[Rugby] Union / League / Super / Sixes Sevens Pro14 / Cups & Tours / Olympics

[aoluain]

Well its all going to be done and dusted today, a very busy schedule in the mens tournament
ahead. Its indeed hard to see anyone beating Fiji but France are the dark horses IMO.
They have been targeting this since the start of the season, even bringing Antoine Dupont
into the team.

Semi finals:
South Africa v France - I'm going with France here.
Fiji v Australia - I'm going Fiji on this match - sorry Timelord.

Ireland play USA for the 5th spot position - bet on for an Irish win.

[Timelord2067]

In the five matches, I'm going with New Zealand over Argentina (in a very close game). Ireland (of course) over the USA. France over RSA (only just). Australia over Fiji (only just). Uruguay ($1.08 - shortest odds today) over Japan. Samoa over Kenya.

In the NRL - as I forecast the Bulldogs and Roosters won while the Sharks lost to the Cowboys (four from five this week so far)

[aoluain]

And France take Gold, Fiji take Silver and South Africa take Bronze. As I mentioned France
for me were the dark horses for Gold and they beat Fiji well, final score 28-7.

South Africa v Australia - great match in the semi finals but SA win with 1 try and conversion.
26-19.


Its the womens turn starting today and if the world series is anything to go by we
could be looking at an Australia v New Zealand but there is a lot to play first. Again
France Women will be looking to do what the Men did!

First round of matches today:
Ireland v Great Britain - tough one to call, will be very close.
Australia v South Africa - Australia all the way
USA v Japan - USA for the win
France v Brazil - France for the win
Fiji v Canada - Very close one here too
New Zealand v China - NZ for the win.


Watched a dair few matches today, definitely New Zealand, Australia and France
looked really strong.
Standings after todays matches

[aoluain]

A lot of matches played and we are finally at the FINAL Match stage between New Zealand and Canada.
Canada pulled off a bit of a surprise result against Australia beating them 21 - 12. New Zealand are
massive favourites at 1.05. Things can change in this game very quickly. Today Australia were leading at
half time 0 - 12 but things just went Canada's way in the second half and Australia while chasing the match
made too many errors, can this happen to the series champions NZ tomorrow?

 

[Timelord2067]

Yes, the Rugby has come and gone in the blink of an eye.

The "broadcast hosts" have chosen not to show any (or hardly any) of the Rugby and so as a result, I've had to rely on online services posting scores etc.


In the NRL,

Round 22 gets underway tonight. My pics for the week are:

Cowboys
Warriors
Dolphins
Titans
Storm
Sharks
Panthers
Bulldogs

[aoluain]

And Cowboys it was in the first match. Fair play to the Tigers for scoring 30 points
but not great to let in 48, defense needs a fair bit of work for next season!

I see that neither the Rabbitohs or Broncos have not been able to get into the top
8, and its not going to happen at this stage with only 5 rounds left?

I see you have gone against the favourites, the Roosters in favour of the Dolphins?
@ 3.70 odds ..

[Timelord2067]

Yeh, the Dolphins came close going down in a high scoring game 34 - 40 against the Roosters. If one of their key players hadn't played, the Roosters would have scored 20 less points and the Dolphins would have scored one if not two more tries.

For now, the Dolphins retain eighth spot on the ladder while the Roosters have cemented their fourth place on the ladder.

Earlier, the Warriors fell by the wayside only to score some late tries, but just not quite enough to catch up.

[aoluain]

Yeh, the Dolphins came close going down in a high scoring game 34 - 40 against the Roosters. If one of their key players hadn't played, the Roosters would have scored 20 less points and the Dolphins would have scored one if not two more tries.

For now, the Dolphins retain eighth spot on the ladder while the Roosters have cemented their fourth place on the ladder.

Earlier, the Warriors fell by the wayside only to score some late tries, but just not quite enough to catch up.

Typical, just when we thought the Eels were dead and fried they go an pull out a good performance
to beat the Warriors.

Dolphins are now gone out to 9th and as usual the mid table is congested with teams on similar points
looking to get into the top 8.
From the Cowboys in 5th right down to the Knights on 12th there is only 6 points spread.

Panthers v Knights tomorrow - Knights are not winning this one
Bulldogs v Raiders - Raiders need to win this one to keep their chance of top 8 positioning alive but
its a big ask.

[Timelord2067]

I caught the second half of the Titans game. They outplayed a deficient Broncos team. The second game I caught score updates and from the sound of it the Dragons not only overcame the Storm but we're able to hold their own from start to finish.

In the late game the Rabbitohs briefly shine, but we're cases down by the Sarks who won a low scoring match.

The radio commentators have written the Bulldogs off of the top eight before they've even played today.

[Timelord2067]

Anyone who doubted the Bulldogs are a finals contender would have been in no doubt after their home game on Sunday. I sat down to watch what turned out to be a very low scoring first half. The Bulldogs scored first but failed to convert. Then, after Canberra scored, the Bulldogs took a two point penalty to level the score at six all at half time.

While watching the second half I couldn't help but think I was watching an old style State Cup game with a packed local stadium. The Bulldogs won 22 - 18 - at the start of the season, I foreshadowed the Bulldogs form had improved. After 22 weeks, the Bulldogs are sitting in fifth spot on the ladder. (Eight points below first, but a solid effort nevertheless).

[Timelord2067]

There are as many as five or even six Broncos on the bench or off sick this week with two or three Dolphins likewise in doubt.

All.of my pics this week should be walk throughs:

NRL week 23

Storm
Sharks
Panthers
Sea Eagles
Cowboys
Bulldogs
Dolphins
Knights

Wins for the Bulldogs, Cowboys and Sea Eagles will cement their positions in the top eight while the Dolphins need a win if they have any chance or regaining the coveted eighth position on the ladder.


In international Rugby, I'm going with South Africa over Australia and Ireland to beat Argentina

Wallabies to kick off The Rugby Championship at sold-out Suncorp Stadium
Tue, Aug 6, 2024, 10:44 PM
by Rugby Australia

https://australia.rugby/news/wallabies-to-kick-off-the-rugby-championship-at-soldout-suncorp-stadium-202486

Kicking off at 2:30pm (AEST), Saturday’s Test match will be the first time that Suncorp Stadium has sold out for a Wallabies Test match since 2013 against the British & Irish Lions, and is on track to be the largest crowd for a Wallabies home Test against South Africa since 2006 at Accor Stadium.

The sold-out first Test of The Rugby Championship continues the trend of large attendances at international Rugby events – more than 2.4 million people attended the 2023 Rugby World Cup, more than half a million attended the six days of the Olympic Rugby Sevens in Paris, while the Wallabies played in front of the largest Australian Rugby crowd in 22 years against the All Blacks at the Melbourne Cricket Ground last year (84,000).

[aoluain]

Broncos in big trouble so and another loss incoming this weekend against the Cowboys!

Its a dead duck for them this season - too many places to jump into the top 8.


Rugby Championship

* Fortunately/unfortunately Ireland are not playing !

Starts Saturday 10th!

Australia v South Africa - cant see the Springboks losing this @ 1.24

New Zealand v Argentina - NZ massive favourites @ 1.09 - as we saw last year Argentina
have the ability to surprise but when and against who?

Argentina beat Australia and only lost to the Springbok's by 1 point, not sure they will beat
the All Blacks.

[Timelord2067]

No idea why I said Ireland. I've got New Zealand to win against Argentina. Likewise, RSA won against Australia at Lang Park last night.

The Townsville Cowboys are off to a good start against Brisbane who stumbled badly before mid year and never recovered. Last year's runner-ups the Parramatta Eels gave their cross town rivals the Penrith Panthers a scare going down 34 -36.

Canberra's woes continue with the Sea Eagles putting in a strong win.

[Timelord2067]

Anyone with money in favour of Argentina would have cleaned up big time last night with double digit odds on offer.

I'm seven from eight this round with the Broncos unexpected win.

The Bulldogs scored in under four minutes and never looked back cementing their fifth spot on the ladder. I've put $10 at 11:01 for the Bulldogs to win the Grand Final. (I praised their strong start to the season and they haven't looked back).

The Sharks who also put in a solid effort have a chanceon paper of clenching the minor premiership and so, I've put $1 at 250:1 (ya never know). If nothing else, they're into the finals.

The Dolphin's win sees them regain the coveted eight spot while tieing with the dragons who just lost.

Newcastle men bet the West's Tigers in a strong Sunday afternoon game. I forecast the Tigers will be top eight next season.

In the Women's game, Newcastle are tied against St George 10 ,- 10 .  Two St George Dragonets collided leaving one bloodied and bruised stopping game play while she was tendered to.

[aoluain]

Anyone with money in favour of Argentina would have cleaned up big time last night with double digit odds on offer.

Wow wow wow, every year Argentina do this every year, last hear it was
beating South Africa away from home. I wonder did darxaomi have a bet on
his home team?

Thats a hugh loss for New Zealand, can the Pumas back that up in round 2
against the All Blacks again next week...

Final score 30 - 38

And in the first game Australia 7 - 33 South Africa. Not a great result from Australia
albeit against the world #1's

[Timelord2067]

I will admit I sometimes discount Argentina then I'm delightfully surprised when the win. Likewise I kind of expected Australia to go down to South Africa. I'll check the next round prices.


I've just seen the amazing two point field goal by the Dolphins in golden point extra time from about half way to lift the team back into the top eight.

An improvement on last year's decline as the year progressed.

[aoluain]

I will admit I sometimes discount Argentina then I'm delightfully surprised when the win. Likewise I kind of expected Australia to go down to South Africa. I'll check the next round prices.


I've just seen the amazing two point field goal by the Dolphins in golden point extra time from about half way to lift the team back into the top eight.

An improvement on last year's decline as the year progressed.

I would love to see Argentina becoming a bigger force in Tier one Rugby TBH.


World Rugby has recently announced a change for the World Cup in 2027 in Australia, there will be 4
extra teams, 6 pools of 4 and a round of 16 added. Obviously the idea is to promote the game globally.

I have also read that 12 teams have already been shoed in Ireland, France, New Zealand, Italy, South Africa,
Scotland, Wales, Fiji, Australia, England, Argentina and Japan.



Dolphins look likely to get that 8th spot with 3 rounds to go but its a very competitive mid field.
Great Golden point by O'Sullivan 39m's out and in from the sideline!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PgZaWho9cg

[Timelord2067]

The Dolphins need only play good league while the other teams slowly disintegrate around them. The Broncos have lost a key player with a badly sprained/?broken? wrist. A Rabbitoh "bad boy" has been photographed post game leaning over a dresser that has a mystery white powder which the media are quick to point out has not been identified as an illegal substance.

This morning, a Bulldogs player has been hit with a four game suspension for bighting a Dragon's player during an on field tackle.


The more teams in the Rugby World Cup, hopefully the better the spread of teams in the draw making for more electric game play.

[Timelord2067]

The white powder saga continues to swirl around a key Rabbitohs player with the woman also photographed with the white powder now complaining the person who took her photo didn't get her good side - besides, she went on to say who doesn't like to party?

Tonight, we'll see the Panthers go down to the storm.

Tomorrow, the Sea Eagles and Roosters should see off the Warriors and Eels.

Saturday I'm breaking ranks and calling the Bulldogs over the Dolphins (I'd be happy if it were the other way around). Later Saturday the Cowboys and Rabbitohs should have easy games against the Raiders and Tigers.

Then Sunday, the Dragons and Sharks should give the Titans and Knights a drubbing.


Rugby internationals.

Have I read this correctly?

Australia and SA then New Zealand and Argentina?

$4.5 for Australia and $6.00 for Argentina.

I'll go with SA and NZ again.

[aoluain]

The more teams in the Rugby World Cup, hopefully the better the spread of teams in the draw making for more electric game play.

Absolutely, the more teams the better, it promotes growth in the game which is needed and
more importantly over time will bridge the gap between tier 1 and tier 2 teams - which needs
to happen. The game is dominated by a handful of teams and it would be interesting to
see the likes of Georgia, Fiji, Tonga becoming more of a force.

Rugby internationals.

Have I read this correctly?

Australia and SA then New Zealand and Argentina?

$4.5 for Australia and $6.00 for Argentina.

I'll go with SA and NZ again.

Yea its a replay fixture from last week.
I think its a good call to go with SA and NZ,  NZ will be hurting from the loss last week and
I would be very surprised if Argentina can pull off another win - it would be great though!