18-19 Oct: World Cup 9s (TV)

[Old Frightful 5,764]

15 minutes ago, Bedfordshire Bronco said:

In 2002 they did

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/3032924/Bradford-left-in-sevens-heaven.html

I know.

It was a "joke".

[Man of Kent 5,913]

One minute left. Can the Ferns hold on?

[Old Frightful 5,764]

Kiwi number 4...

 

[Man of Kent 5,913]

New Zealand 17-15 Australia FT. Kiwi Ferns the women’s champs.

[Futtocks 13,087]

The Ferns are the first ever women's Nines World Champions!

One hell of a match, which could have gone either way.

Edited October 19, 2019 by Futtocks

[Farmduck 3,054]

[Bedfordshire Bronco 1,240]

10 minutes ago, Old Frightful said:

I know.

It was a "joke".

Oh okay 

[Bedfordshire Bronco 1,240]

Couple of decent looking Sheilas in the Aussie women team

[Dave T 15,445]

27 minutes ago, EagleEyePie said:

I agree. It's not like this was a full on test match, and the Saints players were getting weeks off during the playoffs. When the side was announced I was surprised Gildart wasn't in there. Very good taking the ball into contact, rapid and with good hands. That's the type of player you need for 9's.

Selecting Hall and McGilvary as our wingers is just odd. They are slower than a lot of forwards. We also had too many playmakers. Tomkins was a smart selection, he's suited to this style, but why Widdop? He's not a dynamic attacking player. Then you've got Graham and Sutton in the pack, who haven't got the pace or explosive running as their rivals from down under. The Aussie side looks to have a fair few younger forwards and definitely younger outside backs.

Bennett just treated it as a GB warm up. I can understand there are concerns about who plays with GB tests coming up but I wouldn't have minded if GB players weren't eligible for selection - we could still have fielded a half decent side for 9's.

I dont think the playmakers was the issue. The times we looked good we looked dangerous with Widdop, Austin and Tomkins creating. Unfortunately if you make a break and it is Graham or Sutton in support, or your wingers are Hall or McGillvary then you quickly see the issue.

You need players that if they make a break 50m out, they are fast enough to score.

[Futtocks 13,087]

Unless my plans have a last-minute change, I have booked next Friday off work, when the Jillaroos and Ferns face each other in 13-a-side. Looking forward to it!

[Farmduck 3,054]

8 minutes ago, Bedfordshire Bronco said:

Couple of decent looking Sheilas in the Aussie women team

Have a look at Tiana Penitani's Instagram. They really should use her for promotional work.

[Man of Kent 5,913]

So what do we think of this comp?

For me it’s been great TV with some excellent rugby and some shocks along the way. You have to worry about whether it’s been a commercial flop but it would be a pity if they ditched it. 

[scotchy1 5,569]

concept clearly works, really poor organisation. Absolutely mental decision to play a third of the games on a friday afternoon/Morning. A weekend of fun suddenly needs to be crammed in. 

In the hope that it carries on, plenty for england to work on. Tomkins is absolutely suited to 9s. Dummy half running not really much use, being able to shift it from the ruck creates gaps, Speed and offloading more important that power. Hall and McGilvery have proven themselves fantastic 13s wingers for england, clearly didnt work at 9s. I thought Handley showed up well, strange that we didnt play pretty much any centres at any stage. 

Personally i thought this looked like a format that hadnt really been stretched tactically, it all looked very primitive from all sides, but thats kind of a good thing if England want to take the lead in the format and become a champion side. 

Its crazy that we wont be doing this for another 4 years, honestly crazy. If the RFL had any sense they would be running international comps, even if the majority of those international players come from Super League. You could put out decent squads for most sides or get close to it and only have to fly a few over. Tonga have the likes of Hurrell, Lolohea, Taia, Langi, Moa, Fifita, BMM, Akauola, Fonua, already over here.  There are plenty of Aussies, plenty of kiwis, plenty of PNG players, plus, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, France, Italy, lebanon, Serbia, USA, Jamaica could all probably put out a squad. 

Super League 9s with the 12 SL clubs, A championship select side, Jamaica select side, USA select side, Serbian select side. 4 groups of 4. Top 2 go through to quarter finals. 3rd in to a plate comp. That will give us about 14 hrs of competition (alloting 25mins per game). . Add in another 4 hours for a womens comp, 10am to 8pm saturday, 10am 6pm sunday. Start the season hold it somewhere hot in February.  

Same format international 9s in the UK mid summer, possible August bank Holiday now the CC final has moved. Same format international 9s France October post grand final.  Then RLWC wherever the autumn internationals are being held. Every year. 

[EagleEyePie 222]

12 minutes ago, Dave T said:

I dont think the playmakers was the issue. The times we looked good we looked dangerous with Widdop, Austin and Tomkins creating. Unfortunately if you make a break and it is Graham or Sutton in support, or your wingers are Hall or McGillvary then you quickly see the issue.

You need players that if they make a break 50m out, they are fast enough to score.

True but I think Widdop was surplus. He can't go through gaps and if you're using several playmakers at some point they will need to support and go through gaps themselves and that's where Widdop doesn't offer enough in this format. The wingers were the biggest issue of course, but I think maybe another outside back or two in the team would have offered a bigger threat. Sacrifice one playmaker for a centre and I think the balance is better.

Edited October 19, 2019 by EagleEyePie

[Bedfordshire Bronco 1,240]

2 minutes ago, Farmduck said:

Have a look at Tiana Penitani's Instagram. They really should use her for promotional work.

Plays league and looks like this... The perfect woman?

Get her on Sky Sports! 

 

 

[Futtocks 13,087]

3 minutes ago, Man of Kent said:

So what do we think of this comp?

For me it’s been great TV with some excellent rugby and some shocks along the way. You have to worry about whether it’s been a commercial flop but it would be a pity if they ditched it. 

Definitely a keeper, especially if England pick a specialist Nines squad next time.

Edit: and, as Scotchy pointed out, make it Saturday/Sunday instead of Friday/Saturday. That's a no-brainer.

Edited October 19, 2019 by Futtocks

[Bedfordshire Bronco 1,240]

2 minutes ago, Man of Kent said:

So what do we think of this comp?

For me it’s been great TV with some excellent rugby and some shocks along the way. You have to worry about whether it’s been a commercial flop but it would be a pity if they ditched it. 

Great fun for a Saturday morning on the sofa

[DiH68 502]

I’ve loved watching it today. I think we have a chance to use this as a completely new vehicle for the international game, a bit like union sevens. We’ll need familiar names for the first couple of years to get the fans to buy in to the concept but I could see us ending up with teams of Nines specialists, as it is a very different game. Could be fantastic played around the world like the union sevens 

[Old Frightful 5,764]

3 minutes ago, Bedfordshire Bronco said:

 

 

3 minutes ago, Bedfordshire Bronco said:

Great fun for a Saturday morning on the sofa

Can't argue with that.

[Farmduck 3,054]

[Bedfordshire Bronco 1,240]

Just now, Old Frightful said:

 

Can't argue with that.

If she joined me then it really would have been perfect!.... Actually add some ale too

[Man of Kent 5,913]

1 minute ago, DiH68 said:

I’ve loved watching it today. I think we have a chance to use this as a completely new vehicle for the international game, a bit like union sevens. We’ll need familiar names for the first couple of years to get the fans to buy in to the concept but I could see us ending up with teams of Nines specialists, as it is a very different game. Could be fantastic played around the world like the union sevens 

I can see it evolving into sort-of touch rugby with contact, if you follow me. Speed merchants and ball skills.

[scotchy1 5,569]

11 minutes ago, Dave T said:

I dont think the playmakers was the issue. The times we looked good we looked dangerous with Widdop, Austin and Tomkins creating. Unfortunately if you make a break and it is Graham or Sutton in support, or your wingers are Hall or McGillvary then you quickly see the issue.

You need players that if they make a break 50m out, they are fast enough to score.

I thought Austin has been poor. Widdop a bit anonymous. 
 

I think it showed we took completely the wrong squad and completely the wrong tactics. 

Tomkins, Hardaker, Walker, Handley, Connor, Percival, Charnley, are the types of backs you need to be rotating through the squad with one of a Widdop, Austin, Gale etc. 

[Farmduck 3,054]

The OZ selection has been pretty consistent: 3 back rowers, 3 halves and the rest FBs and wingers.

[Futtocks 13,087]

Good start for the Kiwis, forcing Feldt back over his tryline.