avatarrefitman
    27/10/2023 at 20:51

    That was a fun half of rugby.

    Like

  32. thaumaturge's avatarthaumaturge
    27/10/2023 at 21:04

    Well, that was a good start for Argentina!

    Like

  33. refitman's avatarrefitman
    27/10/2023 at 21:05

    Oh, that was a lovely try.

    Like

  34. thaumaturge's avatarthaumaturge
    27/10/2023 at 21:06

    And England respond quickly!

    Like

  35. refitman's avatarrefitman
    27/10/2023 at 21:06

    And Dan immediately makes up for missing a tackle in the Arg try.

    Like

  36. refitman's avatarrefitman
    27/10/2023 at 21:10

    I’m really enjoying Berry’s refing.

    Liked by 1 person

  37. tichtheid2's avatartichtheid2
    27/10/2023 at 21:11

    The Dan shithousery after scoring, though – what is it with Saracens players?

    Like

  38. refitman's avatarrefitman
    27/10/2023 at 21:14

    Tom Curry – more bandage than man – subbed for Ludlam.

    Liked by 1 person

  39. refitman's avatarrefitman
    27/10/2023 at 21:18

    Cheika did *not* like that pen to England.

    Like

  40. refitman's avatarrefitman
    27/10/2023 at 21:22

    I have a feeling that might be the last time we’ll see Manu in an England shirt.

    Like

  41. thaumaturge's avatarthaumaturge
    27/10/2023 at 21:27

    Refit – I had noticed earlier that Curry’s bandage appeared to be over his eyes.

    Like

  42. refitman's avatarrefitman
    27/10/2023 at 21:32

    Did Arundell touch the ball more than once?

    Like

  43. thaumaturge's avatarthaumaturge
    27/10/2023 at 21:34

    The ironing of Farrell complaining to the ref about a no-arms tackle.

    Like

  44. tichtheid2's avatartichtheid2
    27/10/2023 at 21:35

    Refit, I genuinely didn’t know Steward was playing until about ten minutes ago – England are not exactly playing an expansive game.

    Like

  45. Borderboy's avatarBorderboy
    27/10/2023 at 21:36

    Even the ITV commentators are complaining about England’s game plan, so it must be bad. Argentina playing the rugby.

    Like

  46. sunbeamtim's avatarsunbeamtim
    27/10/2023 at 21:41

    Yeahm all of the above. Cmon Argentina.

    Like

  47. refitman's avatarrefitman
    27/10/2023 at 21:48

    Like

  48. refitman's avatarrefitman
    27/10/2023 at 21:49

    England look absolutely fucked.

    Like

  49. thaumaturge's avatarthaumaturge
    27/10/2023 at 21:49

    Shoulda gone for the feggin corner!

    Like

  50. refitman's avatarrefitman
    27/10/2023 at 21:52

    That was a hell of a tackle by Ford.

    Like

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