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How is a fool. After SA, NZ, Australia, England Ireland and France are there that many serious contenders?
Oldtourman (Limerick) - Posts: 4467 - 03/11/2023 08:50:01 2511373 Link 3 |
Reading this topic you'd think there was huge amnosity from many GAA supporters towards Rugby. bdbuddah (Meath) - Posts: 1400 - 03/11/2023 09:58:39 2511379 Link 1 |
Comparing what a Rugby world cup home coming may have been like compared to Italia 90 is completely over the top IMO, soccer is by far the biggest sport in the world and therefor getting to the last 8 in the soccer world cup is a big achievement. Doing the same in Rugby equilivant isn't an achievement at all really as only about 9 or 10 countries play Rugby seriously. I would have really lost respect for Irish Rugby had they thought about organising a homecoming in the circumstances. The only people who would have turned for a homecoming like that would have had little understanding of sport. bdbuddah (Meath) - Posts: 1400 - 03/11/2023 10:04:26 2511380 Link 2 |
Wales and Argentina have gone further than us in World Cups over the years also.
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 13862 - 03/11/2023 10:14:56 2511382 Link 0 |
Wales, Argentina, could name others that you'll just dismiss but theyre just 2 morqe. and 7 serious contenders is a lot... KillingFields (Limerick) - Posts: 3674 - 03/11/2023 10:47:47 2511385 Link 0 |
Theres a lot more than 9 or 10 countries who play rugby seriously.
KillingFields (Limerick) - Posts: 3674 - 03/11/2023 10:48:24 2511387 Link 0 |
It's not rocket science, the number of credible sides are actually in the names of the competitions. The 6nations plus the trinations. 6 + 3 = 9. A couple of minor adjustments like remove Italy (rubbish factor), add in Argentina, and you're still at 9.
Pope_Benedict (Galway) - Posts: 3875 - 03/11/2023 10:48:32 2511388 Link 1 |
Only one team taking rugby 'seriously' has players from that country. They're number one. GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 7651 - 03/11/2023 12:51:44 2511416 Link 4 |
How are there 7 serious contenders? SA and NZ have won 7 out of the 10 WC and SA have only taken part in 8, France, England and Australia have reached the final on a few occasions but 2 of those three are in crisis.
Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 1916 - 03/11/2023 13:51:52 2511427 Link 0 |
Such as? Samoa? Fiji? Tonga? Explains why their best players transfer to NZ? Explains why they play no serious matches between World Cups.
Claretandblue (Westmeath) - Posts: 1916 - 03/11/2023 13:53:15 2511428 Link 1 |
So only teams whove won a cup are serious contenders? nonsense KillingFields (Limerick) - Posts: 3674 - 03/11/2023 14:06:44 2511432 Link 0 |
You dont know much if you think the best fijians, tongans etc transfer to new zealand. or that they play no "serious" matches between world cups KillingFields (Limerick) - Posts: 3674 - 03/11/2023 14:07:36 2511433 Link 0 |
There is no need for you to be so defensive every time people discuss Rugby here. World cups aside Irish rugby has been very successful in the professional era and only someone with an agenda would say otherwise. Irish sports fans should enjoy this. But we shouldn't over do the self congratulations of what a huge mark we've made in world sport because we have improved at rugby. Most of the population of the world have never heard of Rugby let alone seeing it being played There are only 9 or 10 serious Rugby playing nations. Basically you have the 4 countries of the southern hemisphere Rugby championship and the 6 countries of the six nations. Italy are in the six nations for over 20 years but don't seem to be progressing (at adult level anyway, tbh I've no idea are they making any progress at underage level). They probably shouldn't even be considered a serious Rugby country. Of the 10 countries above in 2 (Argentina and Italy) Rugby's profile would be minute. In Japan, who don't play on any major annual competition Rugby's profile would be small and improvements made are largely due to foreigners playing on their team. New Zeland is probably the only country where Rugby is the popular sport in the country. What other countries play it to a serious level?, the Pacific Island nations, can you consider them as being serious Rugby playing nations when they have such small populations (and Fiji mainly seem to concentrate on 7s Rugby). If someone wanted to be pedantic about it you could argue the number is less as in reality as Scotland or Wales are not independent countries and are no more countries than the Basque country or Catalonia are in Spain. bdbuddah (Meath) - Posts: 1400 - 03/11/2023 14:27:00 2511436 Link 3 |
Lots of counties can be regarded as not taking gaelic football seriously then because they are rubbish. ireland must only have a tiny number of credible sides playing gaelic football because of the rubbish factor theres lot more than 9 teams in rugby world cup who're competitive.... KillingFields (Limerick) - Posts: 3674 - 03/11/2023 14:27:58 2511437 Link 0 |
name all these players from these countries whove transfered to new zealand over the years. they play plenty of serious matches between world cups. KillingFields (Limerick) - Posts: 3674 - 03/11/2023 14:28:39 2511438 Link 0 |
Over the years there has been plenty of different teams which have won All Ireland football titles. Whether you like it or not Gaelic football is widely played all over Ireland. Rugby is very much a minority sport in Ireland yet we are one of the main rugby playing nations, how is this the case?- in part the reason is there are few playing the sport on a world wide basis. bdbuddah (Meath) - Posts: 1400 - 03/11/2023 15:11:16 2511447 Link 3 |
Eddie Jones. GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 7651 - 03/11/2023 16:04:51 2511452 Link 1 |
That's true. I've never seen a game of football between Louth v Longford, or Waterford v Antrim, or numerous other pairings of that ilk, and I wouldn't cross the road to watch any of these sides for free either, unless their standard improved, and they were contesting for silverware. Similarly, I've missed Uruguay, Portugal, Georgia etc etc etc at the rugby, and would usually avoid an Italy game too, except to check in on them every few years, and likely confirm that they're still not worth watching. Pope_Benedict (Galway) - Posts: 3875 - 03/11/2023 17:08:34 2511455 Link 0 |
Only 10 different counties have won the AI Football title since the first RWC in 1987. Only 11 have won it since 1958. In 65 years. And currently only a handful might win it next year. Pessimists might even say only 1 of 2 counties might win it next year. Gaelic Football is no more competitive at the top than Rugby or Hurling really.
Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 13862 - 03/11/2023 17:54:14 2511456 Link 0 |
Over how many years are you counting? And is it fair to compare a yearly event to an event geld once every 4 years? Rugby is played widely over Ireland ss well and rugby is a minority sport in Ireland as are all sports bar the biggest 2. No Ireland is a top team in international rugby because of the systems in place from academies to the provinces to the national team KillingFields (Limerick) - Posts: 3674 - 03/11/2023 17:55:04 2511457 Link 0 |