World Cup embarrassment

[NRLMad]

No change the games have been cracking. France lost but was good to see players like margalet, other forwards and players like their 6, 7 play on the big stage

 

[ozenzud]

World Cup is just fine.

I am loving it and take it as the celebration of rugby league that it is.

Absolutely agree. Firstly, RL can make whatever rules it likes. We have a problem in that we have one highly developed nation (Oz) and nobody can beat them, except every now and then. Like basketball. The Seppos are going to win no matter what. There is interest in second really.

As for all the players being in the NRL, well how many players in the soccer world cup are playing in the UK Premier league? One WC OZ played Croatia and the commentators said there was 11 players on the field could qualify for both countries.

But enjoy our tournament for what it is. Its not like the soccer world cup. But its soccer and boring. Rugby has a better world cup but they have good management. We don't. Basketball is only ever going to have one side win.

 

[Jim from Oz]

Absolutely agree. Firstly, RL can make whatever rules it likes. We have a problem in that we have one highly developed nation (Oz) and nobody can beat them, except every now and then. Like basketball. The Seppos are going to win no matter what. There is interest in second really.

As for all the players being in the NRL, well how many players in the soccer world cup are playing in the UK Premier league? One WC OZ played Croatia and the commentators said there was 11 players on the field could qualify for both countries.

But enjoy our tournament for what it is. Its not like the soccer world cup. But its soccer and boring. Rugby has a better world cup but they have good management. We don't. Basketball is only ever going to have one side win.

Well said Ozenzud

We have a fantastic (but niche) World cup and people should just enjoy it for what it is, which as I say is fantastic!

Sure, the organisation for this one has been a bit sloppy, but it is still good and I am still enjoying it and I am looking forward to all remaining matches – and I also can’t wait for 2021 RLWC, Which is looking like it will be an amazing event.

 

[Jim from Oz]

And I should add that the TV ratings continue to be excellent!

 

[StadiumXIII]

World Cup is just fine.

I am loving it and take it as the celebration of rugby league that it is.

Im enjoying it too (like the Olympics of RL) just replying to the OP. It can however be bigger than what it is.

How much broader do you want them to be? You can play for your grandparents nation and you can play for a country you have held residence in for a substantial amount of time.
Any loser and you’re playing club footy.

The OP's suggesting that minnows should be allowed to pick the best available players, however I think for that to happen Australia/NZ/Eng would have to cut their arms and legs off and take a massive pay cut on par with the minnow nations and finally I'll say the biggest embarrassment of the tournament by far is Scotland.

 

[LeagueXIII]

Pool games with blow out. Scores in the ruwc15. And remember it's harder to score tries in union and poorer teams can keep scores close through negative play and kicking penalties

Wales 54-Uruguay 9
Australia 65- Uruguay 3
Fiji 47- Uruguay 15
England 60- Uruguay 3
Scotland 45- Japan 10
Sth Africa 64 - USA 0
Nz 58 - Namibia 14
Agentina 54 - Georgia 9
Nz 43 - Georgia 10
Argentina 45- Tonga 16
Nz 48- Tonga 9
Argentina 64 - Namibia 19
Ireland 50 - Canada 7
Ireland 44- Romania 10
France 41- Canada 18

QF's
Nz 62-France 13
Argentina 43-Ireland 20

As an All Blacks supporter can I suggest in future to save time and costs the AB's just rock up for the semi final and final and they can pick up their knighthood on the way out to the airport.

 

[Perth Red]

Rugby league has the third biggest World Cup in sport. Not bad for a game dogged with sht administration! It's a resilient bugger is our sport lol.

 

[Perth Tiger]

Put me down as another loving it. The group stages of every World Cup are about celebrating the sport, providing growth opportunities and giving a reward to the players and administrators that sacrifice so much in developing the game (could be an argument for more domestic players rather than the heritage players)

The QFs and SFs is when the serious footy starts

 

[East Coast Tiger]

Rugby league has the third biggest World Cup in sport. Not bad for a game dogged with sht administration! It's a resilient bugger is our sport lol.

Cricket is bigger. And quite frankly there could be other sports that could claim to be bigger too, like basketball. In fact there's not much scope for claiming ours is bigger than basketball. And there might be others.

 

[madunit]

How much broader do you want them to be? You can play for your grandparents nation and you can play for a country you have held residence in for a substantial amount of time.
Any loser and you’re playing club footy.

I agree. The eligiblity criteria is flimsy enough already. That isn't the issue.

The issue is players choosing England, NZ and Australia over other nations they qualify for. If every player put up their hand for their 'lesser' nation (In International RL speak), you would see a dramatic improvement. But it can't be just for the World Cup, it has to be permanent.

 

[madunit]

Cricket is bigger. And quite frankly there could be other sports that could claim to be bigger too, like basketball. In fact there's not much scope for claiming ours is bigger than basketball. And there might be others.

Soccer
Cricket
Basketball

all would be more successful than RL.

 

[King hit]

I'll never forget watching the 2003 Rugby World Cup and seeing the Wallabies win 142-0 against Namibia. I was also at a game where England scored 111 points. Every World Cup has blowout scores.

 

[Disinterested third party]

The union WC has had much bigger blowouts for the record...

 

[siv]

The RLWC has been good only one real blow out

But I put that down to the qualifying process

Qualifiers need to be played in the year before the RLWC with a repocharge series

And having quarter finalists from 4 years ago has failed on two fronts

Its not a true indication of current form

And heritage players retire which change the dynamics significantly

 

[titoelcolombiano]

Rugby league has the third biggest World Cup in sport. Not bad for a game dogged with sht administration! It's a resilient bugger is our sport lol.

Would we really be that high? I can think of at least 5 that are bigger:

Football
RU
Cricket
Basketball
Baseball

 

[adamkungl]

I agree. The eligiblity criteria is flimsy enough already. That isn't the issue.

The issue is players choosing England, NZ and Australia over other nations they qualify for. If every player put up their hand for their 'lesser' nation (In International RL speak), you would see a dramatic improvement. But it can't be just for the World Cup, it has to be permanent.

Why would someone who's grown up in Australia wanting to play for the Kangaroos their entire life throw that all away to play for the country one of their grandparents came from permanently?

 

[titoelcolombiano]

Overall though Im loving the WC

It is a different atmosphere to club footy and I love seeing actual Frenchmen and Americans playing our game. I love seeing the Pacific nations play (the world cup is so much better off for their presence) their development with the addition of the annual Pacific tests has been fantastic.

The quarter finals onwards will produce some high quality games too

 

[adamkungl]

Anyone agree or feel similarly?

no

 

[madunit]

Why would someone who's grown up in Australia wanting to play for the Kangaroos their entire life throw that all away to play for the country one of their grandparents came from permanently?

To improve the game globally.

 

[Wheeled Warrior]

Joel must of missed out on hugs as a kid. The WC is a good time to celebrate the great game of Rugby League. Despite the very weak opening and Australia's lame as "We are one nation" crap. I have enjoyed it. The different styles and faces we get to see playing league is awesome or as we say in NZ. Chooooooice or Chur!