2014 IRB Junior World Championship – New Zealand

[BabyBlueElephant]

Nope. We still have lots of for and against to claw back on New Zealand.

Bugger guess its 5th to 8th play offs then.

 

[qwerty51]

Interesting that Burton place kicks off an NRL tee with an NRL logo. I thought those style of tees were banned?

 

[GaffaCHinO]

Burton showing he should have been there from the start.

 

[Hawko]

Because the IRB want to save costs they have truncated the groups to three and allowed only one loser to progress. Because you can't really compare the quality of teams in different groups, the choice of the fourth team for the semi-finals is a bit of a lottery. IMO Australia and New Zealand have looked the best two choices for fourth but both will miss out because they didn't get a losing bonus point against the top team in their group.

The IRB have to move to four groups. A structure where you have four groups of three teams, with eight teams into the quarter finals is far more likely to result in the best teams moving forward. It means only two pool games for each team, but as the contest is played out right down to twelve, each team still plays the same number of teams overall.

You know it makes sense.

 

[qwerty51]

Fuck NZ are going to get a reprieve, they're still in it.

 

[kiap]

The IRB have to move to four groups. A structure where you have four groups of three teams, with eight teams into the quarter finals is far more likely to result in the best teams moving forward. It means only two pool games for each team, but as the contest is played out right down to twelve, each team still plays the same number of teams overall.

You know it makes sense.

Yep. Might be a workable option.

At this stage it's probably better than adding another four teams to have four groups of four, which would add an extra half week, but longer term is probably the go. Who would be the next four teams - Canada/US/Japan/Tonga?

 

[qwerty51]

You can't add more teams, some of the teams really aren't up to it at all. Anyone see Ireland/Fiji. Was a joke.

 

[kiap]

You can't add more teams

That's what I said

(for now)

 

[qwerty51]

Just 1 more point would've seen us through..

 

[Braveheart81]

Just 1 more point would've seen us through..

One competition point? I.e. get either of the bonus points against England.

 

[qwerty51]

Yep and now NZ get to sneak in when they're arguably worse than us by having an easier pool.

 

[Iluvmyfooty]

Did Wales beat france?

 

[Braveheart81]

Did Wales beat france?

No. Still to be played. Assuming France beat Wales and NZ wins with a bonus point, we'll be the sixth ranked side.

 

[Iluvmyfooty]

No. Still to be played. Assuming France beat Wales and NZ wins with a bonus point, we'll be the sixth ranked side.

Then why are people (qwerty) saying NZ have qualified

 

[GunnerDownUnder]

Wales won 13-3

 

[qwerty51]

No. Still to be played. Assuming France beat Wales and NZ wins with a bonus point, we'll be the sixth ranked side.

Wales beat France 13-3.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

Did Wales beat france?

I think the Foxtel commentators just said that Les Frogge were beaten by the Boyos.

That will put the cat in the pigeon coop.

Off to google for confirmation.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

Yep and now NZ get to sneak in when they're arguably worse than us by having an easier pool.

I think pool allocations are based on previous years rankings.

We can thank the 2012 selection and preparation process for getting into the pool of death this year.

 

[Braveheart81]

Wales beat France 13-3.

Ahh, so it has. I hadn't seen it updated.

So we can cling to the distant hope that Scotland don't give up four tries against NZ.

Such a shame we missed out on that fourth try against England.

 

[qwerty51]

At the wrong venue too, Pukekohe where it is dry. All the rain has been in Albany.