re: Rugby World Cup 2023 | Final Match set for 10/28 | CNBC | *2pm Central

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That South Africa/France match was fantastic

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Watched the match on replay.

People are saying France got screwed.

Don't know enough about Rugby penalties to say otherwise.

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I’ve learned a lot watching this WC, basically the first time I’ve ever invested any real time in watching. I still do not understand penalties, really at all.

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Don't sweat it. The refs don't seem to understand the penalties half the time either.

When you get tackled you get one movement to place the ball back to your team. The player that tackles you also has to let go of you. Where it gets tricky is that the player that makes the tackle or another defensive player is allowed to try and steal the ball as long as he gets his hands on it before someone from the offense gets there. Once there is a player from the offense there to secure the ball, the defense isn't allowed to continue trying to grab the ball.

It's definitely confusing as it is almost always a bang bang play where it seems random which way the ref will call it.

I'm watching

Phenomenal game. Springboks never gave up.

The final is going to be so good.
Can't wait!

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Hot take- England doesn’t make it out of their group

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England was a nice story in this WC. I am no expert, but I can’t help thinking they got a little screwed with all those scrum penalties at the end of their match with SA.

Can’t decide who to pull for in the final.
As a neutral, I generally don’t like repeat champions, but given all the negative stuff I hear about South Africa online, I have been really taken with the melting pot nature of that squad.
Was a little disconcerting to hear one of their guys supposedly made a racist comment towards an England player.

Flew back last Monday...about 6 days too early :/...I feel i can finally talk about it...

My brief little trip report...

I flew back to Paris and arrived last Friday before the two QFs....stayed near Moulin Rouge which was near O'Sullivans, Corcorans, and the Harp which was Irish fan central....Friday night was crazy, so much green, so much positivity.

Got up early on Saturday morning and did a walk to get the nerves out, and ran into Keith Wood an Irish legend at the Eiffel Tower...I said hell yeah, that is a great sign.

Get to Corcorans area around 3pm...the area was just crazy. Fields of Athenry being sung, rugby balls going around, etc... The momentum was building. The stadium was 80% Irish and sounded as much. Frankly could not hear the Haka.

And then the match started...and then it was just a game of margins. I never lost faith...even at the end I always thought they would score. And then Barnes raised his arm and I was just gutted. Frankly I was just a shell after...and the next morning did not want to get out of bed.

But my wife said well you are there, go to the SA-France match. Decided to cheer for the Bokke as I had tickets in their section, and what a match. The back and forth was just electric. The La Marseillaise was terrific. I just felt for the French fans like the Irish fans. They had that dead stare like I did the night before. It is a crying shame those two are at home.

I will be in mourning for quite some time on this one...

I leave for Paris tomorrow night to catch the final two matches. Look for the guy in LSU gear for the bronze final, but I'll be wearing black for the final...

Really was hoping to do an in game thread, but unfortunately I can't.