menthe Posted September 6, 2023 Share Posted September 6, 2023 Lehaut, is this (literally) up your street?😏 Are you a fan? Whereabouts in Nantes is the Stade de Beaujoire? Don't worry if you have zilch interest! As you see, I am just trying to get a head of steam going for RWC....sneaky but it would be nice if some would come along to endlessly (and doubtless boringly for non-interesteds) and dissect it all😄 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Judith Posted September 6, 2023 Share Posted September 6, 2023 Menthe, I read that the host city is Toulouse, but other than I quite like rugby I know very little else! Presume there'd be a web site with althe details - somewhere! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
menthe Posted September 6, 2023 Author Share Posted September 6, 2023 Indeed, Judith. There are in fact several "host" cities. Toulouse is one, Nantes too, then Nice, Marseilles, etc etc. Les Bleus first match will be in the Stade de France in Paris. Here are all the delicious details! https://www.rugbyworldcup.com/2023/matches Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lehaut Posted September 7, 2023 Share Posted September 7, 2023 Menthe sorry to disappoint, but I have no interest in sports what so ever! The stade is to the North of Nantes as shown on this map - will be cycling past it today on our "Tour de Nantes". We cycle east alongside the Loire, then north west along the N644 cycle track past the Stade de la Beaujoire (as near to it as I have ever been) the back south along the Erdre river. That is enough sport for me 🙂 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
menthe Posted September 7, 2023 Author Share Posted September 7, 2023 Thanks for the map, Lehaut. Looks like an enjoyable cycle ride. Makes sense to site the stade to the north like that, more easily accessible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Judith Posted September 7, 2023 Share Posted September 7, 2023 Menthe, that's SO useful - thanks! Phew! I have to go to Toulouse on a match day - happily that day the match is in St Etienne! Toulouse is the next day! Saved again! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
menthe Posted September 7, 2023 Author Share Posted September 7, 2023 Bravo, Judith! Et bon courage😄 Hope everything continues well. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Judith Posted September 7, 2023 Share Posted September 7, 2023 Thanks, Menthe, been a bit difficult recently, but hoping life will be on the up soon! Or, I can at least hope so!🙏 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gardian Posted September 7, 2023 Share Posted September 7, 2023 Re the RWC, I’d normally be looking forward to this enormously, but for some reason I’m not. It just seems like the wrong time of the year for it, which is a daft reason. Anyway, my mood will hopefully improve as it gets underway. My opinion, fwiw, is that England will be lucky to make it out of the group stage. Yes, I’m a killjoy, but far too many of the players are ‘yesterday’s men’. Ireland are a really good side, but ultimate success will depend heavily on Sexton’s fitness which is far from certain. The All Blacks are obvious front-runners, but seem to be in that ‘lull’ that every top team gets - this may not be their year. I’d love France to win it and for obvious reasons you’d expect them to be there or thereabouts. The loss of N’tamack through injury is serious. The dark horses for me are South Africa. Not the most attractive team to watch, but hard to beat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
menthe Posted September 7, 2023 Author Share Posted September 7, 2023 Agree with most of what you have said and I am soooo happy you are here, Gardian, as I always enjoy your input about RWC. Ntamack, yes, I was pretty devastated, I can tell you. Pity France and All Blacks are playing the first pool game. Should be the Final! Have relatives coming over to Bordeaux next Sunday to watch Wales and Fiji; OH was offered a ticket but even he doesn't fancy it's worth the bother of going to Bordeaux! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gardian Posted September 19, 2023 Share Posted September 19, 2023 Well, we’re halfway through the group stage and it seems to be mapping out as to which teams will come through. The only group with question marks seems to be ‘C’, where any one of Australia, Fiji or Wales could fail to make it. You’d say Australia wouldn’t you, but anything could happen. Fiji were good yesterday, weren’t they? Always good to see a hissed-off Aussie ! We (England) weren’t great, but good enough and improving. For me, the really impressive side has been the Springboks. I know that Romania didn’t present much serious opposition, but SA looked very powerful and exciting in attack. They’ll be a handful for anybody. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gardian Posted September 19, 2023 Share Posted September 19, 2023 Oh, and I’m going to be thoroughly sick of Edith Piaf by the end of this ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
menthe Posted September 20, 2023 Author Share Posted September 20, 2023 Yes, Gardian, I don't know why they have to spoil the coverage. The last one before the last one (?!) they had that dreadul Paloma Faith until I was sick to death of her. Any informed guess as to the winning side?😏 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gardian Posted September 21, 2023 Share Posted September 21, 2023 No, but it won’t be us or Wales! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
menthe Posted September 21, 2023 Author Share Posted September 21, 2023 Yes, it's pretty obvious it won't be either of those. Still, lots to enjoy. Waiting for the S Africa/ Ireland match on Saturday🙂 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
menthe Posted September 22, 2023 Author Share Posted September 22, 2023 Why on earth did Galthié play Dupont in the second half? They were 55 nil at half time. No need whatsoever for Dupont to be out there. He should have been on the bench. Galthié would never be forgiven if France doesn't at least make it half-way through this tournament. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gardian Posted September 22, 2023 Share Posted September 22, 2023 Re Dupont ......... indeed, Menthe. As regards this afternoon’s match ......... well, best forgotten IMO. If you’d never watched rugby before, you wouldn’t bother again after that! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gardian Posted September 22, 2023 Share Posted September 22, 2023 Hopefully much better stuff tomorrow Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
menthe Posted September 23, 2023 Author Share Posted September 23, 2023 YES, Gardian! This evening at 9.00 pm......can't wait😄 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
menthe Posted September 24, 2023 Author Share Posted September 24, 2023 I had so looked forward to Ireland vs S Africa but the match was hugely disappointing.....for many reasons which I won't set out because I think I am boring everyone already by introducing this topic. But I do wonder if you enjoyed it, Gardian? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Un autre Gallois Posted September 24, 2023 Share Posted September 24, 2023 Absolutely the best match so far - not a yellow or red card in sight. Maybe a little of getting to know each other better from time to time, but played in the correct spirit with respect from each team. UaG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gardian Posted September 25, 2023 Share Posted September 25, 2023 UaG ".......... Must admit that I’m rather with Menthe over that one. For me, it Was a bit of forwards slugfest. Anyway, each to his own. Really did enjoy Australia’ humiliation though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
menthe Posted September 26, 2023 Author Share Posted September 26, 2023 Couldn't believe how well Wales played; their best showing for ages. But then Australia was terrible, couldn't seem to do anything right plus giving away penalties like sweeties. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
menthe Posted September 30, 2023 Author Share Posted September 30, 2023 All Blacks looking mighty dangerous again. As for France, how will they perform with the loss of both Ntamack and Dupont? Anyone else would like a 2-tier World Cup? I do think it will make the matches more interesting, going by the cricket match scores after a top team plays against ...er....a lesser, deffo 2nd-tier one? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gardian Posted October 2, 2023 Share Posted October 2, 2023 No real surprises this weekend and rather doubt that there’ll be any next weekend. Portugal were superb vs Australia - v entertaining. They were 10pts better than the scoreline. Just one thing. That Argentine bloke who gave the Chilean what amounted to a forearm (elbow) smash, should have been given an immediate red card IMO. It was deliberate & foul play - always was a sending-off offence in the years that I’ve watched rugby at all levels. Far more serious than all the accidental head clashes that we’ve been seeing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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