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Post by Druzik on May 22, 2009 3:01:33 GMT 10
So The four nations has been announced this year. This is the step up from the tri nations we used to have. The usual suspects are the with France coming in.
Next year however will be a bit different, apparently France will drop out and the winner of the 2009 Pacific nations cup will come in and then in 2011 they will drop out with the winner of the 2010 European nations slotting in.
So My pic I think originally was going aginst my heart and better judgement... New Zealand .... I think.
Marv is our bet still on?
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Post by kuwaitikev on May 22, 2009 5:22:53 GMT 10
GO THE KIWIS!!!!!!!!
Just depends how many of our players are denied the chance to play by their clubs with 'injuries that need surgery'.
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jim
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Post by jim on May 22, 2009 17:14:17 GMT 10
I'm actually tipping this to be a very close comp. Well hopefully anyway. England should bounce back strong at home and have a few Fresh faces there which is always good. NZ Will build up like they did in last years WC, and they've shown they can win with injuries, Australia... well nothing more needs to be said and looking at Possible teams for France they have the best team they've had for a long time and are playing at home, I expect them to be competitive.
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Post by Ryan N on May 22, 2009 17:19:53 GMT 10
I'm actually tipping this to be a very close comp. Well hopefully anyway. England should bounce back strong at home and have a few Fresh faces there which is always good. NZ Will build up like they did in last years WC, and they've shown they can win with injuries, Australia... well nothing more needs to be said and looking at Possible teams for France they have the best team they've had for a long time and are playing at home, I expect them to be competitive. France just needs to get the same halves combination going and working, and make sure they get the chance to develop. I think that's most important, look at Australia, Lockyer and Thurston. They don't really get the chance in my opinion. Some good forwards to give them a platform and backs will follow, they don't even actually have to be super talented, because the way the game is now, you just have to stick to the game plan. France can knock any of the other teams over, it just relies on sticking to a game plan. |
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jim
Marquee Player
Posts: 1,150
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Post by jim on May 22, 2009 17:38:35 GMT 10
I'm actually tipping this to be a very close comp. Well hopefully anyway. England should bounce back strong at home and have a few Fresh faces there which is always good. NZ Will build up like they did in last years WC, and they've shown they can win with injuries, Australia... well nothing more needs to be said and looking at Possible teams for France they have the best team they've had for a long time and are playing at home, I expect them to be competitive. France just needs to get the same halves combination going and working, and make sure they get the chance to develop. I think that's most important, look at Australia, Lockyer and Thurston. They don't really get the chance in my opinion. Some good forwards to give them a platform and backs will follow, they don't even actually have to be super talented, because the way the game is now, you just have to stick to the game plan. France can knock any of the other teams over, it just relies on sticking to a game plan. Well they have 1 cemented in, Bosc would have to be my favorite SL player, as good as any English or Kiwi half if not better in my humple opinion. The other one is up in the air though and as you say, that's the problem. I would like to see Constant Villegas given the permanent number 6 role but he almost has to be played at fullback because of there ebing nobody else, maybe, just maybe (my fingers are crossed) Greenshields will put his hand up for them later this year when becomes eligable. He is an Aussie sure but he is the best Fullback in SL, maybe Webb has a challenge and he would solve alot of problems for the French. If they get him suddenly their backline isn't looking too shabby, their halfs are good and so is their forward pack. They have a great Fullback, HB and Lock, a talented FE with alot of potential, a solid Hooker and a replacment hooker off the bench. I don't think I'm going too far in saying, put Greenshields at at the back and you have a side that can win a four nations game. |
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Post by supersteve on May 27, 2009 10:07:02 GMT 10
I was just checking out the EnglandRL website, and clicked on the four nations tab. Does anyone know how ticket sales are travelling at this stage?, they have made them very affordable. Also I see instead of having to pay for your tickets in one lump sum you can pay it off over a few months. Thats a really good idea, particularly in todays economic climate.
Has there been much talk or avertisement yet?.
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Post by Druzik on May 27, 2009 16:07:33 GMT 10
The French games I am hearing are
France ve, New Zealand Toulouse 31/10
France vs. Australia Paris 7/11
I got one wish for a big game in Paris to push the sport up there!
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Post by sportsmad on May 27, 2009 17:11:11 GMT 10
nice info druzik. might be pushing it but do you know what stadiums? if not , what stadiums would you pick?
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Post by Ryan N on May 27, 2009 17:20:54 GMT 10
Geez, it's going to change the game a lot having France there. This is the start of good things. Aussies will have to stand up and take notice. I'm keen.
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Post by sportsmad on May 27, 2009 17:37:45 GMT 10
i agree ryan , thoroughly looking forward to it. in the extreme off chance that france win i wonder what would happen in 2010. the 4th sport is promised to the winner of the pacific cup.
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Post by Druzik on May 27, 2009 17:46:43 GMT 10
nice info druzik. might be pushing it but do you know what stadiums? if not , what stadiums would you pick? Yeah, Paris will be the Jean Bouin stadium I think... Its a 12k capacity (though I think you could easily get 15k in there), the england game is there as well and I saw France play NZ there in 2007, Its the stadium that the Union team play out of Stade Francais, its right next door to Parc de Princess stadium, so if ticket sales start to exceed the capacity is very easy to switch to that... PdP is about 40-50k capacity I think, bit like the SCG. Below is one of my videos from the 2007 test match. In Toulouse it will probably be Ernt Wallon if they can convince the Union team, Stade Toulousian, its wiorth it letting them use it. They had the fixture there last year. Its about a 17k capacity so a good size for the Kiwis. I am hoping that Parpignan or one of the other stadiums like Beziers or Marseille get a game this year as well, maybe against Wales or someone, in the warm up. Perpignan would be good I suppose could hit the spanish catalonian converts as well. |
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Post by Druzik on May 27, 2009 17:48:25 GMT 10
Geez, it's going to change the game a lot having France there. This is the start of good things. Aussies will have to stand up and take notice. I'm keen. Yeah the numpty aussie commentators who dismiss anything international will ahve to finally stand up and take notice. The game in Europe now is really staerting to take off. Its so nice to see... I am so glad I was here for these three years to see it all develop and be part of it. |
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Post by Druzik on May 27, 2009 17:52:44 GMT 10
i agree ryan , thoroughly looking forward to it. in the extreme off chance that france win i wonder what would happen in 2010. the 4th sport is promised to the winner of the pacific cup. Well, see this is the bone of contantion I have had on several forums and some administartors in the RLEF. It should always be the 4th placed team that drops out, so if Aus come last they should be dropped. But as it is I dont agree with the international format anyway... the 4N still is devalued being played do often. We shoul have a schedule similar like this: Year 0: WC Year 1: Regional Ch'ship qualifiers ... tours by the big 4 nations Year 2: Regional Ch'ship finals Year 3: 6 Nations and a second tier 4 Nations WC qualifiers. Year 4: WC and emergin nations WC I can go into the details of all another time if people are interested... most already know my idea and plans form my website. |
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Post by sportsmad on May 27, 2009 18:24:44 GMT 10
nice video, small corwd though.
great to see a fellow optomist.
the 4th nation being dropped is a difficult issue and im on the fence atm. could the game afford to lose the revenue generated from england for one year, or however long it takes them to re qualify. the focus at the moment is on building revenue for the RLIF i think. im also on the fence about your schedule. i dont mind seeing an annual four nations if its in a different country each year. the six nations works quite well for rugby union.
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Post by Druzik on May 27, 2009 18:42:13 GMT 10
nice video, small corwd though. bout 6000, for a 12k stadium not too bad, also that week there were train and bus strikes so hard to get to, and not the best of weather. The stand I was on was packed though, the other side maybe not so much but only because it was more exposed I think. I also got to meet and hang out with the Kiwi team later that night. The French always seem to put on a great atmosphere. Too much sometimes... just ask marv ... ;D Look I have had great exposure to the trials and tribulation of Growing RL in the developing nations. There are obstacles that put there through outside forces and internal ones sometimes... but they all just keep ploughing on becauyse they love the sport and most do it as volunteers... I always urge and true RL fan that no matter where they are, get out to see the games and support the teams, doesnt matter what the quality of the game is, they are out there for the love and for their country and it should be applauded and supported. Ahhh yes but mine work a bit different to the Union one... I think the Union one is quite stale and only gets decent crowds cause about 60% of the tickets are freebied to the corporates. So what I would have is three regional championships, European Cup, Pacific cup and Atlantic cup. The top two of the European and Pacific cups goes in automatically to the 6 Nations. The winner of a 3/4 play off go into a 3 way mini tournament with the winner of the atlantic cup. The top two go into the 6 Nations. The last place of this play off, the 4th placed of the European and Pacific cups and the 2nd place of the atlantic cup go into the 4 nations. The 6N is split into two groups of 3, with top team going into a final. Thus 7 games. The 4 nations is one group of 4, with a final between top two. So you will also get 7 games. The 4 nations games are openers to the 6N, so you get to see 2 full internationals in one night. Thus you will get to see the top 10 nations effectively participate in a tournament(s). Imagine being in a place where you see Australia, NZ, PNG, Engalnd, France, Wales, USA, Jamaica, Fiji Russia playing in the one country! So here is the kicker. the 6 teams in the 6 N get automatic WC qualification, the two finalists of the 4N go into the WC also, the last two go into a repechage playoff for WC positions at some point. So the incentive is, right from the start for all team, from the regional tournaments that if you play well and are consiustent you will get qulaification to the WC... it also means that technically no team is safe with a spot, WC spots truly have to be earned, and the incentive is there for players to stick with a nation because now they dont have just one off games every 4 years, but 2 to 3 years worth of meaningful matches against the big 4, which is what players like brough were saying made them want to switch. With a meaningful international schedule like that, you can kill about 4 birds that plague IRL with the one stone. It gives stability and prestiege for sponsors to come on board as well. |
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