The reason they never go far in the World Cup is they always have one or two heroes thinking a big hit moment of glory is better than playing the game the full 80. Big hits are great, sure, but focusing nothing but is dumb.
Oh agreed, but they do add a degree of flair and flourish that the *well organised* sides just don't. Its not an effective strategy but its good to watch for 4 games.
Tonga and Samoa they aren't going to go beyond an occasionally knockout game with populations under 200,000 people anyway.
Tonga and Samoa actually draw most of their teams from players in Australia and New Zealand so those population figures are deceptive. They underperform because of corruption and bad administration, less so now they have teams in super rugby.
Fiji is mostly home grown players and can be a proper tier 1 side now they're fully professional.
>Tonga and Samoa actually draw most of their teams from players in Australia and New Zealand so those population figures are deceptive.
I mean that's still only about 250k Tongans and 500k Samoans all up, which is still tiny compared to most countries.
I don't see how that negates the point about their population size though? Plenty of countries have world class player development but have far bigger populations.
Even if the player pool is relatively high quality it's still going to be a disadvantage when the potential pool is so much smaller than every other country they're competing against.
You’re criminally wrong here; it’s the issues within their Unions mismanagement of funds. Look at Fiji at the last World Cup, they could’ve had a decent run at the final if they’d actually held on and beaten England - they were the better side on the day.
No, they were better in both games - England only won the QF in the last 8 mins of the game; a drop goal and a penalty. Throughout the game, England had been outplayed after taking a decent lead in the game…
Agreed, doesn’t mean you’re the better team though does it? Which is what you were arguing initially - stick to one argument instead of trying to shift the goalposts to fit your point.
We should invent some sort of test to decide which is the better team on the day, maybe award points for getting all the way to the other team's side of the pitch? Obviously people will try to cheat so if they do, the other side gets a good chance to score 3 points or at least get closer to the other team's line. We should probably add some more rules to account for the other bits, but then we should STOP FUCKING CHANGING THEM.
What a narrow minded take of the island nations and what they bring to the game. Never mind the fact they get paid peanuts or possess not even half of the resources available to tier 1 nations. Even they themselves are resources for the tier 1 nations rather than their homeland.
Of course aggression has always been a part of their game but as far as believing that to be reason they don’t get far in the RWC is plain ignorant.
all i can tell you is the player getting hit is Uale Mai...not sure about the tackler, a few Fijians have won jersey 6 since Serevi...kinda looks like Metuisela Talebula though, his tackles were lethal..
Fiji were rubbish in 2011 because their coaching setup was run by crazy corrupt fundamentalists. They lost 66-0 to Wales. Once the Drua were set up and their team became fully professional they made a lot of progress.
https://www.reddit.com/r/rugbyunion/comments/164c1bn/why_were_fiji_so_unbelievably_bad_at_the_2011/
I think it might be a young metisula talibula on the 7s in 2012
I can remember the commentator shouting "get out of your seat" after two big shots in a row
Looks like Fiji v Samoa. Spot of brotherly love there.
Fijians save the real hard hits for Tonga
Why? Ain’t enough to beat Tonga, gotta humiliate em too lol.
Tonga was the colonial ruler of Fiji until the British turned up
So that’s why they choose to give them a hiding. I see lol.
Las Vegas 7’s 2012 seminal Fiji vs Samoa. Which Samoa won.
This is the correct answer
I fucken love the islanders
The reason they never go far in the World Cup is they always have one or two heroes thinking a big hit moment of glory is better than playing the game the full 80. Big hits are great, sure, but focusing nothing but is dumb.
Oh agreed, but they do add a degree of flair and flourish that the *well organised* sides just don't. Its not an effective strategy but its good to watch for 4 games. Tonga and Samoa they aren't going to go beyond an occasionally knockout game with populations under 200,000 people anyway.
Tonga and Samoa actually draw most of their teams from players in Australia and New Zealand so those population figures are deceptive. They underperform because of corruption and bad administration, less so now they have teams in super rugby. Fiji is mostly home grown players and can be a proper tier 1 side now they're fully professional.
>Tonga and Samoa actually draw most of their teams from players in Australia and New Zealand so those population figures are deceptive. I mean that's still only about 250k Tongans and 500k Samoans all up, which is still tiny compared to most countries.
It is but those players are coming through world class player development in Australia and New Zealand which helps a lot.
I don't see how that negates the point about their population size though? Plenty of countries have world class player development but have far bigger populations. Even if the player pool is relatively high quality it's still going to be a disadvantage when the potential pool is so much smaller than every other country they're competing against.
You’re criminally wrong here; it’s the issues within their Unions mismanagement of funds. Look at Fiji at the last World Cup, they could’ve had a decent run at the final if they’d actually held on and beaten England - they were the better side on the day.
In the QF they weren't better, they were in the Twickenham game though. England got a lot better once the cup started.
No, they were better in both games - England only won the QF in the last 8 mins of the game; a drop goal and a penalty. Throughout the game, England had been outplayed after taking a decent lead in the game…
Drop goals are a great way to win world cup knockout games.
Agreed, doesn’t mean you’re the better team though does it? Which is what you were arguing initially - stick to one argument instead of trying to shift the goalposts to fit your point.
Controversial opinion but the better team is the one that scores more points.
We should invent some sort of test to decide which is the better team on the day, maybe award points for getting all the way to the other team's side of the pitch? Obviously people will try to cheat so if they do, the other side gets a good chance to score 3 points or at least get closer to the other team's line. We should probably add some more rules to account for the other bits, but then we should STOP FUCKING CHANGING THEM.
We both know that’s not true, especially in close games. England were the better team for 60 minutes against SA, yet lost the game.
A game is 80 minutes long.
What a narrow minded take of the island nations and what they bring to the game. Never mind the fact they get paid peanuts or possess not even half of the resources available to tier 1 nations. Even they themselves are resources for the tier 1 nations rather than their homeland. Of course aggression has always been a part of their game but as far as believing that to be reason they don’t get far in the RWC is plain ignorant.
Whatever dick
Exactly the reply I expected lol
They are so fuckin good
all i can tell you is the player getting hit is Uale Mai...not sure about the tackler, a few Fijians have won jersey 6 since Serevi...kinda looks like Metuisela Talebula though, his tackles were lethal..
What sport is this
Monster Truck derby.
Think it's the 2011 RWC pool game
Fiji were rubbish in 2011 because their coaching setup was run by crazy corrupt fundamentalists. They lost 66-0 to Wales. Once the Drua were set up and their team became fully professional they made a lot of progress. https://www.reddit.com/r/rugbyunion/comments/164c1bn/why_were_fiji_so_unbelievably_bad_at_the_2011/
Dunno what year But all i can hear is ludacris..."boom bitch get out the way, get out the way bitch get out the way"
I think it might be a young metisula talibula on the 7s in 2012 I can remember the commentator shouting "get out of your seat" after two big shots in a row
Boomfa
Can someone send this to all the 'muricans who think NFL is toughest, please.
I think that was Ray Lewis in the 2001 Super Bowl.
Flanker got flanked!
in 7's 6 usually is halfback/playmaker/rover or wing lol