posted Nov 5, 2008

Because if Scotland were to play any of those three the scores would be the same as if I played Alex Higgins in snooker.

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posted Nov 5, 2008

comment by southsydneynrl (U8941259)

posted 53 Minutes Ago

Because if Scotland were to play any of those three the scores would be the same as if I played Alex Higgins in snooker.
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What 5 frames to love? That doesnt make any sense? :D

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posted Nov 5, 2008

Souths, agree with your backing of the current format.... IMO a good way to build up the smaller teams, rather than demoralising them.

Similar to the way some of the smaller cricket nations are now making the odd inroad.... Ireland at last World Cup?

I think a lot of this is due to the tournaments they now play amongst themselves like the ICC Intercontinental Cup which prepare them to move up to World Cup level of competition.

League is still a bit behind cricket, a good way behind Union and a long way off football, where many 'new' teams are now strong challengers.... but you got to start building from somewhere.

This tournament will hopefully be a nudge to the best players from Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Samoa, Tonga and Fiji that they can go play club rugby in England or Australia but still retain a strong national identity on another stage.

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posted Nov 5, 2008

I'd disagree with comments surrounding a intermediate cup type competition lets face it Scotland and Ireland havent given a bad account of themselves on this stage. The serious issue here for League is that Australia are so much better than than any team, you could have a special world Cup for everybody including England and New Zealand. Australia should just be given a bye to world champion status. Its Like a heyday Mike Tyson (Australia) V a Burnt out straw weight boxer (everybody else).
Based on current evidence available Ireland and England are closely matched.

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posted Nov 5, 2008

This has easily been the best RL world cup. I guess promoters and sponsors will be a lot more confident in four years time but it will all come to nothing if Australia, England and NZ don't tour the lesser nations.

Tonga, Samoa and Fiji have had a rotten time of it as second class citizens in RU and there’s no sign of the changing. If they got a fair chance in RL with reasonable player release from the clubs, I think the popularity of RL could really increase over there.

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posted Nov 6, 2008

'Based on current evidence available Ireland and England are closely matched.'

The England that played Australia would still win, the England that normally plays would hammer Ireland. Get a grip.

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posted Nov 6, 2008

Before the Cricket WC, there was some brief mention in the Irish media of Ireland's involvement in it. Their success came as a great surprise, but not their involvement (for many people, but not all). But before the RL WC, there's been no mention WHATSOEVER of Ireland's involvement. So if you thought that cricket is a teeny-tiny minority sport in Ireland, that's nothing compared to Rugby League. It's such a minority that I've never even heard of a single domestic team or player; whereas at least I am aware of some "little league" cricket activity. Mention the word "rugby" in Ireland and it's utterly taken for granted that you are referring to Rugby Union - no need for any qualifying adjective.

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posted Nov 6, 2008

So, will Ireland's RL WC performance raise the profile of the game here? Of course - but raise it from zero to what? What can be done with that awareness when there's absolutely nothing on the ground here? When, in fact, siphoning some of our young talent into "yet another" field ball game would be seen as a pointless dilution of the already small pool of RU and soccer players? Bear in mind that we've only 5.5 million population (North + South) and that the GAA (Gaelic football, and to a lesser extent, hurling) is still the overwhelming destination of young sporting talent in Ireland. I often wonder how much better our international RU and soccer teams might be if the GAA didn't exist. The GAA see themselves as the patriotic curators of pure Irish sport. On the contrary, my view is that since the GAA sports have no international profile - no opportunity to see your country excel on the world stage - it is deeply UNPATRIOTIC to put resources into them. But hold that thought - therein lies heresy!

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posted Nov 7, 2008

ArryBieWazdaStorrie

Excellent post re. the GAA. Couldn't agree more. I suppose they could argue that they are trying to expand their horizons with the barbaric hybrid games against the Aussies but I expect that format will not last the test of time thankfully.
So I would suggest we abolish the GAA forthwith and channel the resources into games which are played on an international level. It would also have the added advantage of removing another bone of contention to half our friends in the North.

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posted Nov 10, 2008

cashforhonours - Amen, brother!

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