Rugby Union Summer Internationals 2018

[irocfan]

I thought that rather than clog up to main thread with the summer tours a separate thread might be called for....


Soooo tonight at 22.00 the Taffs take on the Springboks in Washington - shown on, of all channels, C4. I'll be curious to see how C4 manages

[Welshbeef]

I cannot hear the anthems

Also stadium is deserted. What’s the capacity

[davepoth]

Welshbeef said:

I cannot hear the anthems

Also stadium is deserted. What’s the capacity

45,596 according to Wikipedia, or 20,000 for MLS. I'd guess about 10-12,000 or so in the stadium; there has been a lot of disquiet about how badly the sales for this have gone, mainly due to the promoter (run by US Rugby) more or less being bankrupt.

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/america-doesnt...

[Welshbeef]

What a crying shame.

A chance to showcase Rugby in the USA no one turns up

[TheBALDpuma]

Watching this the quality of the camera work and sound from the pitch is really really poor compared to what we're used to.

Edit... Argh can't hear the whistle. That's going to be annoying. Or what the ref is saying.

[Welshbeef]

And I’m not drinking - so it’s going to be even worse

[Kermit power]

Welshbeef said:

What a crying shame.

A chance to showcase Rugby in the USA no one turns up

That's a good thing in my book. I'm getting increasingly hacked off with all these gimmicks and extra matches.

Why do we even need summer and autumn internationals every year? Test matches no longer feel at all special, and players are knackered when playing for their clubs.

My mood is not being helped by this turgid excuse for a game of rugby!

[davepoth]

Kermit power said:

That's a good thing in my book. I'm getting increasingly hacked off with all these gimmicks and extra matches.

Why do we even need summer and autumn internationals every year? Test matches no longer feel at all special, and players are knackered when playing for their clubs.

My mood is not being helped by this turgid excuse for a game of rugby!

I see your point about the autumn internationals - they're only there to make money, and while it's nice to get to see Wales spanked by the southern hemisphere teams in Cardiff, there's not that much to play for.

In theory, matches like this one should be far more important for the game - taking tier 1 nations somewhere that doesn't have great rugby, and showing them how good it can be. It's just a real shame that it wasn't publicised enough.

[Kermit power]

davepoth said:

I see your point about the autumn internationals - they're only there to make money, and while it's nice to get to see Wales spanked by the southern hemisphere teams in Cardiff, there's not that much to play for.

In theory, matches like this one should be far more important for the game - taking tier 1 nations somewhere that doesn't have great rugby, and showing them how good it can be. It's just a real shame that it wasn't publicised enough.

Fine in theory, but as they've just said in the commentary, the Saffas got off an eighteen hour flight just two days ago, and will have to fly back home after this and be ready to face England next week. It's a farce!

[irocfan]

WOW, what a match.... and not in a good way! I suspect that rugby USA must be quite pleased that the stadium is empty since what has been on show at the moment is DIRE

[anonymous-user]

irocfan said:

WOW, what a match.... and not in a good way! I suspect that rugby USA must be quite pleased that the stadium is empty since what has been on show at the moment is DIRE

I thought it was just my iPad that lost the picture but the commentary said it was from the TV also.

Wales still ahead anyway,

[Welshbeef]

Well it’s another W for Wales and first ever W away from Cardiff.

Took 90 years to get 1W we now have 4W and as it happens the last 3 games 3W back to back

[irocfan]

I guess anything in the W column is good - but man I could've happily missed the vast majority of that game!

[arguti]

Not sure if correct, but appears that England are basing themselves in Durban for the South African tour whereas the first tow tests take place at altitude and takes at least a week to acclimatise.....could prove costly especially in last 20 minutes of the games where it really counts. .

[Welshbeef]

So Wales up to 5th in the Rankings now (from 7th).

That W against SA does make a difference

[Kermit power]

arguti said:

Not sure if correct, but appears that England are basing themselves in Durban for the South African tour whereas the first tow tests take place at altitude and takes at least a week to acclimatise.....could prove costly especially in last 20 minutes of the games where it really counts. .

Yes, it is correct. I agree with you... Why on earth aren't they up in the highlands? Nobody except NZ have beaten the Boks at altitude in the last decade, so why not give yourself every chance you can?

[irocfan]

and it looks like Launch has got a twinge

[LivingTheDream]

This should generate some chat ..... thoughts?

[Kermit power]

LivingTheDream said:

This should generate some chat ..... thoughts?

1. What on earth is the thought process behind putting Mike Brown on the wing??? He should be on a deck chair somewhere enjoying his holiday before coming back for pre-season training. Arguably the same can be said for Robshaw, although at least he's not out of position.

2. Why take Cipriani, and then not put him in the match day squad?

[Welshbeef]

As a Welshman my South Africa new top has just arrived in time for Sat match