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rietrot
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You do know why they are called that right?
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2019 Rugby World Cup
- Thread starter Enzo Matrix
- Start date
sand_man
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They been labelled that for the last 25 years. They not a sleeping giant. They just another super power that isn't going to fully realize their potential in rugby union.
Well done him, good spirit
The yanks men and womens team are pretty decent at sevens, maybe they are hoping the 15 man game will catch on
rietrot
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That is exactly what a sleeping giant is. True even if they never wake up.
sand_man
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Yeah. They very good. Hasn't translated through to 15's though. They've made very little progress in 15's...
theratman
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They certainly aren't. Rugby just hasn't taken off over their other national sports. As a football fan they've said the same about USA soccer since the 94 World Cup, also just hype, even though they have an established league in the MLS.
netstrider
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The problem the USA faces is that not enough KIDS play rugby. They all play American Football first, and when they don't make the big time *some* of them try their hand at rugby. Whilst physically the games demand similar attributes, by the time you're 20 or so you don't have a decade of rugby "smarts" upstairs.
If they can get 2% of their 320 odd million people interested in rugby, that would be 6.4 million, more than the population of NZ. They have a fairly big crop of registered RU players, but most of them are code converts rather than native rugby players.
If only 1% of that 6.4 million were kids coming through rugby from a young age that would already aid a lot with 64000 true rugby players.
They have the potential to pay those lot enormous salaries that not even Europe would be able to match and the MLR is 2 seasons old now, let's see where they're at after a decade of it running.
If they can get 2% of their 320 odd million people interested in rugby, that would be 6.4 million, more than the population of NZ. They have a fairly big crop of registered RU players, but most of them are code converts rather than native rugby players.
If only 1% of that 6.4 million were kids coming through rugby from a young age that would already aid a lot with 64000 true rugby players.
They have the potential to pay those lot enormous salaries that not even Europe would be able to match and the MLR is 2 seasons old now, let's see where they're at after a decade of it running.
TheMightyQuinn
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Schalk is awesome. He even thanked the Japanese ball girl yesterday when she threw him te ball for a line-out...with a smile and a little bow.
A great sportsman and gentleman of the game.
sand_man
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Legend.
sand_man
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Scotland will be doing their points difference a big favor with this massive win. If they beat Japan but Japan finish within 7 both teams will be on 15 points. Points difference might just decide their respective fates...
Edit: correction Scotland would need to beat Japan with a bonus point to finish on 15
Edit: correction Scotland would need to beat Japan with a bonus point to finish on 15
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netstrider
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Is the first criterion not who won between the two teams level on points?
IE, if they are level on points, but they drew with one another then only PD comes into effect?
Cray
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Correct, PD would only come into play if all 3 teams end on 15 (i.e. If Ireland don't get a bonus point against Samoa)
sand_man
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Oh is it? Makes sense... My bad...
sand_man
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Sundays game is shaping up to be massive. Not sure Japan will pull it off...
Equally Ireland Samoa. If the game is played in typhoon type conditions it might not be so easy for Ireland to get the bonus point victory. Victory yes but 4 tries? Mmmmm...
Equally Ireland Samoa. If the game is played in typhoon type conditions it might not be so easy for Ireland to get the bonus point victory. Victory yes but 4 tries? Mmmmm...
theratman
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The general thinking is a large potential player pool = sleeping giant. Which isn't the case.
Cray
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He always seems so happy just to be on the field, class act.