RWC Week 3: France v Namibia

[stodders]

@Billy-Tell surprised he didn’t ask French players for an autograph at the end there. He was v happy to shake their hands.

Annoyingly technical ref who comes across as quite patronising.

[MN5]

Namibia prove their immense worth in a RWC again……

[Machpants]

I only had video no sound at work, any comment on DuPont's status?

[Dodge]

Dupont has gone to hospital with a suspected fractured jaw (I thought it looked like cheekbone). Brad Barritt played 5 days after having a plate put into his cheek so

[Billy Tell]

@Machpants said in RWC Week 3: France v Namibia:

@Billy-Tell said in RWC Week 3: France v Namibia:

Carley just has no feel. Do we really need a YC there?

Change the rules cos they're losing so badly?

No just show some heart.

Dupont off for X-rays

[mooshld]

@Dodge said in RWC Week 3: France v Namibia:

Dupont has gone to hospital with a suspected fractured jaw (I thought it looked like cheekbone). Brad Barritt played 5 days after having a plate put into his cheek so

French TV are saying getting cheek x-ray and concussion concerns.

Nothing about jaw. Though everyone will be very tight lipped I suspect.

Madness not to pull him at half time.

[stodders]

@mooshld sometimes you have to overcome big blows. NZ got home after Carter on the back of the momentum they gained from the home crowd and playing for each other.

France may do the same.

[mooshld]

Honestly France have enough depth. But you want to see the best players playing.

[stodders]

@mooshld France don’t have another Dupont. The other teams won’t fear them as much without him.

[stodders]

Same was said about NZ in 2011. A fit Carter and NZ romp to that win. Without him, everyone else felt they had a chance.

[Billy Tell]

@stodders said in RWC Week 3: France v Namibia:

Same was said about NZ in 2011. A fit Carter and NZ romp to that win. Without him, everyone else felt they had a chance.

And they did. 8-7

[stodders]

@Billy-Tell is that a romp for you?

[stodders]

@Billy-Tell I was trying to say (badly) that with Carter the winning margins would have been much bigger. Without him, it was squeaky bum time.

[MiketheSnow]

Lazy French bastards not getting my ton

[stodders]

@MiketheSnow choked against 14 men

[stodders]

Ntamack out before the WC. Now Dupont a doubt. Big blows losing either. Massive to lose both.

[Steven Harris]

You have got to question the RWC qualifying process when Namibia keeps making this tournament, has never won a game having made the tournament 5 x times and keeps getting their arses handed to them without ever improving

[antipodean]

Second best team in Africa...

[Bovidae]

Ivory Coast beat Namibia in pool play but then somehow lost to Madagascar. Zimbabwe has been a basket case for a while but did run Namibia close in the playoffs. Really Africa shouldn't get an automatic second team based on the strength of their other nations.

[NTA]

Top 20 ranked nations who aren't at RWC2023:
18 USA (66.22)
20 Spain (64.56)

Outside top 20 who ARE here:
21 Namibia (61.61)
22 Chile (60.49)

Previous nations (pro era) outside top 20 who aren't here:
23 Canada (60.46)
25 Russia (58.06)

If we opened it up to 24 nations, they should add at least

• Europe 3 (currently 2)
• Americas 3 (currently 2)
• Oceania 2 (currently 1)
• Asia/Pacific 2 (currently 1)

And then keep the 2 Repechage slots much as they are.