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 
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Hi Ticht!
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Russian guys have been knackered for most of the game.
Good spot from Burger. Looks a clear enough red.
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Can he be cited for a missed red card offence?
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I like the Russian 7
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Ouch, that was an own goal, howler
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What was Artemyev trying to do there?
He is an experienced player too.
I have seen Dutch guys in their first ever game do things like that.
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Was that the fullback, Pro?
He is out on his feet
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“He is out on his feet”
Should have put it out with his foot
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Japan have Ireland next, they are going to have to improve beyond measure to stand a chance
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Watching the game from the beginning now. Disappointed Nige is speaking neither Japanese nor Russian.
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@tomp
Around 44 mins he says “whose coats that jacket?”.
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Poor game. Russian are a pub team, they played manfully but have no pace. Japan made sooo many basic errors. A lot of aimless kicking from them, too.
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Considering what Italy did to Russia in the warm ups, I don’t hold out much hope for Japan going forward. Ireland will mince them. Unless they were playing possum tonight or suffering from opening night nerves. I think it’ll be nice for Japan when someone not born in South Africa scores a try for them as well. Cough.
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“Unless they were playing possum tonight or suffering from opening night nerves. ”
Just finished the first half. There might be a bit of both. There were a few times they didn’t take the overlap and too much taking the ball standing still. When the forwards put pace on the ball they had some decent stuff going on.
Russia are very very limited but big triers. Fair play to them. Their wingers are very slow. Keith Earls must be licking his lovely Limerick lips in anticipation.
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Japan’s fielding of the ball was poor all evening, it’s an area of great strength for Ireland, whether it’s Conway, Earls, Peak or whoever going up for it, they will be looking forward to winning a lot of go-forward ball in the opposition half
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Yeah was surprised how bad they were at dealing with even poor kicks to their backfield.
could be a nerves thing, if they can’t deal with pill roosting they’ll have a torrid time in their next match.
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Think I’ll get up early and park myself in front of the TV from 5:45 ignoring all entreaties for engagement no matter how pitiful. Then got a wedding in the arvo. ‘sgonna be a tough day.
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Being Asian, I have an immense dislike for Japan in rugby terms*. Of course, I applauded their achievements last RWC, but normally they are a team I like to see lose.
As others have said, Russia were game butnot really quality.
Difficult one for the organisers. Obviously host plays 1st game, but to play holders or another big name nation would yield a flogging for the home team. So, play a minnow and thrash them, but Russia didnt really comply and Japan arent good enough to destroy a top 20 intl side
*Japan are a cynical team who rely on buying imports and the 3 yr rule. They are also not shy about leveraging their money to get what they want in terms of fixtures, schedules and any kind.of special treatment.
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@Ticht
I also thought the Russian 7 had a good game.
I was both impressed and unimpressed with the Russian 10. He read the game well and had a good kicking game and excellent vision. Decent hands too but, this was so far beyond his level in terms of the physical side. He was so slow and was so easily brushed aside by stronger men
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Spotted elsewhere
I went to the library to see if they had that new book on Pavlov’s dogs and Schrodinger’s cat.
They said it rang a bell but they couldn’t say yes or no without checking.
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Had to make do with the G’s Live Blog, what with being at w*rk and all, but it sounded like a decent opening to the tournament with a good atmosphere.
Tomorrow’s matches might be a bit more world-class.
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Better match than I expected. I suspect the Russian coach Lyn the Quip hasn’t been doing the hard yards about fitness and preparation. You can take the coach out of the Drags, but you can’t etc…
I also was impressed by Russia’s proper 7. Also a really bad miss from the TMO regarding that forearm smash.
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@Ticht, not sure if you mean citing the player or the TMO. Both would be in order in my book.
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Erwin Schrödinger was driving along and was stopped by the police. The copper said “do you know how fast you were going?”. Schrodinger replied “no, but I do know my exact position in space”
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Ugo never lets me down:
“Of course they will have bespoke plays for each team but we will get more of an insight into what this England team is about in those last two pool matches – before that the DNA doesn’t change but the detail will.”
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Tomp – does he go on to mention problem solving and alleles?
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‘Also a really bad miss from the TMO regarding that forearm smash.’
It’s the shaft of all shafts
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It’s the shaft of all shafts
Oooh my!
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Wait till you’ve had a few drinks before you watch this, it will bring out the juvenile in you
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Bad Grandpa kills blog
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Put me right off my hot chocolate that
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Someone sent me it on FB, Chimpie, it’s apparently a Johnny Knoxville film
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Trying the Utna format, don’t think I can mke it. I beer and a shot to go. Probably fast asleep for Aussies Fiji.
May wake up in time for France Argentina tho, go Los Pumas.
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Morning all. Would still be asleep but for a bloody hadeda (type of Ibis) screeching outside my bedroom window. Go Fiji. Studio crew in SA are talking them up big time. Australia by 65 then.
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SBT, you’re a hero nonetheless. Even daring a go at The Utna is worthy of a medal.
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Cant see the Aussies losing this
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Chimpie, I reckon they’ll win by about 15 to 20. Plnkers in the studio here are going much closer for the most part.
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Sounds about right to me
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Morning, sports fans
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G’wan Fiji.
Ooh, don’t start like that guys.
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That was a lovely little poke through by Volavola.
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At some point, Ugo will settle on a way to pronounce “Radradra”.
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Fiji take the lead
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Oh, what a try!!!!
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Oooh, nice by Fiji
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Wow Fiji!
I’m absolutely petrified of playing them.
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Well I’m awake and so are Fiji.
What a try.
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Reece been dominated by both fijian wingers so far
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Yikes. Oz being pummelled at the moment
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