Here comes the World Cup! Oh, and an English Premiership Cup match too.
Exciting rugby on the telly this week
Friday 20th September
| Japan 30 – 10 Russia | 11:45 | ITV / S4C |
Saturday 21st September
| Australia 39 – 21 Fiji | 05:45 | ITV |
| France 23 – 21 Argentina | 08:15 | ITV |
| New Zealand 23 – 13 S Africa | 10:45 | ITV |
| Exeter 28 – 14 Bath | 15:15 | BT Sport 3 |
Sunday 22nd September
| Italy 47 – 22 Namibia | 06:15 | ITV |
| Ireland 27 – 3 Scotland | 08:45 | ITV |
| England 35 – 3 Tonga | 11:15 | ITV |
Monday 23rd September
| Wales 43 – 14 Georgia | 11:15 | ITV / S4C |
Tuesday 24th September
| Russia 9 – 34 Samoa | 11:15 | ITV4 |
Wednesday 25th September
| Fiji 27 – 30 Uruguay | 06:15 | ITV4 |
Thursday 26th September
| Italy 48 – 7 Canada | 08:45 | ITV4 |
| England 45 – 7 USA | 11:45 | ITV |
Ovally Balls 
Like all winning teams Ireland are cynical as hell when they need to be
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@SBT – Glaciers move quicker then Greig, on occasion.
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Score, time, etc?
This party’s at a farm and it’s pishing down.
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27-3; 76 mins.
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@Enzo – 27-3, 76 mins.
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Barclay’s international race is run imo, Bradbury, Thomson and Ritchie from now on if Mish is oot
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Ireland impressively competent today
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Well done Ireland, they are a class apart today
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No change at final whistle.
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Desperately poor from Scotland. Ireland very comfortable and can rest up Sexton and Murray once next week is out of the way.
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Pleased with that. Some of the replacements got enforced extended runs which should stand them in good stead for.the next couple of group games.
After his struggles in the warm ups it was good to see Rory be perfect (I think) at the line out.
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So Ireland have rid themselves of any aftertaste of an undercooked summer. Excellent start for them. Poor Scotland (both meanings…)
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Cripes we were guff
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Very disappointing for Scotland. Price at 9, and a bit more zip on one of the wings would be good. Finishing back row looked good too.
Ireland looked fallible early on, Scotland couldn’t take advantage, and Ireland smothered them. Thought all the 50-50 calls went Irelands way, plus some obviously wrong, but I guess you make your own luck.
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Tactically inept
Poor execution
Slack defence
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I thought Scotland were going to score towards the end; they were a bit unlucky not to.
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Tongan prop looks buggered just from the Haka. Will this be the first complete massacre of the World Cup? I think it will. England by however many they want.
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Big Ben hasn’t slimmed down any
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Tonga with a strong 90 seconds!
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Sakes, 985 kg pack
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Tongan #3 is apparently 148 kg
That is absolutely enormous
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I still don’t understand the Daly/Watson choice.
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Tonga are going to get humped.
I watched Japan dismantle them in the PNC a few weeks ago.
Their discipline is poor, the new tackling directive will punish them, their defensive organization is inadequate, what they have in bulk they lack in speed and their fitness is questionable.
They also spend very little time together, play few fixtures and fly half Morath struggled to look decent for Utah Warriors in the MLR.
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Look a bit sleepy in our carrying and kicking – not enough accuracy/bite
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You don’t often see Billy monstered like that.
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Not many people can do that to Billy V.
Great hit
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I don’t know why we insist on kicking turnover ball
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Ffs England
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Big, big hit there! Not sure if there were any arms used.
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God’s sake we’re back to our lazy, shit ruck clearing and aimless kicking
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Box kick a thon from both 9s
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Impressive scramble defence by Tonga, to prevent the ball being grounded.
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Nice block from the ref on Youngs
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@FFB – was wondering why he didn’t call that back for a scrum.
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Tonga already stopped chasing their own kicks.
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So was everyone except him! Worked out ok
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Oooo, not sure that’s correct
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Manu! Boshtastic.
Tongan defender was round Manus neck on that.
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Tonga have been pretty good, but always a matter of time before they cracked. Some of their forwards are already walking.
Tuilagi looking sharp.
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Good assistant referee work by Youngs
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Tonga 9 has calves like inflated balloons.
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Oh that’s just moronic England
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Nice try
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That’s better
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I love the look of joy on Manu’s face.
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Oof. 247m vs 46m.
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Was that CJ in the union jack blazer?
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Really poor by the Tongan right wing
Got excited with the opportunity to smash Daly and came flying in but left May open
Daly was covered anyway by the inside man.
Well executed by the England backs
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So, penalty for England, for playing it on the floor?
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“Wha’ the fook war that?”
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