Sun 23 October: RLWC: Lebanon v Ireland KO 2.30pm

[Just Browny]

Match thread for Lebanon v Ireland. Thought I'd get this going as for me this is the tie of round 2 but suspect the crowd won't reflect that.

I'll go Ireland by 12.

[GeordieSaint]

Looking forward to this. Should be a belter. I think Ireland will win; some good players.

[JM2010]

This is a big game. The winner should make the QFs

[SydneyRoosters]

Massive game, the best of round, I’m backing Ireland 26-16. I think there forward pack will be simply far to strong for the Lebanese. If Lebanon get in some space they will be able to create something but you couldn’t not back the Irish with the a team like that.

[The Hallucinating Goose]

Really looking forward to this one, gonna be a close one. I'm going Ireland by 8.

[Young Blood]

Lebanon 32 Ireland 10

[MatthewWoody]

This can be the most interesting game of the group stage with Tonga v PNG.

Of course half of the forumers won't enjoy as there's not bona fide poor blood right accent players representing the teams. 

[GUBRATS]

Hopefully sorting out my tickets to attend this one , should be a good game 

Be looking through the wifes wardrobe for something ' Leopardy ' to wear ?  

Funnily enough just on ' politics NW ' 2 minutes ago interviewing people in Leigh Town centre about Boris returning , the second person they asked was wearing Leopard print

[The Hallucinating Goose]

12 minutes ago, GUBRATS said:

Hopefully sorting out my tickets to attend this one , should be a good game 

Be looking through the wifes wardrobe for something ' Leopardy ' to wear ?

Wear one of her leopard skin bikinis so we can pick you out of the crowd! 

[The Hallucinating Goose]

I think the main reason I want Ireland to get through is that it would be great for international RL if a second European team could get through to the quarters. 

[GUBRATS]

4 minutes ago, The Hallucinating Goose said:

Wear one of her leopard skin bikinis so we can pick you out of the crowd! 

Where could I put my car keys ? 

[The Hallucinating Goose]

3 minutes ago, GUBRATS said:

Where could I put my car keys ? 

Put them up wherever you want mate, it's really not my place to say.

[Tommygilf]

Should be a cracker this. A knockout game before the knockouts. 

[YCKonstantine]

Should be a good game this one, looking forward to it!

[Young Blood]

Be good to get a team from Asia through. 

[Gerrumonside ref]

Been lashing it down all morning nearby to Leigh.

Not sure what impact that will have on the game, players or who indeed it favours?

Have your coat handy anyway!

 

[Bedfordshire Bronco]

2 hours ago, GeordieSaint said:

Looking forward to this. Should be a belter. I think Ireland will win; some good players.

Yeah me too.... Think the rain might level things up too if we say Lebanon are favourites....assume it's raining up there too?

[Bedfordshire Bronco]

9 minutes ago, Gerrumonside ref said:

Been lashing it down all morning nearby to Leigh.

Not sure what impact that will have on the game, players or who indeed it favours?

Have your coat handy anyway!

 

Thanks! Hard conditions....randomise the games but with more handling errors.....good for the contest 

[Bedfordshire Bronco]

29 minutes ago, The Hallucinating Goose said:

I think the main reason I want Ireland to get through is that it would be great for international RL if a second European team could get through to the quarters. 

Yeah....then the dream is France manage a result against Samoa ...unlikely I know but would be great 

[Madrileño]

3 hours ago, Just Browny said:

Match thread for Lebanon v Ireland. Thought I'd get this going as for me this is the tie of round 2 but suspect the crowd won't reflect that.

I'll go Ireland by 12.

Agree on both counts. Tie of the round, and really looking forward to this one.

The Lebs are an interesting team - they play very tactically and try to be creative in how they score points/gain field position.

I would love to see them in the quarter finals,  but unfortunately  I think the "Irish" with their bunch of journeymen professionals will be too strong. 

[Madrileño]

58 minutes ago, The Hallucinating Goose said:

I think the main reason I want Ireland to get through is that it would be great for international RL if a second European team could get through to the quarters. 

In what way? What would be the great payoff for international rugby league of ireland appearing (briefly) in a quarter final?

[Tommygilf]

2 minutes ago, Madrileño said:

In what way? What would be the great payoff for international rugby league of ireland appearing (briefly) in a quarter final?

The narrative for the past decade (and more) has been how good the Southern Hemisphere teams are, particularly in comparison to the European teams. That is despite results suggesting it is far closer.

The more European teams doing well, the better. France beating Samoa would be an absolute icing on the cake for me.

[The Hallucinating Goose]

5 minutes ago, Madrileño said:

In what way? What would be the great payoff for international rugby league of ireland appearing (briefly) in a quarter final?

It would show that the spread of quality within international teams around the world extends further than England and Oceania for starters. It would just show that these other teams aren't there to just make up the numbers and would show that there was more than one competitive team in Europe. 

[The Hallucinating Goose]

3 minutes ago, Tommygilf said:

The narrative for the past decade (and more) has been how good the Southern Hemisphere teams are, particularly in comparison to the European teams. That is despite results suggesting it is far closer.

The more European teams doing well, the better. France beating Samoa would be an absolute icing on the cake for me.

Couldn't have said it better myself. 

[Madrileño]

3 minutes ago, The Hallucinating Goose said:

It would show that the spread of quality within international teams around the world extends further than England and Oceania for starters. It would just show that these other teams aren't there to just make up the numbers and would show that there was more than one competitive team in Europe. 

OK. No argument  from me.

However what would actually happen? You said it would be "great for international  RL" but in what way?

Would more people start attending internationals? 

Would we get a bigger TV deal for the next international tournament (whenever that is)?

Would there be any actual payoff at all? That was my point.