Hey folks, let’s talk about the third-place play-off in rugby. You know, that game that nobody wants to play, watch, or even talk about. Seriously, why does it still exist? Well, the answer is simple: money. World Rugby and its sponsors want to make a few extra bucks by pitting England against Argentina in a match that nobody really cares about. But let’s be real, it’s not going to be as exciting as some of the other games we’ve seen in this tournament.
Let’s cut to the chase here. The third-place play-off is completely pointless and it’s time to get rid of it. In a tournament where the goal is to win the trophy, battling for third place serves no purpose. At the Olympics, it makes sense to have a bronze medal match, but in rugby, there’s no podium. It’s just the winners, the runners-up, and then everyone else. So why are we wasting our time with this?
Can you even remember any memorable third-place play-offs from past Rugby World Cups? Yeah, me neither. I had to look it up on Wikipedia to find out that New Zealand beat Scotland in 1991, Argentina beat France in 2007, and Australia beat Wales in 2011. But honestly, who really cares?
If not for the fans, then let’s consider the players’ safety. Rugby is already a physically demanding sport, and the players’ bodies are pushed to the limit. In an era where player welfare is a top priority, it’s a no-brainer to get rid of this pointless fixture. Imagine if a player gets injured in this game and misses months of club action. It’s just not worth it.
Now, let’s talk about the teams playing in this so-called bronze final. Argentina seems to be taking it more seriously than England. They want to avenge their loss to England in the pool stage and give their coach, Michael Cheika, a proper send-off. They’ve made minimal changes to their starting lineup, unlike England who made a whopping eight changes. Maybe Argentina’s motivation will give them the edge.
But regardless of the outcome, I urge World Rugby to do the right thing and make this the last-ever third-place play-off. Let’s save ourselves from enduring this nonsense again in the future. Who’s with me?