Rugby world cup Japan 2019 Discussion Thread

(03-11-2019 18:57 )babelover48 Wrote:  I see Bill Beaumont has praised the Japanese for staging "the greatest Rugby World cup of all time" and I for one wouldn't even disagree with him on that. What is important for the game to evolve on a world level, is seeing those T2 Nations raise their standards over the next four years to a degree, so that the T1 Nations don't have it all their own way in future and you can thank Japan for showing how that can be done, but World Rugby has to open up that debate to all, not just the teams and coaches but to games' fan base as well, let everybody have their opinion from the heads of various rugby board, the referees, the players, the coaches And the ordinary fan on the terraces and at home. Let their voices be heard so that in four years time we can look forward to France staging a true Rugby world cup where perhaps for the first time there could be an actual level playing field. I think for one, if they was looking to expand the world i would say try 32 teams as an experiment, but I think 20 teams is about right.

I agrees with every word there - up to the final sentence! 20 teams is NOT right and excludes rather than invites! I wouldn't go 32 teams - my option would be 28. More importantly, T1's have to be made to qualify with the rest - holders SA exempt along with hosts France!