2019 Rugby WC
 

Anybody else watching pool play?

Impressions??

I watch the highlights on YouTube. USA sure got their asses kicked.

It's entertaining but there is a huge performance gap between the best 3 or 4 teams and the rest of the world. The Japan upset was unexpected.

Should get better after the pool play.

We ALWAYS get our asses handed to us.:( Even France stuffed us. I must say England over Tonga so convincingly surprised me a wee bit.

Ha! Then it'd only be League Rugby. Union rules!!

Here in NZ we had a new US Ambassador who was pretty funny.

He said "As the US is world champion at Rugby it's nice to be in NZ."

NZ said "Ya what?."

Ambassador "Oh yes, The Olympics are the highest level, the benchmark. And Rugby was played once at the Olympics and we won, so we are the world champs."

I really don't don't know. It would be nice for one of the "unexpecteds" to win.

I rather like Japan's enthusiasm and good naturedness.

Following the Youtube highlights too. The US is slowly getting better but it will be difficult to get to the level of the top teams. Hoping Wales will make it to the finals.

I'm pleased to hear US is getting better. Canada is getting worse :( NZ beat them 63 - 0

I'd also like to see Samoa do well, or better than they have been doing.

SA looked pretty good against Italy this morning, delivering a serious azz whooping. I would like to see Wales succeed as their game has been down until recently.
As for the US, it will be a while before we can compete at the top level in 15's. Got to get the game down to lower school levels to progress, much like baseball and basketball. Pretty hard to progress when most of us start playing at university and the top sides grow up with the game. My club has had a fairly solid youth program for many years and USA Rugby is certainly pushing this aspect of the game.
Glad to be able to watch on US television. Thanks to NBC for their commitment for 5 years.

I think we can count Australia out despite their win over Uruguay. Lots of penalties, bad ball handling in spite of a few flashes. Not sure I agree with all the high tackles being called in the WC, particularly the unintentional with a shorter player ducking under a taller player who has already committed. Intentional highs - sin bin or red card. No NBC Sports Gold here so I am missing a few matches that I would enjoy watching. Just too cheap to spend the money:)
Looking forward to Eagles/Pumas but have no illusions.
Off to meet other old boyz and watch my club in action later today. Oh, to be young again.....

You hit the nail on the head regarding rugby here. Luckily I also know of a lot of ex-South Africans bringing rugby to schools in Atlanta and beyond. BUt the sport id growing and that is encouraging. Personally, I am looking forward to the day the Eagles beat SA.

NBC's YouTube channel has decent highlight coverage of the games, and some on the World Rugby channel too.

I've been clothes lined a few times, not fun, but at least it ain't soccer! ;)