Welcome to the Green and Gold Rugby forums.
As you can see we've upgraded the forums to new software. Your old logon details should work, just click the 'Login' button in the top right.
In terms of RWC broadcast, does anyone have any idea who will have streaming rights? Have unfortunately been booked for a cruise for the first 3 weeks (!) of RWC so will have to rely on a good streaming link and hopefully good braodband on the ship! Any ideas?
While
Yes, ideally there will be some homegrown players involved especially for matches played at home. A Singapore or Malaysian team without local players will get no traction with the home media, and hence home crowds. Even one or two would be enough.
Quite a disparity in standards i would say. For a viable comp they would need to pick teams of similar level. If Malaysia and Singapore are playing, then it would have to be the Western Force and Falcons' third grade team, Fiji's and Samoa's under-18s and HK's reserve team. Or Malaysia and...
The best coach with good recent international experience who is not coaching an international team right now is Vern Cotter. Maybe he and Scott Johnson together? I assume their work together at Scotland was harmonious.
Yes, I think too many good players are being missed out on because of the rule. Maybe lower the threshold to 10 caps or 10 starts or something like that.
The USA didn't do themselves justice. They were outstanding against an admittedly tired NZ in the semis. But they totally fell apart in the final, especially when Perry Baker got caught twice early on, and then dropped the ball, literally, the third time he got it.
I think Samoa are on the verge...
I think it's strange to keep the head coach and get rid of his assistants. Were they not his choices, which means they are a reflection on him? I think if they go, he has to fall on his sword too.
I'd be curious to see how Jake White would go, even if he has been out of the game for a while.
I think Boks will win the group. But don't write off Samoa -- they are the fittest and sharpest theyve been since they won the series -- whats was it? -- about 7-8 years ago?