Rugby Union World Cup 37 - Everything Thread [IC]

by **Tevutara** » Fri Sep 27, 2024 10:42 am

Matchday 2: Darmen 31–9 Tevutara
Try: Nevin 20'; Leigh 25'; Severinson 70'
Con: Hampton 21'; Paterson 71'
Pen: Hampton 33', 49'; Irwin 63'
Drop: Nevin 44'

15. Kerehoma, 14. Kuresa, 13. Kitiseni (63' Foa'i), 12. Ausage, 11. Tuigamala (56' Taukatea), 10. Failautusi, 9. Radrodro (55' Faresa); 1. Tahana (51' Nopera), 2. Ravuvu (52' Malo), 3. Taukatea (c) (51' Vavau), 4. Arepata (55' Vunibobo), 5. Tulimanu, 6. Leba, 7. Kuruisalili (59' Tameifuna), 8. Faaeteete

Pen: Failautusi 11', 31', 46'
Sin bin: Kitiseni 18'
Red card: Vavau 56'

POTM: George Nevin

True to form, Darmen kicked the shit out of the Titans. It was a disappointing performance marked by ill-discipline, giving away too many penalties against a team that would be more than happy to take the points on offer, while Sila Vavau’s straight red for a high tackle, incurred just five minutes after he stepped onto the pitch, means he will be out for the crunch decider against Calgasia, while captain Pu'a Taukatea had to come back on and play 75 minutes, a demanding ask of his 150 kg frame.

No major changes are planned for the game against the Gryphons, which will decide who advances along with Darmen to the Round of 16; Lafi Duvuduvukulu continues to shuffle his back row and look for the best combination on the wings, but the core of the team remains the same. Squad player Savenaca Cakacaka was injured in training; Fakanaaga Kaitu will be called up as cover but is not expected to feature in the match day 23.

There’s not much complicated qualification maths needed: a win against Calgasia and a place in the knockouts; a loss against Calgasia, and the knockout’s already been struck.

Koa kōkī!

Matchday 3 teamsheet
1. Tahana		9. Radrodro		16. Malo
2. Ravuvu		10. Failautusi		17. Nopera
3. Taukatea (c)		11. Tuigamala		18. Temo
4. Arepata		12. Ausage		19. Vunibobo
5. Tulimanu		13. Kitiseni		20. Leba
6. Faaeteete		14. Ala'ilima		21. Faresa
7. Kuruisalili		15. Kerehoma		22. Arana
8. Tameifuna					23. Kuresa

by **Polkopia** » Fri Sep 27, 2024 10:57 am

If they RP first, my opponents have my permission to:
Godmod scoring events: Y
RP injuries to my players: Y (TG or DM me first)
Godmod injuries to my players: N
Hand out yellow/red cards: Y
Godmod suspension events: Y (TG or DM me first)
Godmod other events: Y (TG or DM me first)

Style Modifier: +1.5

Starters:

Name:                       Position:                                                 
Aleksander Grigorov (c)     Loosehead Prop
Mikhail Prokhorov           Hooker
Yevgeny Sorokin             Tighthead Prop
Vitaliy Ivančenko           Lock                    
Vladimir Rišetnikov         Lock
Dmitry Zaitsev              Blindside Flanker       
Ivan Tsarkov                Openside Flanker
Maksim Melnikov             Number 8 

Kiril' Koržakov             Scrum-Half:
Nikolai Samokhin            Fly Half:
Artem Petrov                Left Wing:
Oleg Žukov                  Inside Center:
Yaroslav Demidov            Outside Center:
Anton Volkov                Right Wing:
Igor Rakov                  Full Back:

Coaches:

Head Coach            Tony Aston (ELE)
Assistant Coach       Maarko Pusak
Assistant Coach       Leonid Davidov

The image was created by myself, but edited using leonardo.ai using the following prompt: "Clean up this image for professional use. Remove any blur or pixelated lines."

by **Libesia** » Fri Sep 27, 2024 2:34 pm

Matchday 2: Libesia 23–11 Tero al Disco

15. Bergen, 14. Ngxanga, 13. Grobler, 12. Du Toit, 11. Lémery, 10. Mendel (64' Malibongwe), 9. Rottmayr (59' Micheaux); 1. Phutheho (55' Konstantin), 2. Mumbengegwi (c) (55' Mompoloki), 3. Kenanao (67' Kruger), 4. Stelzner (52' Trémaux), 5. Oluwabusolami (46' Levy), 6. Tietjen, 7. Webber, 8. Faulhaber

Try: Rottmayr 5'; Ngxanga 65'
Con: Mendel 6'; Du Toit 66'
Pen: Mendel 11', 50'; Du Toit 76'

Try: Narváez 16'
Pen: Narváez 8', 48'
Sin bin: Alonso 74'

POTM: Asanda Ngxanga

Rugby report

The Bulls recovered from the humiliation against Abanhfleft with a much stronger performance against Tero al Disco to put themselves in with a chance of progressing, if they can hold their nerve against Alice Bay. Led by Tinashe Mumbengegwi – the first black Libesian ever to captain the national team – in the absence of the injured Ernst Hochmeister, and with Gregor Mendel switched to 10 after Markus Kuhlekonke’s disastrous showing against the Fleftics, the Bulls looked a little more composed in defence, though they still give up a couple of costly early penalties to allow Lisandro Narváez to wipe out the early advantage the Bulls had taken when Vincent Rottmayr sniped in a classic scrum-half try from the base of the scrum. Another set of penalties were exchanged after the half and the game was poised evenly at 13-11, until Asanda Nxganga put on the afterburners to finish a series of quick passes and break free from the half way line. Gaëtan Du Toit nailed a difficult conversion and added a late penalty after Felipe Alonso was sent to the bin for collapsing the scrum to wrap up the victory.

Alice Bay remain a somewhat unknown proposition, but Leon Steiner is hopeful his team will be fortified by the return of Hochmeister – though Lukas Stelzner was excellent in his stead and may keep a place in the side, moving to blindside flanker. The front row will rotate, giving Heinrich Konstantin a chance to redeem his horror show against Abanhfleft where he was simply bullied off the field by Riley Augustin, and the Explosive Ordnance Demolition Unit will return to a bench role. Mendel, who looked calm at 10, will also keep his place, negating the experiment of Du Toit as a double pivot at 12: he will return to 15 and Dabuka Malibongwe return as the crash ball carrier option. “On paper, our route to the knockouts is easier than Tero al Disco,” admitted Steiner, “But rugby isn’t played on paper. Anything could happen and whatever goes on in the other match, we just need to put together a solid performance against Alice Bay and leave the rest to Margaret.”

Economics report

Well that was a fucking disaster.

Matchday 3 teamsheet
1. Konstantin		9. Rottmayr		16. Mumbengegwi
2. Ciullo		10. Mendel		17. Phutheho
3. Kruger		11. Bergen		18. Kenanao
4. Hochmeister (c)	12. Malibongwe		19. Levy
5. Oluwabusolami	13. Grobler		20. Tietjen
6. Stelzner		14. Ngxanga		21. Lwandile
7. Webber		15. Du Toit		22. Micheaux
8. Faulhaber					23. Lémery

World Cup 81/82/83/84

© Sporting Times Daily 2024
BP overcomes scare from hosts
Julian Pope, National Rugby Editor

The Commonwealth National Rugby Team battled through a resolute Britonisea side over 80 minutes in Luton & Sport City to earn a 12-5 win in Pool G of the 37th Rugby World Cup.

The hosts were spurred on by a home crowd that urged their XV on as every minute elapsed to take a major scalp off the World Champs in a physical defensive encounter; both teams left points on the field after exchanging unconverted tries in the opening 40 minutes, the difference in the contest coming through veteran prop Gerald Rodgers' 72nd minute try directly under the goalpost that capped off a furious 14 phase attack and Rodney Sinclair adding the kick from straight away to close out the scoring.

The Hoops made nine changes to the lineup from the first match, with Matt Phelps in for Rodgers and Vincent Hall getting the start at hooker, joining Peter Quinlan at lock in place of Edison Solomon, Lance Wilkinson at number eight and Tristan Ryland at blindside, while the backs included Sinclair on the wing and Kyle Mazzirella and Beau Allison at the inside and outside center respectively along with Eric Davies at fly half.

Those changes were complimented by continued liberal substitutions from Dean Mazzirella throughout the match which surely played into the final result as Rodgers, the Springfield Maroons stalwart, was fresher over the 23 minutes he was on from the bench.

The boss relished the strong resistance of the home side with the final match of the pool against the newcomers from Loch Dearg probably deciding which side will finish top of the table heading into the knockouts.
"We knew that this would be a competitive test, because you are up against the hosts in their back yard. You knew they've been pointing towards this fixture specifically after they had a poor performance the last time (World Cup 36). They are a proud side and we certainly weren't going to take them for granted. Or any of the teams we face, because this is what the sport is about-- proving yourself against the best."

The final match will also be at the Starside Stadium before the team will head to either Eaux City or Quickenden in the eastern part of the nation in the round of 16.

by **Hanalia** » Fri Sep 27, 2024 3:58 pm

Mrs E's Geo-rugb-phy Field Trip: On-the-Road

"Buckle up boys and girls, it a ROAD TRIP!" squealed Mrs E from the front of the bus. The field trip was on a major part of their undertaking, driving from Eaux City in the northeast to Aloquirbe at the opposite end of the country. However this was and ideal time to see the geographic wonders of the host nation, principle amongst which was the renowned "spine of Britonisea". At first, the majestic peaks were mere ripples on the horizon until they came to compose the entire skyline as the journey progressed. The scale of these things put any 'mountain' in Hanalia to shame. Reading from her guide book Mrs E explained, "This mountain range achieved its moniker 'spine of Britonisea' for they truely make up the backbone of the nation. Not only do they dictate much of the physical geography of the nation but they have also had a significant impact on Britonish economy and culture. The land has shaped the people and the people have shaped the land. A true wonder of the Multiverse."

Mr E, who was behind the wheel of the bus, had to decipher Mrs E's unusual combination of verbal directions, hand signals and head nods employed to navigate around Deportedas. The tour was able to get a look around the capital on their way through. Taking in the sounds and smells of a bustling international city. Madjka and Mrs E insisted on a stop at the science museum for a look around while the other stopped for the all important bite to eat. The last leg of their journey was the ferry across to Aloquirbe. It had been a terrific journey with all the marvels of both the natural and man-made worlds that Britonisea had to offer.

However what awaited them at the next match was another kind of marvel. Hanalia's second international rugby match was a stormer. A 57 to 15 win, with a bonus point, over Savojarna. Not only an impressive win itself but also securing qualification to the knockout stages. With neither of the 2 teams Hanalia has already defeated sitting on 0 and 1 points, the 9 points accumulated from the first 2 games will see Hanalia and TJUN-ia qualify. The final group game, once more in Aloquirbe, will therefore dictate the raking for the next round, winner taking top spot. The round of 16 opponents however are much less certain, as things stand exceedingly tight in pool B. With one win apiece those teams have survial in the competition to play for in the final match.

by **Tero al Disco** » Fri Sep 27, 2024 4:14 pm

KNOCKOUTS GET COMPLICATED FOR THE TEROS FOLLOWING LOSS TO LIBESIA

Redacted by Antonio Díaz Santamarina.

September 25th, 2024.

In the group stages of the Rugby World Cup, Tero al Disco had left the capital city of Doportedas with a pretty good feeling. Facing an Alice Bay squad that has clearly had better days, the national team coached by Telmo Fanaselle did not put all of their willpower into their group opener, and yet ran out as winners by 25-3. The three points for Alice Bay had come from a silly penalty from Emiliano Grimaldo, which saw him get sent to the sin bin with five minutes to go, but that was to enough for the team to start in the right way.

Then they were off to the 42.000-capacity Stade Bastion, located virtually to the other side of Britonisea, to play against Libesia, a team which can prove to end up as a dark horse, in my opinion no matter the sport, as a country that has only been introduced to international sport very recently. The Bulls had no right to complain about travel as well, because both Libesians and Terenses had kicked off in Doportedas, in western Britonisea, and now had to travel to Burgendore in the east. But outside from that both teams seemed to cope with the fatigue pretty well. What was feared about the Libesians, did end up happening, as they gained the lead very early on and gradually started widening it throughout the match. Before the 20th minute, there was hope that the Terenses could equalise the match with a try from Lisandro Narváez. However Lisandro, also the team's main kicker, missed the conversion as the ball was deflected by the goalpost, and that would be the only try of the game; Narváez also scored two penalties, but the Terenses lost 23-11.

Now all eyes are on the final match of the group stage and the toughest one of them all for the Terenses, as they'll go up against Abanhfleft, the top-ranked team in the group. The Fleftics have had an optimal performance so far, first doing away with the Libesians with a 26-point win, and then demolishing Alice Bay by 46-0, where the Revolutionaries clearly showed what they were capable of. Arguably the man to look out for is Marley Gallegos, the Fleftic kicker; in the last two matches both Libesia and Alice Bay have given up a very high amount of penalties, and Gallegos has had a pin-point accuracy in here, so the team better not concede too many kicks. One weakness that has been highlighted from Tero al Disco's next opponents is a porous defense compared to a Terense team that does have smart decision-makers like Javier García and youngster Vicente Valencia, and also heavy hitters, most prominently Benjamín Wojewodka (weighing 103 kg) That flaw with the Fleftics is something that has been noted by local press, but with Alice Bay, and also Libesia to a lesser extent, that claim for this RWC's squad has to be taken with a pinch of salt for now...and you never know what the #3 ranked, two-time world champions have in store for you.

Telmo Fanaselle told ABCD that: "Well, we're only taking our first steps in international rugby so you can't expect a miracle to happen. You've got to wait for the foundations to, sort of develop, and then you can have a squad in the future which can achieve big, which can dream big. I guess that can happen, not necessarily with this year's squad, but I'd say that the next cycle's can somewhat get a shot at getting further than us, but in my view we need to look realistically, we can't get too optimistic."

After the end of round two, the standings are as follows:

Pool A                       Pld   W  D  L   PF  PA  PD  PTS  BP  TOTAL
1 Abanhfleft                   2   2  0  0   82  10 +72  8    2   10
2 Libesia                      2   1  0  1   33  47 −14  4        4 
3 Tero al Disco                2   1  0  1   36  26 +10  4        4
4 Alice Bay                    2   0  0  2    3  71 −68  0        0
H2H points: Libesia 4 - Tero al Disco 0 (LIB 23-11 TER)

With Libesia having gained the head-to-head advantage over the Terenses with this win, the Terenses mustn't lose, or else they'll be eliminated by the Libesians no matter their final result; the only exception to this is if the Terenses lose by less than seven points (getting a bonus point in the process), and that Libesia lose by some sort of freak accident to Alice Bay by less than seven points...Look, bonus points aren't made to get readers' attention. Or they are? I have no idea. On the other hand, let's say that God wakes up willing to grant the Teros victory, they actually beat Abanhfleft, or in simpler terms they defeat a clear favourite to win the entire thing, and who have few signs of showing mercy. If they do, then Libesia must not win as well (except in the case that the Terenses straight-up blow out the Fleftics to get a bonus point. I mean, how would that happen.). Aside from a number 3 in the world facing a debuting side, Libesia will face an Alice Bay team that are shadows of their former selves. So in summary, it will be quite difficult for Tero al Disco to get onto the top two of group A.

The ex-president of the Terense Rugby Union (URTER), Cristóbal La Cognata, also spoke out in relation to this RWC, agreeing with Fanaselle: "This is a stepping stone for the Terense rugbiers of the future, of course. I'd say that, as the president of a federation that was struggling with bankruptcy at the time, that the team being knocked out in its first run isn't as bad as what I had to deal when I was the head of the URTER." He also remarked, on another note, "The clubs weren't finding rugby as a profitable source of income, so as a solution (and something that would hopefully be a source of revenue to stay afloat) we had to create the Liga Nacional, a closed-off league with the handful of the best and most profitable teams. It did get some new audience, because the national league was the top level of the sport in a time when the RWC wasn't there for us, but we had to kill the...feeling of a community from watching clubs who weren't as big. Y'understand?"

by **Britonisea** » Fri Sep 27, 2024 4:18 pm

Pool Stage - Matchday 3

Bonus point: In order to get a bonus point, your team must have at least scored 33 or more points OR lost within 7 points or less. The teams that get a bonus point will be highlighted using this star ✩.

Pool A
Alice Bay 0–10 Libesia
Tero al Disco 12–44 Abanhfleft ✩

Pool A                       Pld   W  D  L   PF  PA  PD   PTS  BP  TOTAL
Q Abanhfleft                   3   3  0  0  126  22 +104  12   3   15     
Q Libesia                      3   2  0  1   43  47  −4   8        8     
3 Tero al Disco                3   1  0  2   48  70 −22   4        4
4 Alice Bay                    3   0  0  3    3  81 −78   0        0

Pool B
Crpostran 25–21 Nova Calania ✩
Panay Islands & Guimaras 15–41 Lisander ✩

Pool B                       Pld   W  D  L   PF  PA  PD   PTS  BP  TOTAL 
Q Lisander                     3   2  0  1  123  66 +57   8    3   11  
Q Crpostran                    3   2  0  1   69  73  −4   8    1   9 
3 Nova Calania                 3   1  0  2   55  83 −28   4    1   5
4 Panay Islands & Guimaras     3   1  0  2   43  68 −25   4        4

Pool C
Acadiana ✩ 34–0 Savojarna
Hanalia 3–50 TJUN-ia ✩

Pool C                       Pld   W  D  L   PF  PA  PD   PTS  BP  TOTAL 
Q TJUN-ia                      3   3  0  0  143  26 +117  12   2   14
Q Hanalia                      3   2  0  1   80  80   0   8    1   9
3 Acadiana                     3   1  0  2   61  46 +15   4    2   6
4 Savojarna                    3   0  0  3   26 158 −132  0        0

Pool D
Natkr ✩ 34–7 Darkmania
Edsmontik 0–34 Ko-oren ✩

Pool D                       Pld   W  D  L   PF  PA  PD   PTS  BP  TOTAL 
Q Ko-oren                      3   3  0  0   91  19 +72   12   1   13
Q Edsmontik                    3   2  0  1   45  40  +5   8        8
3 Natkr                        3   1  0  2   52  53  −1   4    1   5
4 Darkmania                    3   0  0  3   14  90 −76   0        0

Pool E
Tevutara 20–15 Calgasia ✩
Vaishnavaria 6–29 Darmen

Pool E                       Pld   W  D  L   PF  PA  PD   PTS  BP  TOTAL 
Q Darmen                       3   3  0  0   98  15 +83   12   1   13
Q Tevutara                     3   2  0  1   65  56  +9   8    1   9
3 Calgasia                     3   1  0  2   58  68 −10   4    2   6
4 Vaishnavaria                 3   0  0  3   26 108 −82   0        0

Pool F
Nova Anglicana ✩ 42–0 Banija
Polkopia 5–29 Kelssek

Pool F                       Pld   W  D  L   PF  PA  PD   PTS  BP  TOTAL 
Q Kelssek                      3   3  0  0  112  44 +68   12   2   14
Q Nova Anglicana               3   2  0  1  108  54 +54   8    2   10   
3 Polkopia                     3   1  0  2   57  76 −19   4    1   5
4 Banija                       3   0  0  3   20 123 −103  0        0

Pool G
Britonisea ✩ 57–23 Barunia
Loch Dearg 14–40 Commonwealth of Baker Park ✩

Pool G                       Pld   W  D  L   PF  PA  PD   PTS  BP  TOTAL 
Q Commonwealth of Baker Park   3   3  0  0   98  29 +69   12   2   14
Q Britonisea                   3   2  0  1  121  48 +73   8    3   11
3 Barunia                      3   1  0  2   85 103 −18   4    1   5
4 Loch Dearg                   3   0  0  3   27 151 −124  0        0

Pool H
Quebec & Shingoryeo 24–13 Murren
Aquitayne 7–41 Baggieland ✩

Pool H                       Pld   W  D  L   PF  PA  PD   PTS  BP  TOTAL 
Q Baggieland                   3   3  0  0   75  32 +43   12   1   13
Q Quebec & Shingoryeo          3   2  0  1   59  36 +23   8    1   9
3 Murren                       3   1  0  2   68  66  +2   4    2   6
4 Aquitayne                    3   0  0  3   38 106 −68   0        0

Round of 16 Fixtures

RO16 Day 1 fixtures
Abanhfleft v Edsmontik @ Saintlake Stadium, Doportedas
Lisander v Hanalia @ Greenock Stadium, Quickenden
TJUN-ia v Crpostran @ Winter Stadium, Eaux City
Ko-oren v Libesia @ Stade Bastion, Burgendore

RO16 Day 2 fixtures
Darmen v Quebec & Shingoryeo @ Stade Bastion, Burgendore
Kelssek v Britonisea @ Winter Stadium, Eaux City
Commonwealth of Baker Park v Nova Anglicana @ Greenock Stadium, Quickenden
Baggieland v Tevutara @ Saintlake Stadium, Doportedas

There have also been some minor changes to host stadiums for the quarterfinals. While ICly on different dates, RO16 Day 1 and 2 will come together at the next cut-off...

The next cut-off is: 30th September 2024 @ 18:00 UTC+1

[It is an early cut-off - it is 41 hours away]!

by **Panay Islands and Guimaras** » Fri Sep 27, 2024 5:49 pm

A VIOLENT FAREWELL TO THE CARABAOS
Boscombard, Britonisea

With the trumpets and drums resounding, the Lisanderians are just pissed off for their antics and it starts with a fight off between two nations. They even boo each other's anthems, and as in the first half, the Panayenses are having their good start from a try from Diosdado Shia and a conversion from Cha, where the Britonisean security tried to hold it off. It was all fun and games for the Panayenses but when a mistake came from Agustín Sánchez-Guanzón, the Lisanderians have started their domination and scored a try and a conversion. Because of this, the security got tighter and tighter between the two countries. Making it the most violent first half ever in this event. In halftime, both sides we're threatening each other with their own songs and chants. The escalation will be worser in the second half where the Lisanderians scored more tries but there's a drop goal, conversion, and try for the Panayenses. But the Lisanderians are making it more violent when they score another try, they would attempt to violently smack the hell out of the Panayenses, especially in the last try when they finally broke the Britonisean security and then a riot has begun with a retaliation of a Lisanderian but a flying knee came from a Panayense supporter, and thus making it the referee to end the game abruptly and the riots will escalate more and more. Both the Lisanderians and the Panayenses throwing bottles to their national team enemies. "I am aware that this could be a potential rivalry between these two nations, but the fans make it more violent against the fair play.", says Arnáiz. "But I want to tell the Panayense supporters to calm down and we'll hope that we could do our best next RUWC." The Panayenses may lost the game, but the retaliation from the Lisanderians make them more stronger and gave the advantage to win against them.

by **Afrikaner South Africa** » Fri Sep 27, 2024 5:51 pm

DAMN IT! there was rugby and no one told me to sign up!

by **Baggieland** » Sat Sep 28, 2024 11:28 am

by **Edsmontik** » Sat Sep 28, 2024 1:28 pm

EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS

The Edsmons had the super lucky outcome of somehow beating both Natkr and Darkmania.
With no experience, by the way!
16-6 VS Natkr, and they ripped up Darkmania in a 29-0 misery show.
The Jets managed to top their group with no experience.
As your reporter, writing this over and over may be boring, but as an Edsmon, this is great news!
No one knows about rugby here in Edsmontik, yet they still find some way to win!
As long as it doesn't topple down, things will be going well.
Let us see some tweets about the games, shall we?

As you have seen, fans are very excited about what's to come for Edsmontik!
But against Ko-oren, what's to happen? We just gotta find out.

OOC: Posts will mostly be lazy such as this one due to the limited time I have to write

by **Ko-oren** » Sat Sep 28, 2024 2:00 pm

The Space Age

Team names betray something about the era they were named in. Soccer teams were named after neighbourhoods and cities in a time when relative distances were still a lot to overcome in the immediate pre-train era. Gridiron football teams added nicknames in a time of mass communication and foreign influence. And rugby union teams founded a national league around the time of boundless expectation and optimism about what mankind would find beyond our atmosphere.

That's why there's so many teams named for constellations - the Aquila, Coronae, Cassiopeia, Phoenix - or other galactic features - the Galaxy, Andromeda, Comets - and did you know the Willowbourne (Ilohbonu) Foxes are a continuation of the Vulpecula (fox constellation) team as well? The same goes for the Swans (Cygnus) and the Bears (Ursa Minor/Maior). That makes ten out of twelve teams a direct call to the era. You could be mistaken about the Bulls: somehow they're not a reference to Taurus! As for the twelfth, the Tarrashall Travellers didn't have a designated home stadium and would tour around the west coast or play their 'home' games away, and the nickname stuck. They still play some of their matches in other west coast venues to this day.

The fascination for space peaked around a time of groundbreaking (Anaian) achievements: the first person in space, the first person in orbit. Ko-oren has shared in these achievements, but mostly for research. Not the engineering, and not the launch itself. And since then, while the funding is still there, the telescopes have been improved a few times, and our understanding of our country as viewed from up high is near-complete, the science fiction of it all has been lost. And yet - careers are still possible, and the majors are still there at the science and general universities. The Geoscience and Cartography board, in Aerellen, works as close as possible to the University of the Plough Islands and their Anaia-mapping, as well as with Calanian programmes for satellite imaging. A part of their job has been moved to Mumbahrih (Moonbright), where the national Meterology station is located, from where local weather stations are monitored.

Season 35 Previews

Formats
First Division: double round-robin
Second Division: double round-robin
Third Division: double round-robin
Fourth Division: double round-robin & a match on neutral ground
State of Origin: round-robin

Second and Third divisions exchange three teams (pro/rel). Three teams relegate from each Third Division, with the champions of each Fourth Division promoting. 4MAW and 4SPR into 3M. 4SRB and 4LEE into 3S. 4WIL and 4GEH into 3G.

Calendar
Rosters are to be finalised Tharathju 16 - around traditional harvest season
Round one starts half a month later (Tharathju 34)
Rounds 5 and 10 are rural - these are played at teams' smaller grounds in smaller towns
Round 14 is in a single city. Last year that was Llandy. This is year 2 of the tradition, with Idyllwild appointed to host all 6 matches that weekend.
State of Origin between rounds 7-8, 12-13, and 18-19.
Final takes place on Dorapi 11, when spring gets going.

Penstead Bears
Stadium: yLhafontan Parc (12500) in Pehnathjar (Penstead), Idremdun (yDremdun)
Titles: 1
Playoff appearances: 2
Rivals:

Llandy Bulls,

Mawrystwyth Phoenix
Prediction: 12 (Forwards: 12 / Halves: 12 / Backs: 12)
Forwards: Iogan ySyddirwig, Oisin yCadeyrenmac, Larry Angelley, Archibald Knight, Solomon Swetenham, Shiti Ehkohkehten, Bart Weddall, Caddas yBytodd
Halves: Ddehir yBogwaef, Lawrence Malvale
Backs: Wanmoor Bolubung, Elysedd yCilionmac, Joseph Hedin, Blethnaken Thliterehithen, Tledhgalu Thuthripuden
Star: Elysedd yCilionmac
Coach: Elysedd yCofanmac

Mayara Wanderers-Cassiopeia
Stadium: Rikalathen Arena (44000) in Maethoru (Maethoru), Matali (KCT)
Titles: 1
Playoff appearances: 2
Rivals:
Prediction: 11 (Forwards: 10 / Halves: 11 / Backs: 9)
Forwards: Buford Duhtihden, Iris Wuhpahdhen, Nye Raapple, Autju Arzehnra, Hilaruk Sauzilraunden, Jolenta Thojihten, Yann Pinter, Plishanas Khladhmanegun
Halves: Johkuth Idajohten, Frederick Robinmouth
Backs: Tei Warmeling, Michael Ajahdhihden, Crispin Whitemeadow, Minoru Yukawa, Paujaurak Leauntherinthen
Star: Tei Warmeling
Coach: Kuzubi Eidhrunau (f), Istak Dakadhen

Llandy Bulls
Stadium: Mawryshire State Oval (30500) in Lodahn (Llandy), Mauroren (Mawryshire)
Titles: 1
Playoff appearances: 3
Rivals:

Mawrystwyth Phoenix,

Penstead Bears
Prediction: 10 (Forwards: 6 / Halves: 9 / Backs: 10)
Forwards: Ciri yBybrian, Dwein yWladean, Cristobo Sanjurjo, Bodica Tlidhanohugun, Cigan yEoganmac, Seth Bancherry, Conor yAigaethol, Faergws yFfrwoinn
Halves: Tirnan Prithnikhithen, Dewsloff yBhachill
Backs: Autjan Sesorathen, Dadhwilina Hikhihodhen, Ciri yBytraheren, Twngawn yChonpad, Beomcewl yFfewlchewm
Star: Cigan yEoganmac
Coach: Berit yBeddach (f), Rwi yLeimac

Idyllwild Coronae
Stadium: The Crown (17500) in Edihlbahl (Idyllwild), Ubakhim Maengiu (Corridor)
Titles: 1
Playoff appearances: 5
Rivals:

Willowbourne Foxes
Prediction: 9 (Forwards: 9 / Halves: 8 / Backs: 7)
Forwards: Solomon Brothnakuden, Joel Hollygate, Samuel Goodbuck, Gene Weddall, Tom Hertburton, Mentan Padganthen, Fulke Skimwin, Mayra Reejulga
Halves: Alywin Dreameath, Blaine Armkins
Backs: Jacob Alardice, Osric Ragnell, Rem Garsenaar, Carl Ragsdale, Clayborne Corwick
Star: Clayborne Corwick
Coach: Nigel Fletcher, Ryan Savage

Eaglebury Aquila
Stadium: The Palace (34000) in Gillberra (Eaglebury), Tarrashalli (West Strand Riding)
Titles: 1
Playoff appearances:
Rivals:

Tarrashall Travellers
Prediction: 8 (Forwards: 8 / Halves: 7 / Backs: 8)
Forwards: Tyoruni Fajara, Byuggash Cecalla, Kusagun Syachalla, Nolyup Burrula, Uriah Chislebeck, Jyoddilla Nyashill, Emmanuel Boulais, Duncan Moorebrick
Halves: Jean-Pierre Thibert, Nimrod Whithingham
Backs: Birley Ililey, Dwight Carrington, Byarrigana Yassull, Ezra Kenningnock, Buhju Ehozihthen
Star: Jyoddilla Nyashill
Coach: Merembee Dicagana

Tarrashall Travellers
Stadium: Woomera Ground (7500) in Tarrashall (Tarrashall), Tarrashalli (West Strand Riding)
Titles:
Playoff appearances: 1
Rivals:

Eaglebury Aquila
Prediction: 7 (Forwards: 7 / Halves: 4 / Backs: 11)
Forwards: Zedock Woodnock, Motoo Yashiro, Fergws yRwimac, Gilles Boudreaux, Hettie Bergate, Ronan yAfoneal, Will Stockins, Haggya Gimmerra
Halves: Seon ySyddirar, Sanou Pennimbee
Backs: Takanobu Hodoshima, Burrula Bebenna, Nimrod Mawrish, Linus Howbrick, Yurou Fiso
Star: Seon ySyddirar
Coach: Dyutara Kissigana, Jyajyo Cyugguni (f)

Mawrystwyth Phoenix
Stadium: Hertfield (33000) in Marapsathi (Mawrystwyth), Mauroren (Mawryshire)
Titles: 1
Playoff appearances: 1
Rivals:

Llandy Bulls,

Penstead Bears
Prediction: 6 (Forwards: 11 / Halves: 1 / Backs: 6)
Forwards: Riyu Iwayama, Vaughn Morris, Archie Joseph, Ronan yIoganmac, Raydri yGaegwlon, Logar Thlogiledhen, Maerlyn Jadhjariden, Drystan yIoganmac
Halves: Torin yCadeyrenmac, Gafen yAftonmac
Backs: Morton Carson, Careis yHardyllyn, Cwlcyn yFawthw, Chelrwd yChaemmawn, Meobich yPheffchawll
Star: Torin yCadeyrenmac
Coach: Maurice Trottiscliffe

Aubury Swans
Stadium: Chestnut Group Stadium (25000) in Ahmiri (Aubury), Ahungoren (Leeshire)
Titles: 1
Playoff appearances: 2
Rivals:

Maynard Andromeda,

Ansonville Comets
Prediction: 5 (Forwards: 3 / Halves: 10 / Backs: 5)
Forwards: Orinas Paugkaudithen, Israel Woodssworth, Will Cheltell, Albrecht Schachter, Lum Magbrier, Oswald Darkiths, Daniel Wheatbuck, Aaron Kenningnock
Halves: Horace Woodbrier, Thaddée Pellegrin
Backs: Zachariah Rodsea, Nata Asselineau, Reginald Airthorn, Douglas Primmer, Lucian Falcroft
Star: Reginald Airthorn
Coach: Lachlan Russell, Gareth Mulholland

Greencaster Galaxy
Stadium: Surbourneshire Square (65000) in Garihnkatar (Greencaster), Shahrigarihn (Surbourneshire)
Titles: 1
Playoff appearances: 2
Rivals:

Maynard Andromeda
Prediction: 4 (Forwards: 5 / Halves: 2 / Backs: 4)
Forwards: Lawrence Conapple, Lawrence Chislebeck, Sherman Hawkdotter, Israel Sharaten, Edwin Connett, Manfred Norton, Dossirla Moshindi, Marten Zuidvriend
Halves: Ba Vasseur, Nat Chapwood
Backs: Michael Lampshire, Ori Morino, Raymond Parris, Jarvis Sharaten, Abel Ashling
Star: Abel Ashling
Coach: Tania Proudhead (f), Emory Arrowtomb

Maynard Andromeda
Stadium: Armskirk Municipal Ground (26000) in Monrama (Maynard), Ahungoren (Leeshire)
Titles:
Playoff appearances: 5
Rivals:

Aubury Swans,

Ansonville Comets,

Greencaster Galaxy
Prediction: 3 (Forwards: 4 / Halves: 3 / Backs: 3)
Forwards: Marden Crewcourt, Loyal Farrell, Uriah Montrige, Jack Merririge, Bob Merririge, Godwyn Mirewild, Coleman Mathew, Syl Darche
Halves: Tharind Laurtingun, Crispin Whitebuck
Backs: Johannes van der Heuvel, Adam Barkmare, Doladaul Maurdhaundhen, Benjamin Wheatbuck, Aonotu Aohugise
Star: Crispin Whitebuck
Coach: Florent Manceau, Gaetan Thibaut

Willowbourne Foxes
Stadium: Willowbowl (55000) in Ilohbonu (Willowbourne), Ubakhim Maengiu (Corridor)
Titles: 2
Playoff appearances: 3
Rivals:

Idyllwild Coronae
Prediction: 2 (Forwards: 2 / Halves: 5 / Backs: 2)
Forwards: Bedzak Behdigehlthen, Cyprien Rougeau, Kris Klaasen, Gwenaël Plaisance, Thuredonak Thelrathinden, Merrill Connor, Athnuth Morkumaudhen, Faramond Chipway
Halves: Burton Magrath, Linus Cirekin
Backs: Jolenta Zehdihgun, Weldon Carrington, Wilford Leroy Broderib, Dylan Deville, Armand Ahern
Star: Cyprien Rougeau
Coach: Theodore Darwin, Cyrille Salomon

Ansonville Comets
Stadium: Redmark Field (7800) in Azahndhil (Ansonville), Uruhrauzehn (Springlands)
Titles: 2
Playoff appearances: 5
Rivals:

Maynard Andromeda,

Aubury Swans
Prediction: 1 (Forwards: 1 / Halves: 5 / Backs: 1)
Forwards: Bartholomew Alderfellow, Ted Pendry, Blaine Winterlas, Danylo Ager, Abraham Rodsea, Algernon Atkinson, Spencer Arrowick, Nimrod Dulhallow
Halves: Xaneiro Santizo, Julian Angelley
Backs: Nudhwiles Gradhnahothen, Leslie Woodbrier, Masahiko Morimoto, Jesse Oceanbuck, Fred Illfreyway
Star: Leslie Woodbrier
Coach: Marcellus Birchforth, Julian Paleberry

works? · by **Abanhfleft** » Sun Sep 29, 2024 7:03 am

DISCLAIMER: Gaelic Gamers is an independents sports blogging website created by four cousins with a common liking and passion for sports of all kinds and is in no way or form affiliated with or organized by any official news organization in the Democratic Republic of Abanhfleft. All statements and opinions posted here are our own and not anyone else's.

Gaelic Gamers
Presents...

The Rugby Rundown
with Mohammed Wilcox

37TH RUGBY UNION WORLD CUP: WE'RE THROUGH, NOW WHAT?

Hello everyone, this is Mo Wilcox, and welcome back to yet another edition of The Rugby Rundown. The pool stage of the 37th Rugby Union World Cup in Britonisea has come to an end and, surprise surprise, Abanhfleft have made it through to the playoffs. And without a single loss to their name to boot! And after collecting bonus points in all three games that they’ve played, the Revolutionaries finish the pool stage with the perfect record: three wins, twelve points, and add to that three bonus points for fifteen in total. No one else has that kind of a record anywhere else in the pools of this World Cup, and we all know what that means. That’s right, it means nothing at all. Abanhfleft has been in this position before, and more times than not the boys have managed to squander it. I’m not going to lie, I was part of some of those teams that gave up these gild-edged chances for Abanhfleft to finally become a World Cup winner, and all I can really say about that is that I’m sorry. Sometimes it’s overconfidence, sometimes the other team was just firing on all cylinders when we played them, and sometimes it really is just down to sheer bad luck. Rugby is an unpredictable sport, but one thing that can usually be predicted is when and where Abanhfleft are going to fuck it up.

I can already hear the people moaning from behind their own keyboards. “Oh, Mo Wilcox has been infected by the “Abanhfleft is shit!” virus! I thought he was going to be a different kind of pundit but it turns out he’s just like everyone else!” Yeah, well, if Abanhfleft hadn’t proven itself to be shit in these kinds of situations then we wouldn’t even be talking about it! The fact of the matter is that the Revolutionaries have had chance after chance of making themselves one of the best teams in the multiverse, but time after time, they’ve let those chances slip through their fingers, sometimes literally. There wouldn’t be a narrative about Abanhfleft being near-perpetual bottlers if they weren’t constantly bottling. If Abanhfleft doesn’t botch the pool or group stage then they’ll botch the first round of the playoffs almost guaranteed. Heck, we just saw that very same story play out in the previous RUWC. The boys swept their pool, and then they got their asses handed to them by Hannasea. Need I remind you that Hannasea is a place where sport is practically hated? Or maybe that’s just football. Maybe I’m confusing one sport with another. I know that there’s one sport that Hannasea hates so much that they gave a player of the tournament award to a guy that got red carded. Then again, their team didn’t look real happy when they made it to the final. I’m not talking about the fact that Hannasea lost the final, which is definitely a good reason for anyone not to look very happy, but I’m talking about the fact that their team didn’t look happy when they won against us, when they won in the quarterfinals, and when they won in the semifinals. So yeah, the point I’m trying to make is that in the last World Cup, Abanhfleft lost to a team that didn’t even want to be there! Or so I think.

All right, maybe I have been waffling a little bit with all this talk about Abanhfleft being bottlers and potentially being bottlers again, but I have a point! We’ve seen this script before with only a few alterations. Yes, the Revolutionaries may be through to the playoffs, and they may be up against a newcomer in the form of Edsmontik, but that means literally nothing. Abanhfleft has been taken down by these newcomer unranked teams before, and sometimes it’s the only thing of note that they’ve done and will ever do before fading right back into obscurity. I’m not saying that Edsmontik is anything like that; heck, if anything, Edsmontik is slowly but surely establishing themselves on the world stage, but at the same time, is there really any good time to let a “perfect” pool stage go to waste? Just think about it. The pools have shown that, at the moment, Abanhfleft is the best rugby union side in the entire multiverse. It doesn’t matter that we’re only the third best team according to the rankings; the boys have scored at least 36 points in every single contest they’ve played so far, meaning we are the only team with all fifteen possible points next to our name. And should the worst of the worst happen, Edsmontik could make it mean nothing in the grand scheme. I’m just saying.

Now we can finally get to the part that most of you actually wanted to see, which was me giving my own thoughts about our third and final pool stage game against Tero al Disco. This is a country that has been taking the sporting world by storm, and they’ve set their eyes on rugby union with the intention of this being their latest conquest. They’ve had a good start to the campaign, winning 25-3 against an Alice Bay side that has admittedly been a shadow of their former selves, before falling in a close contest against Libesia. Our place in the next round of the World Cup had already been assured, so this was basically Tero al Disco fighting for the chance to advance alongside us. It was them or Libesia, and with Libesia playing Alice Bay, the mission objective was clear. Unfortunately for TAD, our boys were not really in a giving mood today. You can’t really fault the Terenses for trying; it was their first ever playoff appearance in their first ever RUWC on the line. But the boys also knew what was at stake for them, namely the chance to go three-for-three in the pool stage, and you can’t blame them for going for it all too. Now are they going to regret going all in for this game when they could have saved up some of that for the playoffs? I guess only time will tell.

As for standout performers, I’m going to point to our centers as the guys responsible for this victory. Yeah, I’m talking about Sheldon Zulueta and Killian Curtis as the keys to victory. I’ve already shone the spotlight a little bit on Sheldon last time, so now it’s Killian’s turn to give him his flowers. I’ve said before that Sheldon was the kind of guy who could dance his way out of trouble. Now, Killian Curtis, he is the kind of guy who would ask you what kind of dance you would like to see him do while making his way out of trouble. Whether it’s the foxtrot, the conga, or the worm (I do not know dances, as other social media posts will have shown in the past), if you ask him to do it while holding the rock, he probably will actually do it. Killian’s not right in the head, and that’s a good thing because sometimes, it’s risk takers like him that could mean the difference between a turnover, a penalty, or a try. If there was a way to play rugby on a tightrope, Killian would probably be the top try scorer in that form of the sport. He did practically the same thing in the 60th minute on his way to scoring Abanhfleft’s fourth try of the game, walking that tight line between the field and the touchline while the Terenses were bearing down on him. If you’re trying to get a friend or partner or whoever hooked into rugby, show them that run from Killian Curtis straddling the edge of the field. I guarantee that they’ll become a fan of the sport, if not even the man himself.

But throughout all of that, let’s give some time to praise the Terenses for being good sports about the whole thing, and I’m not just talking about them handling their loss with grace. Tero al Disco was probably the most disciplined side that we’ve faced in the World Cup so far, giving up only six penalties in total compared to the dozen we got from Libesia and the sixteen that Alice Bay gave up. This meant that Marley Gallegos didn’t have the chance to really stretch out his legs and fine-tune his range, but I’m sure that there are a lot of people who would agree with me that it’s better to see more tries than penalties than the other way around. Then again, points is points, but this time, the freebies will account for only twenty percent of our haul for the day. Still, it’s good practice for when the time comes that three points might well be the difference between victory and defeat. Similarly, Abanhfleft has been also surprisingly disciplined across the entire pool stage, only giving up thirteen penalties in three games. Unlucky for some, but not for us at the moment. And out of those, only one so far has resulted in the opponent going for three points, which is an improvement over previous World Cups, trust me. Sometimes it’s these kinds of penalties that have cost us, and other times it’s getting sin binned. No one’s been binned for the Revolutionaries this tournament, which can only be a good thing as we go into the business end of the World Cup.

And I think that’s where I’m going to leave it. Now remember to leave your thoughts or comments about my first ever blog post or our chances in the Rugby Union World Cup down below. The site really loves knowing said thoughts and comments. Once again, I am Mo Wilcox, your new host of The Rugby Rundown, and I’m sure we will all see each other again later.

Tero al Disco (12)
Try: Wojewodka 28' m
Narvaez 51' c
Con: (1/2)

Abanhfleft (44)
Try:Li 13' c
Querubin 36' c
Curtis 32' c, 60' c
Inarez 75' c
Con: Gallegos (5/5)
Pen: Gallegos (9', 20', 68')

by **Libesia** » Sun Sep 29, 2024 9:56 am

Matchday 3: Libesia 10–0 Alice Bay

15. Du Toit (75' Kruger), 14. Ngxanga, 13. Grobler, 12. Malibongwe, 11. Bergen (49' Lémery), 10. Mendel, 9. Rottmayr (64' Micheaux); 1. Konstantin (50' Phutheo), 2. Ciullo (50' Mumbengegwi), 3. Kruger (50' Kenanao), 4. Hochmeister (c) (24' Levy), 5. Oluwabusolami (50' Tietjen), 6. Stelzner, 7. Webber, 8. Faulhaber (67' Lwandile)

Try: Ngxanga 21'
Con: Du Toit 22'
Pen: Mendel 53'
Blood sub: Mendel 13'→23'
Red card: Kenanao 75'

POTM: Jacques Grobler

Round of 16 teamsheet
1. Konstantin		9. Rottmayr		16. Mumbengegwi
2. Ciullo		10. Mendel		17. Phutheho
3. Kruger (c)		11. Lémery		18. Barnard
4. Stelzner		12. Du Toit		19. Levy
5. Oluwabusolami	13. Grobler		20. Lwandile
6. Webber		14. Ngxanga		21. Jongilanga
7. Tietjen	15. Bergen		22. Micheaux
8. Faulhaber					23. Malibongwe

by **Tevutara** » Sun Sep 29, 2024 9:57 am

Matchday 3: Tevutara 20–15 Calgasia (1BP)
Try: Dohnal 46'; Kozák 64'
Con: Čermák 65'
Pen: Helwein 5'
Blood sub: Vlach 44'→56'

15. Kerehoma, 14. Ala'ilima (53' Kuresa), 13. Kitiseni, 12. Ausage (69' Arana), 11. Tuigamala, 10. Failautusi, 9. Radrodro (53' Faresa); 1. Tahana (56' Nopera), 2. Ravuvu (51' Malo), 3. Taukatea (c) (59' Temo), 4. Tulimanu, 5. Arepata (41' Vunibobo), 6. Faaeteete, 7. Kuruisalili, 8. Tameifuna (59' Leba)

Try: Ala'ilima 38'; Taukatea 52'; Kitiseni 72'
Con: Faresa 73'
Pen: Failautusi 31'
Sin bin: Tuigamala 39'
Red card: Tuigamala 61'

POTM: Jude Kuruisalili

Tāva Kele’a!

Round of 16 teamsheet
1. Tahana		9. Radrodro		16. Malo
2. Ravuvu		10. Failautusi		17. Nopera
3. Taukatea (c)		11. Kuresa		18. Vavau
4. Tulimanu		12. Ausage		19. Tufele
5. Tameifuna		13. Kitiseni		20. Leba
6. Vunibobo		14. Ala'ilima		21. Faresa
7. Kuruisalili		15. Kerehoma		22. Arana
8. Faaeteete					23. Naivalu

by **Crpostran** » Sun Sep 29, 2024 10:41 am

[*]Apologies for short RP, weak internet in the desert lmao, Using Canva for the Olympics was a nightmare & don't have the energy to do the same for the RUWC.

by **Britonisea** » Sun Sep 29, 2024 11:23 am

Knockout Stage - Round of 16

Match 1: Saintlake Stadium, Doportedas
Abanhfleft 44–10 Edsmontik

Match 2: Greenock Stadium, Quickenden
Lisander 26–31 Hanalia

Match 3: Winter Stadium, Eaux City
TJUN-ia 33–7 Crpostran

Match 4: Stade Bastion, Burgendore
Ko-oren 37–7 Libesia

Match 5: Stade Bastion, Burgendore
Darmen 3–5 Quebec & Shingoryeo

Match 6: Winter Stadium, Eaux City
Britonisea 27-21 Kelssek
Scorinated by Polkopia

Match 7: Greenock Stadium, Quickenden
Commonwealth of Baker Park 61–13 Nova Anglicana

Match 8: Saintlake Stadium, Doportedas
Baggieland 22–6 Tevutara

Quarterfinal Fixtures

Abanhfleft v Hanalia @ Stadium Strata, Telm City
TJUN-ia v Ko-oren @ Greenock Stadium, Quickenden
Quebec & Shingoryeo v Britonisea @ Lukas Brito Stadium, Doportedas
Commonwealth of Baker Park v Baggieland @ Aloquirbe City Stadium, Aloquirbe

The next cut-off is: 4th October 2024 @ 22:00 UTC+1

[This cut-off might be delayed or pushed back but please aim for the above time and date]

by **Baggieland** » Mon Sep 30, 2024 11:59 am

by **TJUN-ia** » Mon Sep 30, 2024 3:29 pm

Hello there. Sorry about the delay, we had some issues with the internet over here and that caused the final group game episode of this blog to not be able to go out. So, as an apology for this, this episode is a double header - focusing on that final group game and the Round of 16 clash that followed. Enjoy!

Entering this final group clash, the Jaguars of TJUN-ia were 2-0 and faced a final clash with fellow unbeaten Hanalia for the group win overall. Facing a debutant team in a match with these stakes was a surprise, but Hanalia have shown up on debut and deserved to have this spotlight placed upon them. Unfortunately for them, this is where the fun ended. They would play postseason rugby for the first time and even beat Lisander, but this specific game was not their game and that was OK...for us, at least. Our opponents managed a Penalty kick through Miriam Glover and that's it. We, on the other hand, scored a nice round 50 points to satisfy the urges within our soul. We scored five tries in this beauty of a game as Zhivago Groenewald (twice), Emmerson Gawakali, Peter Mullins and David Parker all ended up on the scoresheet with Nehe Te Toiroa going 5/5 on Conversions and 5/5 on Penalties. That was one way to end to group stage, huh?

After that, we went to the Winter Stadium in Eaux City to face #18 Crpostran and the Eagles led by Giovanni Rossi and company. Now this one was expected to be a tougher test but in the end, things actually seemed comfortable from our sides of things. The Eagles did get 7 points, a Matthew Taylor try and a Harry Brown conversion, but that was it for them and it showed. We, on the other hand, scored 5 more tries thanks to Kvitcha Gigashvili, Frederico Spezia, Son Jin-Soh, Keola Kapaʻakea and Zhivago Groenewald all getting involved. Nehe Te Toiroa went 4/5, but that was all that was required to get this job done, 33-7.

And so, we make it into a Quarterfinal...and #10 Ko-oren, a threat in all aspects of the game, are up next. GO JAGS!

SCHEDULE (Pool C)
MD1: vs Savojarna (UR) - Stadium Strata, Telm City W 67-11 (1st)
MD2: vs Acadiana (22) - Lukas Brito Stadium, Doportedas W 26-12 (1st)
MD3: vs Hanalia (UR) - Aloquirbe City Stadium, Aloquirbe W 50-3 (1st)
Ro16: vs Crpostran (18) - Winter Stadium, Eaux City W 33-7
QF: vs Ko-oren (10) - Greenock Stadium, Quickenden

World Cup 81/82/83/84

© Sporting Times Daily 2024
#2 Hoops, #1 Throstles battle for Semi Final berth in meeting of last two RWC champs
Julian Pope, National Rugby Editor

The Commonwealth of Baker Park National Team take their 10 match RWC winning streak into the quarterfinals in Britonisea against the side that they made their multiverse union code debut against in Copper Cuprum in Rugby World Cup 32.

Baggieland entered this tournament as the number one ranked team just ahead of the defending world champions and held form through Pool H play before dispatching unranked Tevutara to book their place in the final eight; no spectator from the meeting in the group opener five editions ago could've imagined that the nations would come full circle to decide which will advance to the last four of the current tournament.
The then fifth ranked Throstles showed their pedigree in the sport in that 16-3 win after coming off back to back appearances in the the semis, controlling play throughout despite the lack of offensive fireworks which was partly due to the determined resistance put up by the Blues & Grays. It was the toughest test the eventual RWC 32 winners had through that competition, and in the subsequent edition in Baggieland, BP made the knockout stage for the first time, falling to TJUN-ia in the round of 16.
This marks the eighth consecutive time Baggieland have made it through to the quarterfinals and they will be seeking their third RWC crown, as they were the holders in Baker Park before falling at this stage to Port Ember.

Baker Park put together their most complete performance of the tourney in the round of 16 against 16th ranked Nova Anglicana in a 61-13 victory, which marked the most points scored in the multiversal era and equaled the all time CRU test record; Neil Gerrard and Grayson Bartholomew each had a pair of tries while Edison Solomon, Jason Morgan, Eric Davies and Brad Greene also found paydirt as Ryan Caldwell was 4/5 on conversions and hit 2/3 penalties with Rodney Sinclair taking over the kicking in the final 25 minutes hitting two of three extras and making one of his two penalty kicks.

_____________________________________________________________

Zane Anthony: Hey hey, Z-man, Zane Anthony with you for the landmark 450th episode of Lots of Ruck with my guy Ricky G alongside as always.
Ricky Gillingham—450 times we've done this podcast through the years, and people said we'd never make it past 45.
ZA: Joke's on them I suppose, and of course we'd never have made it without the support of our sponsors, Sid's Sandwiches, because It's Gotta be Sid's, McDonald & Muir--Appliances Built For Your Life and Sachsbier Premium Pilsner, the Official Beer of the CRU and the Westerly Challenge Cup, who have generously allowed us to do what we've gladly have done for free which is talk about rugger.
RG: and a shout out to our better halves Deb and Lindsay who've allowed us to get away with not having a proper job for all of these years.
ZA: Rick, we're getting into squeaky bum time now with the quarters coming up as the Hoops will face number one Baggieland here in Aloquirbe.
RG: The tournament has thrown up its share of surprise stories, but now that we're into where the rubber meets the road the form sides have gathered to sort out the title. Numbers one through four--Baggieland, BP, Abhanfleft and TJUN-ia--10th ranked Ko-oren and 11tth ranked Quebec & Shingoryeo join upstarts Hanalia and the host side.
ZA: We talked about how it's hard for the two of us to really talk about Baker Park as one of the “big boys” because it's just not how we've grown up with the sport in the Commonwealth.
RG: I think the parallels to the soccer team are easy to keep coming back to as a comparison because the Bees started out as a feel good novelty and just kept on winning and now the Hoops have made it through to the last eight for the third straight time, so I guess we're gonna have to start taking this idea seriously that we are an egg chasing power nation.
ZA: The Throstles will be definitely keen to knock out the champs and reclaim their crown from two tourneys ago and I don't think we'll be seeing anymore 40 plus point offensive outbursts the rest of the way here. I'll be interested to see if Mazz will choose to tactically go with the heavy jumbo pack and play kick the can [which is how kicking for touch, line outs, choosing to kick penalties rather taking a scrum is characterized in BP].
RG: Tony Danielson made it work at home, and I think playing the percentages goes against the Mazz mindset [the Mazzirella coaching family are the modern day guardians of the traditional BP style of pace, open running from the back and recycling possession quickly] but he certainly can be pragmatic when the need arises.
ZA: The way the draw has worked out we may not get a chance to meet up for the first time with Mo Wilcox from The Rugby Rundown unless it's in the Final or heaven forbid the Third Place match as Abhanfleft are playing in the opposite half.
RG: Both the semis are going to be in Doportedas, so if the Hoops and Revolutionaries both get through maybe a pre-Semi Final party?
ZA: Let's figure that out later, don't want to count our chicken before they hatch.
RG: True. So that's it from us for now, be sure to join us again as we start our second 450 episode run...
ZA: Again, eggs before chickens G-Man.
RG: Right you are! He's Zane Anthony
ZA: and he's Ricky Gillingham, thanks for joining us on Lots of Ruck.

by **Hanalia** » Tue Oct 01, 2024 8:42 am

Mrs E's Geo-rugb-phy Field Trip: Cinco or Swim-o

Hanalia leaves the group stage with nothing. That is in terms of points difference, a nice round 80 for and 80 against. 50 of those against points clocked up by TJUN-ia in their victory over the Hanalians, who only added 3 in the for column thanks to a Glover penalty. The score line told the story really, Hanalia never threatening the try line, giving up possession on any entry into the 22 in the face of solid defense. The Jaguars also had everything in attack, able to front up physically as well as find the gaps to canter through for 5 tries. The ball also flew through goal with a perfect 10 from 10 kicks off the tee from the TJUN-ian boot. The perfect international record was going to end sooner or later and a first defeat 3-50 might even stay as the biggest defeat for some time too.

The bonus of qualifying from the group stage was more exploration of the host nation. For our trio of Jane, Jennifer and Jake, Quickenden, destination for the round of 16 against Lisander, had been the highlight of the trip. Not for the excellent result in the match, but for the pure vibes of the city. "That is Soooooo cute on you!", "I HAVE to get this", "Do you see that guy back there? He was totally checking you out." They shopped and people watched and shopped and people watched till they could shop and people watch no more. Jen even managed to purchase enough new clothes that she would be returning with none of the clothes she brought with her.

The fact that Hanalia's luck didn't run out when they faced Lisander is a wonder no-one can quite believe. They are an impressive rugby nation, they won gold in both the men's and women's 7s events in the Olympics, they were expected to win this game. Alvin, Simon and Theodore may be small for a front row trio but they were the biggest fans on the day. The 3 met every success with a "Whoop!", "YEAH!" or raised fist. They loved rugby and this was a good rugby match. Even for the neutral fans it was a good match, however clichéd, of the entitled favourites underestimating and eventually being overcome by the scrappy underdogs. Hanalia with fire in their bellies and eyes from the moment they emerged from the changing room. The Lisanders had a "we'll get them eventually" attitude playing most of the match in 1st gear. As time ticked on and they got a stern "talking" to at half time they upped their game but at every turn it was to be matched by Hanalia. It helped that the scrappy underdogs appeared to have some luck with them, getting the better bounce of the ball and some of the 50-50 calls by renowned referee M. Argaret.

The end of the game was another tight affair with Lisander in possession, purposefully progressing up the field knowing they would need a converted try to clinch victory. It was a perfectly timed jackal by Elliot, with Lisander pinged for holding on that won Hanalia the ball. "HEADS!" came the cry as the ball was kicked deep into the stands, Alvin managing to stand and catch the ball despite being in row Z. "Shame you can't catch the ball like that on the field! jested Simon. There was no way that Leo Small was letting that penalty be kept in play. The resulting lineout was taken in by Hanalaia who only needed 2 or 3 phases before time would be up. The scrum-half lifted the ball from the bottom of the ruck, passed it quickly back to his fly-half who pelted the ball off the field, the final whistle sounded. The initial celebrations were briefly interrupted when the ball dropped out of the sky onto Alvin's shoulder. "Back to your regular form then" laughed Theodore.

Beating Lisander, that was not in the script. It was not in Mrs E's itinerary either. Her logistical skills were now being tested beyond anything she'd even attempted before. Contingencies had been built in on the off chance the team would make it to the knockouts but winning a round of 16 match? Even Mrs E hadn't dreamed of that. Last minute rearranging of travel, accommodation and tickets would leave little room for any extras given how rare spare Brtios were becoming in the budget. But the trip to Telm was planned and an equally daunting contest with Abanfleft lined up.

by **Ko-oren** » Wed Oct 02, 2024 11:16 am

Rivalries

Most rivalries in ball games in Ko-oren come as mutual dislikes. Gridiron's twelve teams are arranged in pairs: Godspeed-Saints. Wolves-Destroyers. Centaurs-Emperors. It's a similar thing in soccer: Maethoru-Aminey. Bruncester-Cirelbourne. Miradela-Branvon. There are some caveats, with Aminey having a strong secondary rivalry with Tanques and Maethoru with Gehrenna, but they're secondary for a reason. In baseball, it's even muddier, but even there there is typical two-sided antagonism: Dragons-Originals, Stars-Whales, Generals-Giants.

And then there's rugby union, where things, somehow, come in threes.

Mauroren
The

Penstead Bears,

Llandy Bulls, and

Mawrystwyth Phoenix. This triangle has seen better days for sure: the Bears and Bulls have trended towards the bottom of the league for a while now, but both actually sit on a title each, achieved way in the past. And the Phoenix, who feel like one of the traditionally good teams, have the fewest playoff appearances - in the modern finals format - of all three: the Bears have two; the Bulls have three. The three clubs together are the pathway for almost all Mauroren talent coming through to the national team. There are definitely good players here and three teams will bounce back: the State of Origin (a competition played between four teams: southwestern Mauroren, west coast West Strand Riding, south coast Surbourneshire, and central-inland Gehrenna) has made its way to the peninsula last season.

Poninoren
The

Aubury Swans,

Maynard Andromeda, and

Ansonville Comets. All three are annoyingly good teams. The Comets are reigning champions and are still first in the previews, while the Andromeda are third, and the Swans are fifth. There's a non-zero chance all three end up occupying the three playoff spots. It might be difficult for some to name the non-stars of the three teams, who certainly don't get the attention they deserve, but the three clubs have so much amateur play around them that they can plug any hole on the roster almost immediately with a 'local' guy. That shouldn't distract from Andromeda's incredible forward pack, the Comets' backs, or the Swans' solid all-round team (but with Airthorn, so they have basically the best player in the league). The Comets and Andromeda have been to the playoffs most often of any team (yes, of all twelve) with five appearances (shared with the Coronae). The Swans are only sitting on two, but they've gotten a title out of it. Meanwhile, the Andromeda haven't been able to convert any of their playoffs into a championship, losing two of the last five finals (then again, so did the Comets, who've been to three of the last four finals). There's no asymmetry to this rivalry: all three matches are heated.

Wuritharanau
The

Idyllwild Coronae,

Tarrashall Travellers, and

Eaglebury Aquila. The Coronae don't deserve to be in this group according to some, and certainly Tarrashall-Eaglebury is the tighter contest, but the Crowns have weaseled their way into a rivalry triangle for sure. And it's that club who gives this triangle its modern relevance, with the Aquila winning one title but doing so in the first season of the modern era - a long time ago - and Idyllwild won theirs not too long ago. These days, the three clubs are in the mid-table, but as mentioned the Coronae are joint first in playoff appearances, while the other two are among the worst teams historically. All three are situated in or around the mountains, though, but only Tarrashall and Eaglebury feed the West Coast Riding state team - Idyllwild is in Gehrenna.

The Cities
The

Willowbourne Foxes,

Greencaster Galaxy, and Mayara Wanderers-Cassiopeia. The Galaxy on the south coast - in Surbourneshire - and the Foxes in Gehrenna in the middle of the country, and Mayara technically not able to send their homegrown products to any of the four teams - these rivalries are spaced the furthest apart. But no matter how close Greencaster (Garihnkatar) and Ansonville (Azahndhil) are: their foes are the Foxes, as they have a rivalry in rugby union, cricket (for what it's worth), and football. It's the two largest cities of the country and that means they have to wave their population stats around. The Capitals - of which Mayara is one - sit in third if counted together. And as the three easternmost teams, it's easy to lob them into the same group. The Foxes have two titles, the rest have one. The Galaxy had theirs first, the Foxes won two in a row.

Season 35 Results

*  KRU                             Pld    W   D   L    PF   PA   PD   Pts 
 1 Greencaster Galaxy               22   19   0   3   806  466 +340    76 WWWWWLWWWWWWWWWWWLWWLW Playoffs
 2 Ansonville Comets                22   15   0   7   768  537 +231    60 WLWLLWWLWWWWLLLWWWWWWW Playoffs
 3 Maynard Andromeda                22   14   0   8   711  512 +199    56 WWWLWWWWLWLLWWWLWLWLLW Playoffs
 4 Willowbourne Foxes               22   13   0   9   638  531 +107    52 WWLWWWWWLLLLLWLWLWWWLW Playoffs
 5 Mawrystwyth Phoenix              22   13   0   9   733  722  +11    52 WLWWLWLWLWLWWLWWLWLWWL
 6 Aubury Swans                     22   11   0  11   586  546  +40    44 LLLWLLWLWLWLWWWLWLLWWW
 7 Tarrashall Travellers            22   10   0  12   505  569  −64    40 LWLWLWLWWLLWLLLWWLWLLW
 8 Llandy Bulls                     22   10   0  12   462  531  −69    40 LWLWLLLWLWLWWWLWLWLLWL
 9 Eaglebury Aquila                 22    9   0  13   534  633  −99    36 LLWLWWLLWLLLLWWLWLWLWL
10 Idyllwild Coronae                22    9   0  13   606  720 −114    36 WLLLWLWLWLWWLLWLLWLLWL
11 Mayara Wanderers-Cassiopeia      22    8   0  14   577  722 −145    32 LWWLWLLLLWWLWLLLLWLWLL
12 Penstead Bears                   22    1   0  21   346  783 −437     4 LLLLLLLLLLWLLLLLLLLLLL

A horror season for the

Penstead Bears. One win in twenty-two is easily the worst professional season ever, and it's not close. Sure, there are three or four-win teams sometimes, but only one is special - that win? Over the fourth place

Willowbourne Foxes, who almost missed out on playoff rugby entirely due to it. The cutoff for the playoffs was 13 wins, shared by the

Willowbourne Foxes and the

Mawrystwyth Phoenix, with the former making it on point differential and the latter getting nothing out of it. The Foxes almost sabotaged themselves with a five-game slide in the middle of the season, but saved themselves right on time. They'll take on the

Greencaster Galaxy in a rivalry replay, who easily get first place with nineteen wins in twenty-two games, but what counts against them is that two of those losses happen near the tail end of the season. Has the magic worn out? The other semifinal is also a rivalry game: the

Ansonville Comets-

Maynard Andromeda, the former ending their season an insane seven-match win streak, the latter limping into the postseason with more losses than wins in the closing weeks.

Rivalries

Mawrystwyth Phoenix 25–10

Penstead Bears

Penstead Bears 11–32

Mawrystwyth Phoenix

Llandy Bulls 30–23

Penstead Bears

Penstead Bears 15–24

Llandy Bulls

Mawrystwyth Phoenix 55–33

Llandy Bulls

Llandy Bulls 45–23

Mawrystwyth Phoenix

Mawrystwyth wins three of four, wins one series, draws the other. A sweep over the Bears, and the 1-1 against the Bulls (still tied on PD!). The Bulls sweep the Bears - as many teams would end up doing - to effectively tie the Phoenix across the rivalry series.

Ansonville Comets 26–44

Maynard Andromeda

Maynard Andromeda 42–20

Ansonville Comets

Aubury Swans 25–43

Ansonville Comets

Ansonville Comets 15–17

Aubury Swans

Maynard Andromeda 24–13

Aubury Swans

Aubury Swans 24–32

Maynard Andromeda

The Andromeda sweep the Comets, the Swans and Comets split, and the Andromeda then sweep the Swans. What a season for them - 4-0 in rivalries, the rest goes 1-3.

Willowbourne Foxes 44–33

Greencaster Galaxy

Greencaster Galaxy 44–20

Willowbourne Foxes

Mayara Wanderers-Cassiopeia 31–15

Willowbourne Foxes

Willowbourne Foxes 26–13

Mayara Wanderers-Cassiopeia

Mayara Wanderers-Cassiopeia 10–20

Greencaster Galaxy

Greencaster Galaxy 53–13

Mayara Wanderers-Cassiopeia

Five of these games end in home wins, except for the Galaxy who steal the win in the Capitals. The Galaxy go 3-1 and with point differential win both of their series, while the Wanderers-Vulpecula actually get the better of their opponents in the remaining tie.

Eaglebury Aquila 46–9

Idyllwild Coronae

Idyllwild Coronae 21–37

Eaglebury Aquila

Tarrashall Travellers 35–16

Eaglebury Aquila

Eaglebury Aquila 40–14

Tarrashall Travellers

Idyllwild Coronae 47–18

Tarrashall Travellers

Tarrashall Travellers 32–0

Idyllwild Coronae

Wild scorelines on the west coast: shutouts! Blowouts! And the Aquila going 3-1, the Travellers going 2-2, and the Coronae a measly 1-3, and despite a 32-0 whiteout they nearly tie that series after a mighty 47-18 homestand earlier.

works? · by **Abanhfleft** » Thu Oct 03, 2024 6:08 am

DISCLAIMER: Gaelic Gamers is an independents sports blogging website created by four cousins with a common liking and passion for sports of all kinds and is in no way or form affiliated with or organized by any official news organization in the Democratic Republic of Abanhfleft. All statements and opinions posted here are our own and not anyone else's.

Gaelic Gamers
Presents...

The Rugby Rundown
with Mohammed Wilcox

37TH RUGBY UNION WORLD CUP: THE RUN GOES ON, BUT FOR HOW MUCH LONGER?

Hello everyone, this is Mo Wilcox, and welcome back to yet another edition of The Rugby Rundown. We are now at the business end of the 37th Rugby Union World Cup, where 32 teams have been brought down to just sixteen, and then those sixteen will come down to eight, and so on and so forth. The sixteen remaining participants of the World Cup, the top two teams in the pools, are now going to go against each other to determine who’s going to make it through to the quarterfinals. Abanhfleft, winners of Pool A, have been drawn against Edsmontik of Pool D to open up the Round of 16. Edsmontik won two of their three games in the pool stage, but it has to be said that their two victories were against two fellow unranked teams in Natkr and Darkmania. Once they went up against a ranked side, specifically a top ten team like Ko-oren, they got beaten down bad. And by the look of things, that looked like that was going to be their fate against the Revolutionaries as well, but we can’t really take anything like that for granted, can we?

We’ve been in this situation before. Abanhfleft, dominant in the pools or groups or whatever it’s called, goes up against an unranked side in the round of 16. Sometimes, they were lucky to have even made it into the playoffs in the first place, and sometimes they do deserve a spot in the knockouts. But more times than not, it’s Abanhfleft that loses, and it’s possibly the only noteworthy thing that the other team does throughout their entire time in the Rugby Union World Cup before disappearing right back into obscurity. I think I was still a kid or a teen when it happened, but that game when Abanhfleft got beaten by Bvriania in extra time is still stuck in my head. I think that was the first time that I realized that Abanhfleft is pretty much cursed when it comes to the playoffs. It’s like we’re good enough to get to the playoffs, but anything beyond that is an absolute impossibility. I don’t know how long it took us to finally get over that particular hump, but when we did, I think that was the moment when everything finally fell into place for the Revolutionaries. Heck, things finally went so right that Abanhfleft won back-to-back titles, something that our country has only done in obscure sports like lacrosse or something. And now I’m about to get bombarded by angry DMs bashing me for saying that lacrosse is an obscure sport. I mean, it is. What can I really say?

Now to get back to the topic, while it is definitely useful to sometimes look back at the past in order to pick up new lessons, sometimes fixating on the past could actually be dangerous. Something about avoiding old mistakes only to end up doing new ones leading to the same result; namely, getting eliminated in the round of 16 by an unranked nation. There are a couple of differences between the present day and that moment when Abanhfleft went out of the Rugby Union World Cup at the hands of Bvriania, and chief among them is the fact that Edsmontik already has its toes in a handful of other sports. Bvriania kept mostly to rugby football, things such as union, league, and sevens, but Edsmontik have already branched off into other sports before they made their first foray into rugby. It looks for all intents and purposes that they will become a regular competitor against us in the long haul, so losing to them in the round of 16 wouldn’t sting as much as it did when it happened against Bvriania, but at the same time, losing to them would throw away all of the good work that the boys had done back in the pool stage. And we don’t want that, do we?

We really shouldn’t have been that worried at the end of the day. There was a reason why this particular Revolutionaries team had been scoring at least 36 points a game ever since the start of the World Cup, and that run would continue on against Edsmontik. The latter may have had a game plan set up and ready to deal with us, but as the saying goes, no plan ever survives first contact with the enemy. Two quickfire tries in the first ten minutes of the game was more than enough to tell Edsmontik that this game was not going to be their game. I can’t really point out where things have gone differently between now and our surprising elimination at the hands of Hannasea in the previous World Cup. Most of the guys who played that game are still in the team; the coaching staff is also mostly intact, nobody got sacked for that debacle as far as I’m aware. Even the tactics haven’t changed all that much, although there now seems to be more of a focus on pounding against the opposing line in the hopes of finding either a breakthrough or literally pushing the rock over to the try line. Abanhfleft had always been a team that wanted to score five points as many times as they could, but in recent days they appear to be a bit smarter in how they’ve actually gone about doing that. And it also doesn’t hurt that some of our stalwarts are finally beginning to show the skills that they’ve honed in club rugby on the international stage.

Speaking of which, who among the guys should I shine the spotlight on this time? Frankly, right now I'm just spoilt for choice. I could name anyone in the starting fifteen and they would be an acceptable choice for being the standout player of the game against Edsmontik. Should I go for Xander Li, who was pretty much like a general with the way that he was marshaling his teammates around trying to find gaps and weaknesses in the Edsmontik line? Should I go for Vaughn Francisco, whose strength helped open up Edsmontik and gave places which he and his cohorts could punch through? How about Sheldon Zulueta? I've been singing his praises for nearly the whole World Cup by now, and I'm not about to stop after his tightrope act helped the Revolutionaries advance the ball up the field a handful of times once again? Riley Agustin is another good shout; he's had a couple of quiet games since his debut against Libesia, but that's actually a good thing because it means that he hasn't put in a foot wrong.

Or maybe it's time for the Cayabyab brothers to be in the spotlight. Casey and Cody Cayabyab are the first set of twins to play for the Abanhfleft rugby union team, and while they've already been part of a World Cup squad before, this is the first time that the brothers are actually starting for the Revolutionaries together. Strangely for identical twins, they don't play identical positions; Cody became a flanker while Casey chose to be a lock. And it's clear to see why these went down the respective career paths that they did. They may be identical twins, but their respective skillsets are anything but. Cody's primary asset is speed, which he uses to great advantage by searching for the guy on the opposite side with the rock and targeting him until he coughs up the ball or passes it on to the next poor soul, whom Cody will usually tackle anyway. Casey's game is more about power, pushing scrums towards Abanhfleft's favor as much as possible and, should he gain possession of the ball, smashing his way into and sometimes through the opposing line. Abanhfleft's scrums have improved, a little but by a noticeable amount, and there is no doubt in my mind that the Cayabyab brothers' inclusion into the team is responsible for that. By about forty percent at the very least, but definitely somewhere around fifty percent. They haven't scored any tries yet in this World Cup, but scoring tries isn't really part of their responsibility as backs. All they need to do is put the ball in an advantageous position for the Revolutionaries, and they will have been some of the most influential players in any given game. I can't really separate the two by what they've done against Edsmontik today, so I'm calling both Casey and Cody my standout players for this game.

Now that the boys have sufficiently dealt with Edsmontik, it's now time to turn our attention to our quarterfinals opponents, Hanalia. Like Edsmontik, Hanalia qualified for the playoffs by finishing in second place, but unlike Edsmontik, Hanalia actually got past the higher seed and the higher ranked team in their round of 16 game as they snuck past Lisander by just five points. Five points! That's literally just an unconverted try. That is how fine the margins are getting in the Rugby Union World Cup, the differences between gunning for the championship or booking an early flight back home. It's difficult to see where exactly Lisander went wrong in this contest; perhaps it's ye olde overconfidence rearing its ugly head yet again. After all, Lisander is one of the top rugby sides in the entire multiverse, even if their trophy case hasn't quite reflected that, and they must have thought that Hanalia was nothing more than a speed bump on the Irises' way to the quarterfinals. Well, that speed bump turned out to be an absolutely massive pothole into which the Lisander hype train has sadly fallen. But we, Abanhfleft, aren't going to fall into the same trap as well, right? Right? The boys have to keep their focus on the team that's right in front of them. It's all well and good to dream about title number three, but the Revolutionaries won't even have a chance at it if they don't pay close attention and keep a watchful eye on Hanalia. They may have finished the pool stage with the same number of points scored as points given up (some might even call it perfectly balanced), but as Lisander found out the hard way, outscoring this lot may not be enough.

And I think that’s where I’m going to leave it. Now remember to leave your thoughts or comments about my first ever blog post or our chances in the Rugby Union World Cup down below. The site really loves knowing said thoughts and comments. Once again, I am Mo Wilcox, your new host of The Rugby Rundown, and I’m sure we will all see each other again later.

Abanhfleft (44)
Try: Francisco 3' c, 49' c
Curtis 10' c
Li 23' c
Zulueta 65' c
Con: Gallegos (5/5)
Pen: Gallegos (17', 34', 67')

Edsmontik (10)
Try: der-Brignaun 39' m
Zeuqual 56' m
Con: (0/2)

by **Britonisea** » Fri Oct 04, 2024 2:00 pm

Knockout Stage - Quarterfinals

Match 1: Stadium Strata, Telm City
Abanhfleft 12–3 Hanalia

Match 2: Greenock Stadium, Quickenden
TJUN-ia 32–16 Ko-oren

Match 3: Lukas Brito Stadium, Doportedas
Britonisea 18–6 Quebec and Shingoryeo
Scorinated by Polkopia

Match 4: Aloquirbe City Stadium, Aloquirbe
Commonwealth of Baker Park 37–16 Baggieland

Semifinal Fixtures

Abanhfleft v TJUN-ia @ Saintlake Stadium
Britonisea v Commonwealth of Baker Park @ Saintlake Stadium

The next cut-off is: 6th October 2024 @ 18:00 UTC+1

World Cup 81/82/83/84

© Sporting Times Weekend 2024
RWC semis to be epic battle
Julian Pope, National Rugby Editor

The Semi-Finals of the 37th Rugby World Cup will feature the host nation of Britonisea joining three of the top four ranked sides coming into the tournament in what should be an epic weekend for the union code at the Saintlake Stadium in Doportedas that more than likely will determine a new Number One ranked nation regardless of the eventual outcome between the two winners that will meet in the Final.

Defending champions Baker Park will look to extend their eleven match winning streak in a rematch of their 12-5 Pool G win against the home side while Abhanfleft and TJUN-ia—ranked 3rd & 4th respectively—will face off in the other semi; Baggielands' elimination in the quarterfinals by the Blues & Grays will certainly mark the end of the Throstles' run atop the RWC ranking system despite their eighth consecutive berth in the last 8, especially if the holders can repeat their triumph in Belle Haven.

The Revolutionaries overcame a spirited challenge from Hanalia 12-3 while the Jaguars raced past Ko-oren 32-16 in the top half of the knockout bracket, while Britonisea defeated the Grim Reapers from Quebec & Shingoryeo 18-6 to join the Hoops in the last four after a 37-16 win in Aloquirbe; Baker Park have now scored & allowed the same number of points in their two knockout fixtures (98-29) as it had in the three pool matches while the other semifinalists have seen their offensive output scaled back slightly from their pool performances although as they were the 1st, 2nd and 4th highest scoring sides prior to the round of 16 the dropoff only sounds ominous without any context.

Head Coach Dean Mazzirella played down the potential ramifications of what a second matchup against the home team might mean for the Hoops chances at a second consecutive appearance in the Final.
“In the same way that we had to deal with a significant crowd support disadvantage in Luton & Sports City, it's not the folks in the stands that we are playing but the fifteen on the pitch that are going to be the biggest obstacle. The Britonish side have shown their mettle in the two knockouts (against Kelssek and Q&S) that were tight contests. We know they played us physically and mentally tough the first time and now with the stakes at their highest, we expect they'll have confidence they can capitalize on possession in ways they didn't in the first meeting. I like where we are right now as a side in terms of our overall play and the depth of our bench to allow us to adapt to circumstances that might arise. “

Rugby Union World Cup 37 - Everything Thread [IC]

Matchday 3

RUWC37 Games 1 and 2 - KARMATV

Round of 16

Scrum!: PROGRESS

Quarterfinals

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