They're afraid of Wales

SH teams don't want Wales to play at MS in the world cup as they think it's an unfair home advantage even though when England won the rights to host 2015 it was assumed the Wales games would be played at the MS as it made commercial sense. Wales at that time were 9th in the rankings. Now they're 5th.

So it looks like Wales are going to have to play elsewhere - but only matches against Tier 1 teams!

My point is, no matter which stadium Wales, Ireland and scotland play in - they're all going to be home matches!

So why force the WIS teams and their fans to travel to other 70000 seater stadia and lose Money to football grounds? When there's a perfectly good one down the m4/m8/m1

Playing anywhere this side of the channel is a home game!

I don't really mind, it would have been a nice cash cow for the WRU but would make little difference to Wales's performance.

Tbh I like it better this way, it's opportunistic and unnecessary to stage games in Cardiff at any rate. The whole thing ought to be in England.

If England are able to provide all of the necessary stadia then all of the games should be played in England. They're the hosts after all. It would be nice to have a couple of games in the MS but I still stand by countries hosting all the games within their borders if they can possibly do so. We (Wales) couldn't do that but if England can then they should.

Knowsit17 wrote:Tbh I like it better this way, it's opportunistic and unnecessary to stage games in Cardiff at any rate. The whole thing ought to be in England.

Totally agree. WCs should be hosted by one country alone.

this is frustrating. england cut a deal with wales over the 99rwc. eng played at hq. we bought the engrwc wales games back then.

its our southern hemisphere cousins getting their knickers in a twist again.

Indeed, because SH teams have such a dismal record at MS that playing there really has become a bit of a mental hoodoo now!!

Yep, the odds are certainly stacked against us

They don't call wales The Village Idiots of World Rugby for nothing, huh?

miteyironpaw wrote:They don't call wales The Village Idiots of World Rugby for nothing, huh?

For some reason you truly do hate Wales your postings go beyond normal rugby banter.

Maybe you're just too thin skinned Cymroglan.

miteyironpaw wrote:They don't call wales The Village Idiots of World Rugby for nothing, huh?

why do they, paws? tell me as you seem to know

miteyironpaw wrote:They don't call wales The Village Idiots of World Rugby for nothing, huh?

Not sure who call them that and why. But even if it is true how is it relevant in this case? Also I can't see why we wouldn't want to play them there.

The only idiot around here is mitey

Shame really

Would be better if the MS was included imo. I know it's England hosting but Cardiff is closer to Twickers than say, Anfield/Old Trafford. It isn't like you have to fly there from the host country (see France 2007). Also too good a stadium to be ignored, but that's just me.

The MS is one if the best rugby stadia in the world. Why not use it? If not for welsh games, other games.

Wales can play their 2015 matches in Eden Park it will make no difference.

The RFU would be dull not to use the MS, I agree that it's not fair for Wales to play there, but to not use one of if not the best rugby stadium in the world just denies the fans, especially those who travel from the SH!!!

As far as I'm aware the MS is in the agreement for England to host the WC along with Twickers, the Emirates, Anfield, Old Trafford (a lot of other football stadiums) and Welfield Rd. The only change is that the SH teams don't want Wales playing in their national stadium, so Wales may have to play in London or Anfield...

It seems a little silly and something in nothing as didn't England and France do the same in previous WC's?

Guys, mitey clearly has issues with Wales, I would suggest, just ignore him, he's only making himself look ridiculous


As others have stated, it makes financial sense to use the MS, although I can see why they have agreed not to play the tier 1 games there, as they would be able to guarantee to sell them out elsewhere also.

I always thought home advantage was about the number of fans not the stadium anyway

I do not understand why if England are the host nation, why they would want to play all Wales pool games at thye MS.

to get £££ from ticket sales, Majestic, as far as I'm aware/

I think it's simple, keep the money in union

Why rent out anfield with the police and transport issues when MS is there with well rehersd transport and policing that's used to rugby.

The main point here is the for the home nations any of the stadia is going to be a home match - so we shouldn't be forced in to using a football stadium just because a couple SH teams feel threatened. I'm sure if the game receipt percentage was raised they'd be happy to accommodate

Ps. This isn't a Wales thread, I'd rather play Wales pool games in murryfield and Scotland play games in ms.

Actually is this true or has slarti made something up/interpreted as he wanted? All I can see is some old stories from last year saying the IRB has some doubt about it.

Well it is certainly made up that the SH teams are afraid of Wales..

It is ridiculous. Wales playing their group games at The MS is logical. It's a brilliant stadium, and easily accessible for traveling fans who might understandably base themselves in London. It would be a waste not to use it.

Of course I appreciate that it is a tad unfair on the 3 nations teams but they very rarely lose in Cardiff anyway so what are they being so petty about? If wales were to play their games in Liverpool, London, or Northampton it would still feel like a home game for them.

I think it's probably pushing it to describe them as being scared of wales though. It's just the SH unions being petty if anything

Where is the proof of this?? That the SH has anything to do with the use of the millennium stadium? A lot of rubbish being spouted here I feel.

Here is the bbc link:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/17233462

"Former Rugby Football Union chairman Martyn Thomas was at a meeting during the 2011 World Cup where arrangements for the 2015 event were discussed.

He told Friday's Sport Wales programme: "I was at the IRB meeting, certainly in New Zealand, and I don't recollect any concern being expressed in the meeting from the southern hemisphere in relation to the use of the Millennium Stadium."

Is this some kind of a windup?England won the RWC rights,and there are plenty of stadiums in england could be used.Wales are playing some games at the Millenium,it would make sense .From aFinancial point of view for Murray field,and Ireland[both parts] to host group stages too.
SH sides terrified of Wales,well yes they must be terrified,get real no matter where they play.ALL SH sides are playing away does`nt really effect there records much does it.
ABs for example 21 losses vrsus NH sides in 107 years,Sa lost once to Wales.since 1906.TERRIEFIED?YEAH RIGHT!!!

rugbydreamer wrote:to get £££ from ticket sales, Majestic, as far as I'm aware/

Dreamer i am aware of that, but the point that i was making is the England is the HOST, nation.

So surely they should play (ALL) their pool games in England. Maybe if Wales make it through to the 1/4-semi final, then maybe should play at the MS.

Good point Rory. Is there any proof of SH interference or is this just the deluded rantings of a Welshman living in cloud cuckoo land?

The bbc article is a summary of the piece on Sports Wales, There was an interview with a south African player (name?) going on about how unfair it would be for Wales to play at MS. It's only now that Wales are playing well are they going on about home advantage.

Look, I don't care where Wales play, just want to keep the money in union, it would be a shame to loose it - especially when WC sharing has gone on before.

damngoodOvalball wrote:Good point Rory. Is there any proof of SH interference or is this just the deluded rantings of a Welshman living in cloud cuckoo land?

Oh god, the paranoia has kicked in. Watch out for the nasty Welshman.

WC sharing = World Cup sharing and nothing else

It would be interesting to see how this worked if Wales were allocated pool games at the Millenium Stadium and we had a lower seed like the hosts in our group possibly playing all their games in Cardiff too...

the successful bid by England was on the basis that the RWCL board ratified the decision which was always going to be done around this time.
So if Wales were counting their chickens more fool them.

I suspect it is only their misguided supporters though.......

What is wrong with World Cup sharing?

Have a loot at the UK, hell have a look at Western Europe! The area is tiny in comparison to the world. Didn't Australia have 3 time zones when they hosted the World Cup?

I don't really see any problem in Ireland, France, England, Wales, or Scotland hosting their own pool... why not the World Cup is there to generate money and to promote the world game.

If Wales can generate more money, so more can be invested in growing the game in other countries then that's a good thing.

BigTrevsbigmac wrote:the successful bid by England was on the basis that the RWCL board ratified the decision which was always going to be done around this time.
So if Wales were counting their chickens more fool them.

I suspect it is only their misguided supporters though.......

That's right, use your brain.

AlynDavies wrote:Didn't Australia have 3 time zones when they hosted the World Cup?

..yes, and we still do.

Full Credit wrote:

AlynDavies wrote:Didn't Australia have 3 time zones when they hosted the World Cup?

..yes, and we still do.

Good point!

Where is the 2015 WC being held?

England. That's the advantage...that's one of the reasons you host.

So an opposing Nation (Wales) wants England to include the Millennium so that Wales can play their WC games at home?

Fair enough - Everyone will be looking for an advantage, and as I said, England already have theirs. But no, not fair enough when you take into account that the other competing nations won't have the same special deal that Wales would have if Millennium was used.

'But then, why not?' - we hear. Ireland, Scotland will also have home games...even though their games will be in England.................!! There is logic there but I'm not seeing it.

When a game takes place betwen two Nations in a third Nation, that's neutral territory...when it takes place in the home of one of the sides, that's home advantage. England should be the only Nation with that right due to them being hosts.

How do home/away ranking point weightings work if you play a World Cup game in your own stadium but the cup is being hosted by another nation?

I would like to know if there's any merit in the claim that the SH is making noise about games at MS. I certainly don't see a problem with it and I'd be surprised if my countrymen did but I'm happy to be proven wrong. If that article is all there is it's drawing a long bow.

Full Credit wrote:

AlynDavies wrote:Didn't Australia have 3 time zones when they hosted the World Cup?

..yes, and we still do.

I cant remember 3 time zones in OZ? I thought that there was 1 hours difference between west and east?

I doubt very much that the SH teams are scared of Wales just yet Its Englands RWC and they have enough grounds to use so its understandable that they should host all the matches,

Technically, at the moment with daylight savings, we have 4 timezones. Sydney and Melbourne are an hour ahead of Brisbane. Adelaide's half an hour behind that and Perth is a few hours after that. All good usable information.

Ha haa, cheers Full Credit. I just dont remember there being that much difference and was sure that it was only an hour between west and east

it seems one SA players opimion (and I'm not sure what that actually is) has become representative of the SH somehow.
In 2011 we played virtually all our matches at Eden Park- the toughest venue to win away at- particularly World cup time so we would be hypocritical to hold that view.

We welcome playing Wales at MS. Its a great venue but since we've not lost to Wales there in recent times 'scared' isnt a very apt description.

For me Wales challenge is to maintain the quality of the current squad through to 2015 as by then they won't be a 'young' squad. To do this they must keep bringing new players through, or they'll do an England 03- keep players on too long or create huge gaps for those departing.

Understandable billy, no-one cares about the west.

I loved Perth mate, it was my favorite place in Australia

Yeah, nothing wrong with Perth but given that I live about as far east as is possible, the term 'west' is fairly broad.