Run a plate, mirroring your second phase, lots of games for second tier nations, plus good tv. Or, similar to U20s and 7s formats, gives more meaningful games
I dig it! You can also host those games at smaller, community venues with knockdown ticket prices, encouraging the local schoolkids to come to games (maybe free entry if they wear their uniform etc).
Yes, please remember that I recorded this video before the tournament and then made a few amendments after Romana and Namibia suffered some really heavy defeats. That said Portugal were wonderful at this 2023 Rugby World Cup. They really were a joy to watch and I hope to see much more of them in the future. Thanks for the comment.
@@frontrowrugby Yeah! I meant "funny" exactly because of that! Portugal was such a good surprise! I remember watching RWC 2007 and even playing the videogame on my PS2 with Portugal and immediately become a fan of the sport. It was such such a joy watching them play. Im very proud of my country and all that guys! It was amazing! Hopefully it will help Rugby become professional here in Portugal.. Anyway, loved the video and your suggestion is a great one! That 2nd Group Stage would be amazing to see! Cheers from Portugal
Great memories! I'll be rooting for your team. In fact, it's even possible that in the next few years I might move my family to your country. Let's see what happens! Thank you again for the kind words, Marcelo!
Great format, almost makes a tier 1 and 2 comp that some people want, whilst also giving the opportunities to the little guys to come up against the All Blacks, England etc. Only slight concern is that there may be a situation in the second stage that their may be some matches with no meaning as Ireland could beat Scotland and Wales, have a bye, and then Scotland play Wales in a dead rubber, but a game of Scotland Wales is hardly a dead rubber, + World Ranking Points. You could introduce that only the top 8 teams qualify for the next world cup, giving some more life into the second-round pool stages where second and third has a significant difference. You could then tier it so that if Wales got 3rd, they would have a bye in the Euro qualifying to limit the 'easy' games they have to play. Could be similar to the soon-to-be-replaced Football Club World Cup, where the Oceania qualifiers would play 3 games to get to a final, but the Euro/South America play just a semi to make the final. However, no format will be perfect and I think this one gives the best of both worlds. Great video :)
Thanks for the kind words, Edward! I do think this format gives us the best of both words as it were, while at the same time being far from perfect but I had to make a call. You may have seen yesterday World Rugby actually made the announcement (how's that for coincidence?) and they're going with six pools of four but with a Last 16 so there goes my idea! You're right with your dead rubber scenario but as you say, there's no perfect format but I like your idea of the top eight then qualifying for the next World Cup to add spice to it. Again, really appreciate the kind words and so glad you enjoyed it!
Hi Peter. I hope you have contacts at SA Rugby. Please bring their attention to the fact that the Boks will be playing in their 50TH WORLD CUP GAME on Saturday. Quite a milestone. Thanks
Thanks for the comment, Mitch. I know one or two people at HQ! 50 is indeed a massive moment for our boys. For what it's worth, did you know we won our 50th match against the All Blacks? That was back in 1998 in Wellington!
Thanks, Sean! Yeah so it seems like they are going to expand it to 24 teams because they want the USA there and the Americans failed to qualify for this edition. I think this format I've proposed gives the minnows a chance and the big teams will get their place in the sun too while providing a fair share of entertainment for the fans. I hope at least!
If Namibia and Chile are only playing 7 tests in 4 years, having them play more games at their own level, not against tier 1 teams, is the answer. Also, I would take 4 teams out rather than add 4 teams. Have a parallel comp like the womens (think they have 3 tiers playing 3 comps at the same time). Nearly 2 months for any sporting tournament is about 1 month too long for me.
I think you're right, Duncan. If we want the strongest possible tournament then 16 is the way to go. The issue is that they want the USA in there and the Americans didn't qualify for this World Cup. It's actually the reason they expanded from 16 to 20 in 1999 and now the talk is to go to 24. I think it's inevitable so I'm looking at how we can best make it work out. I agree with you that the likes of Namibia and Chile need to play more Tests at their own level. My proposal is to have them play one or two each year against stronger opposition to help them grow because it also doesn't help if they only play the very best nations every four years. Portugal have been wonderful at this World Cup. A team like that just needs a little bit of help but you wonder when will they get a chance to play against Italy or Scotland for example? I like your idea of the parallel tournaments. I quite like the idea of having a separate knockout stage, like bowl, shield etc where the sides who didn't qualify for the proper knockout stage can then compete among themselves. Those matches could be played at smaller, community venues with much cheaper tickets and you could encourage the local schoolkids to come out in their numbers to cheer on the teams.
South Africa, Australia and Japan on same group 😂😂😂😂 You are killing me man, we just came out out a crazy World Cup with a crazy draw and now you want to give me a heart attack by coming up with this hypothetical scenario ? Let me indulge, can you imagine 8 groups of 3 and only the winner progresses to the quarters and yes, we have that hypothetical group 😂😂😂😂😂 Your preferred scenario sounds like the 1982 soccer World Cup on Spain Anyway keep on keeping on 😂☝️
Thanks bro! Of course it's all hypothetical but I do think this would be the best format - exactly like 1982 in Spain, as you correctly mentioned. Unfortunately yesterday they made the announcement (how's that for coincidence?) and they're going with six groups of four but then a Last 16. I think we're going to get quite a few mismatches, at least in the early stages but okay, here we are. Let's see how it goes.
@@frontrowrugbyI forgot to add that your chosen scenario makes the most sense , incidentally 1982 World Cup is still revered for the epic matches not just during the first pool stage but also the second pool stages with Italy being a deserving winner because after you endure that battle , you deserve to be called the world champion. it is likely the World Cup winner would have had to go through some real hard games along the way and that is only great for the fans
@@SupremeBros2012 Thanks for that. Yes, I had a look at different 24-team tournament formats and just thought that to me it seems the better way to go. You get a little bit of everything. And sure enough World Rugby choose a different option! Oh well.
