Rugby

[hfc rd]

So we have our first shock of the tournament! Hats off to Uruguay, every single one of those Uruguayan players were terrific!

Fiji were absolutely horrific. I’m struggling to think of one single aspect of their game that was actually pretty good. So poor in every single department.

[weecounty hibby]

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So we have our first shock of the tournament! Hats off to Uruguay, every single one of those Uruguayan players were terrific!

Fiji were absolutely horrific. I’m struggling to think of one single aspect of their game that was actually pretty good. So poor in every single department.

I really feel for Fiji, Tonga and Samoa. If you look at the amount of islanders playing for other countries due to the financial draw of doing so then then they could all have pretty decent teams. Uruguay in their day were as strong as Argentina with a strong rugby tradition but I'm not sure how Argentina forged ahead and left them behind

[hfc rd]

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I really feel for Fiji, Tonga and Samoa. If you look at the amount of islanders playing for other countries due to the financial draw of doing so then then they could all have pretty decent teams. Uruguay in their day were as strong as Argentina with a strong rugby tradition but I'm not sure how Argentina forged ahead and left them behind

The reason how they have pulled away from the likes of Uruguay and other similar nations is because of the following:

Argentina produced one of the greatest underdog stories in RWC history. They had that incredible run in RWC 2007 when they won all their games, topping the group ahead of hosts France (who they beat on the opening night in Paris 17-12) and then they came up against the eventual winners South Africa in the semi finals. They once again beat France, in fact hammered them in the bronze final (think it was something like 34-10). From there they have performed consistently well at the past two World Cups, reaching the quarters in 2011 (at Scotland’s expense) before losing to eventual winners and hosts New Zealand. Shortly after the 2011 RWC, they were invited to join the Southern Hemisphere’s equivalent of the 6 Nations - formerly known as the Tri Nations but now called the Rugby Championship. The yearly competition means they continually test themselves against Australia, New Zealand and South Africa and it has only aided their development further. 4 years later at RWC 2015 they reached the semi finals again, hammering Ireland in the quarters 43-20. They have competed in every single Rugby World Cup since it’s creation back in 1987.

Uruguay have only played in 3 World Cups (99, 03 & 15). Before the Fiji victory today, they had only won two games in their entire RWC history (Spain 03 & Georgia 11). I really hope today's victory see an upwards turn for Uruguayan rugby and they start to impose themselves on the international stage. They were really impressive today, so hopefully that upwards spiral starts today!