Pool C - Wales, Australia, Fiji, Georgia, Portugal

[James]

9 September 2023​	Australia	v​	Georgia	Stade de France, Saint-Denis
10 September 2023​	Wales	v​	Fiji	Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux
16 September 2023​	Wales	v​	Portugal	Allianz Riviera, Nice
17 September 2023​	Australia	v​	Fiji	Stade Geoffroy Guichard, Saint-Étienne
23 September 2023​	Georgia	v​	Portugal	Stadium de Toulouse, Toulouse
24 September 2023​	Wales	v​	Australia	Parc Olympique Lyonnais, Décines-Charpieu
30 September 2023​	Fiji	v​	Georgia	Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux
1 October 2023​	Australia	v​	Portugal	Stade Geoffroy Guichard, Saint-Étienne
7 October 2023​	Wales	v​	Georgia	Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes
8 October 2023​	Fiji	v​	Portugal	Stadium de Toulouse, Toulouse

 

[ripper868]

Australia to run 4th tbh, we're prepping for 2027 when we'll aim for third.

 

[Burgey]

Hoping Fiji and Wales bounce Aus out hard.

 

[ripper868]

Never understood why you actively cheer against Aus in rugby.

I get your whole silver spoon thing about the game in general, but just don't understand where the joy in seeing your own national team fail comes from.

You must be the happiest bloke about though given how **** we've been for 20 odd years though.

 

[Prince EWS]

Never understood why you actively cheer against Aus in rugby.

I get your whole silver spoon thing about the game in general, but just don't understand where the joy in seeing your own national team fail comes from.

You must be the happiest bloke about though given how **** we've been for 20 odd years though.

I know a couple of pretty diehard rugby league fans who actively cheer against Australia in both union and soccer just because they see the success of those sports here to be 'competition' in a way. The worse the Wallabies and the Socceroos are the better it is for the sport they actually care about.

I think it's just a class warfare thing from Burgey of inner west eye fillet dinner fame though.

 

[Molehill]

I know a couple of pretty diehard rugby league fans who actively cheer against Australia in both union and soccer just because they see the success of those sports here to be 'competition' in a way. The worse the Wallabies and the Socceroos are the better it is for the sport they actually care about.

That's weird but probably sums up why Australia are the best team, the only country that takes it properly seriously it seems. Can't be too much crossover between NRL and Socceroos though.

 

[Prince EWS]

That's weird but probably sums up why Australia are the best team, the only country that takes it properly seriously it seems. Can't be too much crossover between NRL and Socceroos though.

I don't mean direct crossover between adult pro athlete code-swappers, I mean general popularity of the sport. If the Socceroos and Wallabies are more successful then more kids will choose to play and follow those sports which could cannibalise the culture and strength of the sport they actually care about in the future.

There are two Sydney AFL teams that I kind of death-ride for the same reason.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

I really hope Fiji go through. Also, how many times have Aus, Wal, & Fiji been in the same group? Crazy!

 

[James]

Not seen Eddie Jones lose his cool this much in a press conference before, pressure obviously getting to him.

 

[ripper868]

Eddie's always been crap with press, especially when he's got his back up against it. His way is always to deflect etc when things aren't going well.

The wallabies are a hiding to nothing really, and having the attack coach resign (for whatever reasons) at this stage isn't exactly ideal.

 

[James]

You could still see Australia making a semi-final couldn't you given their side of the draw? That would surely be classed as a successful tournament.

 

[ripper868]

Oh for sure, but even if they do get there, or to the final, it matters nought, because they (should) be on the weaker side of the draw and any of team w,x,y,z on the other side of the draw would have bundled them out at the quarters.

With any luck it's a lesson to World Rugby to do the draw 12 months out instead of 3 years...if at all possible with logistics etc.

 

[Molehill]

With any luck it's a lesson to World Rugby to do the draw 12 months out instead of 3 years...if at all possible with logistics etc.

I doubt it, they got the hosts bungled out in 2015 when 3 of the top 6 teams ended up in the same group.....nothing has changed since then, hence the SA, Ireland, Scotland group.

 

[Burgey]

Not seen Eddie Jones lose his cool this much in a press conference before, pressure obviously getting to him.

Flog coach
In charge of a flog team
On behalf of a flog peak sporting body.

May they fail gloriously and completely, and be home by 11 October.

 

[ripper868]

With what Fiji are serving up to the French right now, there's every chance its Aus and Wales fighting for 2nd in this group...

Ex-eel Radraarrdaraaa doing his bit

 

[James]

100%, this should be a cracking World Cup I think with how close the teams are. We're certainly due some upsets throughout the tournament.

I think it plays into Fiji's hands having Wales and Australia up front as well

 

[social]

Eddie is just doing Eddie stuff - playing the victim and putting all the focus upon himself

 

[Niall]

This group is so messy, I think Fiji may have been around 4/1 or bigger v Wales not long ago and you will be lucky to get 2/1 now which is understandable. You look at the draw and this is as good as chance as they ever had of getting to a semi final IMO.

 

[ripper868]

Yep, Wales v Australia on the 24th could be the loser goes home match if Fiji play like they are currently.

EDIT: and of course the possibility of them all getting 1 win vs each other aking the 'blowout' games v Georgia and Portugal even more important...but also can't write off Georgia here.

 

[Burgey]

Hopefully Georgia beats Australia to ensure the early departure.