It will be, and beyond the group stages of the World Cup it will be too. Only reason yesterday happened was because 3 teams needed to go for it, really go for it. In an ordinary situation there's no chance England would be playing ball like that against France, or even Wales & Ireland either. It was entertainment, but it was an exception rather than the rule.

Charlie Sheen wrote:It's been a farce. Well, that's the British for you. They love a good farce! http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/rugby-union/32019463 Maybe such figures go some way to explaining why Union gets so much more exposure on the Beeb...who can tell?

Charlie Sheen wrote:It's been a farce. Well, that's the British for you. They love a good farce! http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/rugby-union/32019463 Maybe such figures go some way to explaining why Union gets so much more exposure on the Beeb...who can tell?

You have an attitude (typical of someone from Halifax) that has held the superior form of rugby from even coming close to the inferior code in mass market appeal.
Even though you enjoy the superior game, you and people like you are condemned to watch it in half empty stadiums.
Don't blame others, look at your own backward thinking views on the sport.

Oh dear.
I'm not from Halifax, I blame nobody other than the administrators of RL for the lack of exposure, reach and interest in Rugby League and I would consider myself one the most forward thinking Rugby League fans that I know of.

Rugby Union or Rugby as they like to call it now is a god awful spectacle at times, but the S15 comp this year has average 5 tries a game, the Aviva Premiership saw attendances increase, the New European Cup saw increased attendances, they are negotiating bigger TV deals and the 6 Nations delivered record viewing figures and if that's not enough, their World Cup will be the biggest attended one so far.

On the subject of the Union World Cup good to see the brave English lads leave fortress Twickers for one game...playing the Dentists,Lawyers & Doctors of Uruguay in Manchester!

Indeed.....and on Grand Final Day too. I suspect a bumper weekend for the hoteliers and publicans of Manchester, given that the Etihad Stadium was apparently sold out back in October 2014 and that Old Trafford will be close to rammed.
I wonder what the Police will be charging each event, as it is very unusual for both stadiums to be in use on the same day and the centre of town will be packed both before and after the games.

Interesting article in this weeks email from Running Rugby http://www.runningrugby.com/marketing-and-sponsorship/land-rover-looking-for-return-on-eight-figure-rwc-investment/ Quote:Land Rover signed up to sponsor the 2015 Rugby World Cup before the last tournament in New Zealand four years ago had even begun but the focus has been on the big kick-off on September 18 ever since and the brand is determined to see a return on its eight-figure investment. Global experience director Mark Cameron confirmed to Running Rugby that tens of millions of pounds have been spent on sponsoring the Rugby World Cup and that it is “the biggest sponsorship that Land Rover has ever undertaken”, so no stone has been left unturned in the quest to ensure it pays off. The use of the word "tens" points to this being a minimum of 20,000,000.....that's scary money from just once sponsor. How many discovery's will they need to shift to get a ROI?

Interesting article in this weeks email from Running Rugby http://www.runningrugby.com/marketing-and-sponsorship/land-rover-looking-for-return-on-eight-figure-rwc-investment/ Quote:Land Rover signed up to sponsor the 2015 Rugby World Cup before the last tournament in New Zealand four years ago had even begun but the focus has been on the big kick-off on September 18 ever since and the brand is determined to see a return on its eight-figure investment. Global experience director Mark Cameron confirmed to Running Rugby that tens of millions of pounds have been spent on sponsoring the Rugby World Cup and that it is “the biggest sponsorship that Land Rover has ever undertaken”, so no stone has been left unturned in the quest to ensure it pays off. The use of the word "tens" points to this being a minimum of 20,000,000.....that's scary money from just once sponsor. How many discovery's will they need to shift to get a ROI?

I have to confess I watched the last 20 minutes or so of South Africa v Japan expecting the usual bore-fest. Was actually very entertaining (or at least Japan were). They decline two penalty shots at goal in the last 2 minutes to potentially earn a draw (one 10 seconds from the end of normal time) but chose to try to win it. They scored a try a couple of minutes later. I admit to jumping out of my seat. Never thought I'd do that watching RU. Wonders never cease.

At this rate New Zealand won't trouble the semi finals. Passing sideways isn't enough these days, they even had a 5 on 2 and couldn't manage to draw the tacklers. jesus what a shower of shat from so called world champions. luckily i've only wasted 8 minutes out of my life whilst eating dinner.
As for the way the game is officiated, it makes our video ref system look almost acceptable.

Well done England ... the only way we will be world champions is as serial penalty conceders.
And as for NOT going for a kick to try to level it at 28-28 ... the mind boggles.
Get level first worry about the win second.
They are the logical rules.
Scoring a try is perhaps a one in ten chance.
They deserved their defeat as much as Wales deserved their victory
Robshaw has history, bad history, in this poor decision making.
Pish poor, plus Ford and Wigglesworth are shoite and that is your choice Lancaster ... sums you up.