RugbyRebels

paddy no 11 wrote:Disaster for the tournament? Wales v fiji and big game Saturday now non events?

Why a disaster?

Wales can still be knocked out if Fiji win their remaining two games (with a BP against Georgia)
and Wales fail to get enough BPs and fail to get a win from their next two games (regardless of their last game)

We can but dream…

Fairy muff

Havent seen the end presumably looking forward to seeing the uruguayan players celebrations

paddy no 11 wrote:Disaster for the tournament? Wales v fiji and big game Saturday now non events?

Not necessarily. Both games will help determine who tops the group and (potentially) avoids England. Not to mention that Uruguay are currently unbeaten and might have their own hopes of avoiding England in the quarter finals .

Puja

I’d agree that it’s a negative for the tournament. The only realistic hope for a non tier 1 team in the QFs is Japan. We all hope for upsets but, in honesty, it’s tier 2 v tier 1, not tier 3 v tier 2.

I like that Paddy drew a distinction between a Wales game and the idea of a big game

Italy are currently running through Canada at will. 17-0 after 14 minutes

Canada are currently knocking on at will.

Canada showing a bit more resolve now, though. Their handling is still shit.

Finally, Canada manage to not drop the ball to score a really nice try.

God that must have been a frustrating watch for Canada fans. Pretty much parity in the middle of the park but completely inept at finishing chances. That should have been a close game. But fair enough, some of Italy's fringe really stood up. Polledri seemed like Obi-Wan Kenobi to Canada's battle droids. Carnage.

Tonga looking so sloppy today!

Jap just taken lead v. Ire16-12 after 61 min and giving everything..bit of a test this, with the speed it's going at.

u/d: 19-12 after 72 min...fast hands.

G'wan Japan!
7 points up, and they're good for it!

I’m kind of torn here. Obviously loving Japan, but I was pretty happy to see Ireland on the other side of the draw. Regardless, hell of a game.

Great try-saving chase back by Earles, but it's game over
shewerly

Not sure why Carberry kicked to touch after the gong-maybe happy with the losing BP.
Great win by the home team.Pool A wide open now.

Astonishing, wonderful effort by Japan. I reckon that’s a better win than their famous victory over South Africa in the last World Cup. In that game South Africa were sure they would eventually win until quite late in the game , and passed up some shots at goal that they would have taken against more fancied opposition. This game was owned by Japan. Fantastic.

Japan just love playing against green shirts.
Here's hoping they can do the same against blue (sorry neighbours, but it really is good for the sport)

2nd time Japan get their Mitts on the Raeburn Shield

Puja wrote:

Stom wrote:

bruce wrote:It's not unthinkable for Scotland to finish 4th in that group..

I doubt it. Unless Japan are substantially better than they showed against Russia, Scotland should have more than enough for them.

And Samoa aren't what they used to be.

Unfortunately for Scotland, Japan are substantially better than they showed against Russia.

Puja

It's very rare that I can be smug about an opinion being proven right.

Puja

Quality result. They have their heads and tails up. Not quite the upset that it would superficially seem. Take note of Tanaka marshaling both troop and ball. A completely different style of play to which Ireland are used to. They will take Scotland too on this form. Just brilliant.

Georgia 19 - Uruguay 7 after 44 minutes. This match will go a long way to determining which of these teams and Fiji will need to qualify for RWC2023.

morepork wrote:Quality result. They have their heads and tails up. Not quite the upset that it would superficially seem. Take note of Tanaka marshaling both troop and ball. A completely different style of play to which Ireland are used to. They will take Scotland too on this form. Just brilliant.

Some slightly backwards logic here perhaps, but while it’s not the shock of the SA result last time, Ireland will not have gone in to this expecting a walkover like SA did that day. They knew Japan were capable of performances like that and were unable to stop it.

Makes it more impressive in my eyes, in a slightly different way.

It’s certainly the best thing for the entertainment levels of this group and for giving Scotland a kick. Every bonus point is now crucially important and it’ll be interesting to see Scotland now essentially playing knockout rugby in their games vs Samoa and Russia.

What can Scotland do better than Japan at the moment? They won't squeeze them out. Counter attack? Play for terrotory and defend like demons for 80 minutes without coughing up penalties? Jamie Joseph is a pretty canny coach.

The Scotland set piece is pretty good and they also have some genuine match winners in Hogg and Russell.

Japan’s win over Ireland and Scotland’s poor performance have put a different lens on this game. In reality, I don’t think Japan are as good or Scotland as bad as those results might suggest.

Seen the news that France - USA game may be disrupted (and potentially cancelled) by the Typhoon -- If cancelled, they'd both get 2 points, no BP, and not re-arranged.

That could put France's chances at risk!