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MattTheContrarian

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Joined November 2022

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RWC 23 is going to be massive, and it will be nice to see the stats coming out after it, as the stats on World Rugby’s webs are a bit outdated.

Someone said to me the other day – what difference does it make if RL is like checkers to Rugby’s chess? More people can understand checkers and can play it as you dont have to think hard. Well. He had me there.

A crying shame for the Wallabies: The problems Cam Murray would have solved

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League
 
5d

On the money. But I get the feeling it’ll be the Argies and australia they battle with the most.
They’ll roll the Scots in a high scoring match, possibly the same with Wales.

Packs Power Rankings: Boks' 'bomb squad' edges France, injured Wallaby who Eddie can't replace

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Rugby
 
4d

Touch wood indeed.
I loved that performance on the weekend – in the interests of objectivity – but that looked like the best we could play.
Swys was talking about how the kicking coach from the Cape did some work with Manie, and maybe it pays off, but thats the worry. Pollard back to Leicester and Manie still looking like a worry off the tee.
Unconvinced by Willemse though, and I dont think the boks have won a game with him at 10.

The monster lurking in Pool C for the Wallabies

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Rugby
 
2w

Williams, a coach so good he ended up coaching club footy in Romania.

Had to Wiki him:
“Scotland won three games out of 17 under William’s tenure – against the Tier 2 nations Japan and Samoa in 2004, and against Italy in the 2005 Six Nations. Williams controversially discarded Townsend – a celebrated figure in Scottish rugby…

After his role as Scotland coach, Williams was sacked as Scotland head coach in April 2005 having the worst win percentage of any Scottish permanent head coach,[2] with Scotland’s results immediately picking up with the arrival of new coach Frank Hadden, a former schoolteacher’

'Seriously': Ex-Scotland coach calls on World Rugby to 'act' on Springboks after 'abusing bench' against All Blacks

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Rugby
 
5d

We can safely say that was not the RSA mob, and was indeed the Aussie press and public mate – as Eddie himself said 😂
He’d probably tell ya he gets more kudos from the saffas than anyone else. Good chat tho.

Are Rugby World Cup upsets on the horizon among Pool D's wayward underachievers?

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Rugby
 
2w

I hope its not the old case of throwing young talent to the wolves and hoping for the best.
But Canaan v Rieko.. its going to be interesting.

Couldn’t agree more with Harry about Manie and Pollard. I think Libbok is a wunderkind, but his boot is unusually off.

Kicks win Cups. J Wilkinson, Pollard, Dan Carter even Beaver.

Weakest links, not superstars, often decide World Cups: So where are the fatal flaws in the top 10 contenders?

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Rugby
 
2w

Hy is n poephol.
And I say that similarly as a bok, who’s read his books and drank the Kool-aid.
Great for soundbites though! I’ve been telling people to uppercut themselves all week!

To your point think a lot of people care. And most Saffas have always wanted to Argies to do well.
I’m sure you aren’t saying you watch only the springboks play?

Are Rugby World Cup upsets on the horizon among Pool D's wayward underachievers?

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Rugby
 
2w

In the first case, thank you Rusty, I’m trying to sharpen my quill.
In the second, I’ll call George Ford (who’s a pretty handy backup, but no Smith) and apologise.
All this Farrell-ra-ra unbanning, banning, shouldering etc has obviously got Fazza on my brain, thanks for picking that up.

Are Rugby World Cup upsets on the horizon among Pool D's wayward underachievers?

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Rugby
 
2w

Sorry mate- I was backing you up on that – and also replying to guzzle. Dunno why it positioned under your comment.
2019 Wales was lean and mean, 2023 Wales is lean and lean.
It could go either way, but this isnt the same Wales side.

The monster lurking in Pool C for the Wallabies

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Rugby
 
2w

Maybe a predicted pre RWC world XV vs a post RWC world XV?

The monster lurking in Pool C for the Wallabies

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Rugby
 
2w

Well said, playing Fiji – as France found out this week – is a big contact prospect.

The monster lurking in Pool C for the Wallabies

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Rugby
 
2w

Grand Slam winners “in 2019”.
A lot has happened since 2019 for Wales rugby.. A near player strike, Gatland replaced by Pivac, and then Gatland again, AWJ and Tipuric retiring etc etc
In 2023, they only managed to beat Italy in the 6N..

The monster lurking in Pool C for the Wallabies

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Rugby
 
2w

Agreed RG – the RWC is a lot more open and thats the best thing about it.
Noone wants to see the expected winners win all the time (except the bookies)!

The monster lurking in Pool C for the Wallabies

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Rugby
 
2w

Boeta, hou bietjie vas.
We’ll get to the boks.
One big win against the Wales B team doesn’t change that manie can’t kick. Or that Polly is still injured.

Dunno about you but I’ve watched every Bok game and Gazza (Willemse) is no option at 10.

The pack is great. It’s the 10 that could cause the biggest problems.

Let’s see how we go against the All Blacks this week.

The monster lurking in Pool C for the Wallabies

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Rugby
 
2w

The best thing I have read since Harry Jones’ bar column.
You know what they say – if you cant’t find an article you want to read.. write it yourself.

Wallabies winners and losers: Eddie's ruthless RWC squad is full of double standards - but we had been warned

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Rugby
 
3w

Lovely read!
And very well put.
Garbisi is the epitome of a floating half, and those huge skip passes he makes… whew.

I wonder whether the stoicism of RWC rugby will make the floaters less liable to float?

Drivers, floaters and strategists: Ranking the top flyhalves ahead of the Rugby World Cup

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Rugby
 
4w

100 Percent.
Ruck accuracy from the cleaners = Speed. Setting the platform for structure play to turn into unstructured brilliance.
The Argies were very good this week at getting in quick against the boks, which proves the point.

'F-word the D-word': Eddie needs to flip the message, because nagging about ill-discipline is the enemy of success

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Rugby
 
Jul

This was a good chuckle, thanks! 😂

Unleashing Australia's Rugby World Cup potential: NRL to the rescue

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Rugby
 
Jul

I enjoyed this, thanks Pundit.

Would it be safe to say that we know what Pollard (has) gives us and that maybe other teams do too? Pollie has had a pretty long injury layoff…

I get where you are coming from in terms of the tactical nous he brings, but all of us Bok supporters have bemoaned the lack of attack in the last few years.. maybe Manie gives us that extra string to the bow?

What I loved about watching Manie play was the speed at which he seemed comfortable playing. He’s naturally a bit pacier than Pollard. I do agree- not as much of a general.
But I’m excited to see what he puts out this week.

More than ever, the Springboks' hopes rest on what's coming from the 10

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Rugby
 
Jul

“you spin me right round baby, right round”

'Kiwis think they're better than us': Eddie turns up heat on Bledisloe rivals saying 'country sinks' when ABs lose

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Rugby
 
Jul

Right?!
I feel like Paul Suttor may have had a hand in this one.
Original title was “Bledisloe 1. The Empire Strikes back.. Again?”

Jedi Eddie will need to summon all his powers to prevent annihilation by the dark empire

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Rugby
 
Jul

Interesting thought.. RA playing open cards and getting the crowd involved ? Imagine that.
Its a bit weird that every week seems like a lottery with the WBs.
Maybe they need Rassie as head of social media?

Jedi Eddie will need to summon all his powers to prevent annihilation by the dark empire

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Rugby
 
Jul

Appreciated Wig!
As someone invested in grassroots here, honestly I’m hopeful there isn’t a score blow out on the weekend! NZ to score first, Aus to get 2 penalties and a try at the end, the middle 50 mins though might be a problem!

Jedi Eddie will need to summon all his powers to prevent annihilation by the dark empire

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Rugby
 
Jul

Nah mate. Not dumbing it down was what made them successful in the past, thats the point. They played smart enough and fast enough to be able to pull it off.
It came off the back of superb conditioning. Thats means you can play outside of the boring 1331 / 242 and gave them an edge as it was faster than a lot of countries were used to, making the D line concertina out.

Why have Japan jammed so close to the World Cup?

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Rugby
 
Jul

Glad someone else watched the game.
It got me thinking along similar lines, Japan was playing a hybrid 242/222 ala 2016 – 2019, how much influence do you think the red card had on that though?

You’d think that against Samoa perhaps the call was bigger pods to create better stability and platform from the ruck?

Why have Japan jammed so close to the World Cup?

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Rugby
 
Jul
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