2019 Rugby World Cup

[Machpants]

Refs have been announced, we get French refs first three games....

http://officiating.worldrugby.org/index.php?page=appointments&id=116

[Stargazer]

@Machpants Yikes! Hopefully, we've used up our full dose of frenchies by then and don't get them in the finals!

[Machpants]

@Stargazer I guess we'll be more used to them if/when we do pick them up in the knock outs?

[canefan]

@Machpants I hope the jaapies don't get in and do a deal with the ref before the game.....

[Daffy Jaffy]

From Planet Rugby.
Samoa have been hit by a setback ahead of the Rugby World Cup after experienced second-row Joe Tekori announced his international retirement.

The 35-year-old revealed the news on Instagram on Tuesday, with the tournament less than two months away from kicking off in Japan.

Tekori plays for Top 14 giants Toulouse and will now focus solely on matters with the French champions, which is a big blow for Samoa.

[Daffy Jaffy]

From Tekori's instagram.
Today i would like to announce my ending of my International Rugby Career.
It was not an easy decision to make but i am blessed and greatful to have been able to put on the blue jersey and play to represent my beautiful Country Samoa.
My time has come and to now focus my rugby career on the club i am playing for now.
Starting my first Samoa selection 2003 and ending my last game in 2018
My 3 rugby world cup tours to my last game playing for the Manu Samoa last year against Germany for the qualification for the Worldcup 2019.
Would like to thank everyone who made it possible for me especially to my Wife and kids for holding it down while i was away for weeks even months and to my family back in Nz and in Samoa
Nothing is impossible without the love and support from them.
Faafetai tele lava mo tapuaiga ma fautuaga.
I also Want to wish the Manu Samoa boys all the best for their preparations for the RUGBY WORLDCUP and for the following years to come. Thank you Samoa Rugby it has been an honour
Faafetai tele lava

Joe Tekori

[Salacious Crumb]

“Nothing is impossible without the love and support from them [wife and kids].”

I tried reading that a dozen times. Into triple negatives here. Is he blaming wifey??

[canefan]

@Salacious-Crumb it's a bit like O for Awesome

[E African Troll]

@Daffy-Jaffy said in 2019 Rugby World Cup:

Joe Tekori

Scummy bastard French clubs strike again

More bribery/blackmail of PI players to "retire" before a RWC

I hope Los Pumas and England beat the crap out of France

Bunch of crooks and pirates

[E African Troll]

On a lighter note: Video of England RWC Training Camps - Part of a Series:

[Rapido]

@Daffy-Jaffy said in 2019 Rugby World Cup:

From Planet Rugby.
Samoa have been hit by a setback ahead of the Rugby World Cup after experienced second-row Joe Tekori announced his international retirement.

The 35-year-old revealed the news on Instagram on Tuesday, with the tournament less than two months away from kicking off in Japan.

Tekori plays for Top 14 giants Toulouse and will now focus solely on matters with the French champions, which is a big blow for Samoa.

Samoan locks

Current:
Kane Laupepe (Hurricanes)
Chris Vui (Bristol)
Filo Paulo (Unattached )
Senio Toleafoa (Nevers)

Recent call ups:
Faatiga Lemalu (Unattached - was Yorkshire Carnegie)
Brandon Nansen (Dragons)
Masalosalo Tutaia (Perpignan)

Is Tekori retiring a big blow? Genuine question. He's getting on a bit now (35 years old). I suppose his value for missing both the 6 weeks or so of pre-RWC camp, plus the tournament itself is quite high to his club.

I'd rather it was him than a Chris Vui or Kane Laupepe etc.

Would he make the actual squad? Definitely behind Laupepe and Vui as first choice I would have thought.

All depth is good depth, though.

[Bovidae]

Brian Alainu'uese has never played for Samoa yet. Currently at Toulon.

[Rapido]

@Bovidae said in 2019 Rugby World Cup:

Brian Alainu'uese has never played for Samoa yet. Currently at Toulon.

Recency bias and name bias and youth bias.

But I would have thought these 7 locks would currently be the best 7 Samoan-eligble to narrow down to the final squad and are currently in their prime (therefore, ahead of Tekori).
Kane Laupepe
Chris Vui
Filo Paulo
Brian Alainu'uese
Brandon Nansen
Gerard Cowley-Tuioti
Michael Fatialofa

Plus there is Ben Nee-Nee, although my hunch is I would rate him lower than Tekori.

I don't know much or anything about Tutaia, Lemalu, Toleafoa.

But Tekori has actually played for Samoa and put in 3 and a half RWC cycles worth of effort, unlike Alainu'uese who never has despite having left a central contracting environment. Step up Brian, Michael or Gerard , allow Joe to cash in during his twilight years and how about you step up to the plate you pikers.

Don't know what availabilty status of Nansen currently is.

[Daffy Jaffy]

@Rapido Maybe Tekori was given the word that he wasn't going to be picked and allowed to retire gracefully after years of service. Lemalu was excellent as an integral part of Auckland's champion tight five last season, starting most games after they lost Scrafton for the season.

[Magpie_in_aus]

2 Ted 's 2011 RWC squad only had two first-fives initially. Cruden and then Donald came in after injuries:

I thought they had dagg in the squad as the other first five. Or was he solely a fullback then.

Yes I'm reading 100 comments ago. I have some important stuff to procrastinate on.

[KiwiMurph]

@Magpie_in_aus Piri was the 'other' 10 option in the 2011 squad. Didn't he play at 10 in the pool game v Canada?

[Stargazer]

You're all forgetting Colin Slade.

[KiwiMurph]

@Stargazer no not forgotten he's one of the two first fives in the initial squad.

[Bovidae]

@KiwiMurph said in 2019 Rugby World Cup:

@Magpie_in_aus Piri was the 'other' 10 option in the 2011 squad. Didn't he play at 10 in the pool game v Canada?

Yes, he played the last 30 mins. Slade went to the wing. Weepu became the first-choice goal-kicker too.

[canefan]

@Bovidae Slade was best at left right out