Week One has provided some excellent rugby, dodgy refereeing and unfortunate injuries.
I think we can all unite around Uruguay as WC champions.
Other competitions are also starting up, so cancel all engagements and be prepared to spend your entire weekend and parts of the midweek glued to the screen. Hopefully not literally.
For those of you who lack rugby preparation skills, let me remind you to order in adequate supplies of booze, fags and possibly food.
Exciting rugby on the telly this week
Friday 27th September
| Cheetahs 48 – 14 Glasgow | 18:05 | Premier Sports 2 |
| Ulster 38 – 14 Ospreys | 19:35 | Premier Sports 1 |
| Leicester 27 – 7 Exeter | 19:45 | BT Sport 2 |
Saturday 28th September
| Argentina 28 – 12 Tonga | 05:45 | ITV |
| Japan 19 – 12 Ireland | 08:15 | ITV |
| South Africa 57 – 3 Namibia | 10:45 | ITV |
| Northampton 32 – 36 Wasps | 15:00 | BT Sport 3 |
| Munster 39 – 3 Drags | 15:00 | Freesports / TG4 |
| Southern Kings 27 – 31 Cardiff Blues | 15:00 | Premier Sports 2 |
| Scarlets 18 – 10 Connacht | 17:15 | PS2 / S4C / TG4 |
| Treviso 27 – 32 Leinster | 17:15 | Premier Sports 1 |
| Edinburgh 50 – 15 Zebre | 19:35 | Premier Sports 2 |
Sunday 29th September
| Georgia 33 – 7 Uruguay | 06:15 | ITV |
| Australia 25 – 29 Wales | 08:45 | ITV / S4C |
Monday 30th September
| Scotland 34 – 0 Samoa | 11:15 | ITV |
Wednesday 2nd October
| France 33 – 9 USA | 08:45 | ITV4 |
| New Zealand 63 – 0 Canada | 11:15 | ITV4 |
Thursday 3rd October
| Georgia 10 – 45 Fiji | 06:15 | ITV4 |
| Ireland 35 – 0 Russia | 11:15 | ITV |
Ovally Balls 
Missed the game – so do I need to panic?
On the basis of the scoreline, England perhaps not as shit as internet thought?
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Tbh, I think you need to play Bloodborne a few times to make any sense out of it.
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England’ll win, FFB.
If Sanchez gets near the field, put your house on an England win. Guaranteed.
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Matt le Tissier is a climate change doubter.
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Morning all, excited for this Jap-Ire game!
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My favourite bit of Ireland’s Call is the key change. Reminds me of the X Factor
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Morning all. Barely awake for the 2nd half of Arg/Ton but 2 cups of coffee have for the trick.
Key change…
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Morning FBC, and everyone else.
@Cat, saw The Bandit Queen film about Devi which was pretty good. I see from Wiki she was not best pleased about it though.
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Damn it. Missed the game. Stupid time zones.
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My favourite bit of Ireland’s Call is all of it.
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My least favourite bit of Ireland’s Call is the beginning. Because when it begins you know it’s going to end and that makes me sad.
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My favourite bit, is the part that isn’t GSTQ.
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Innovative line-up from Schimdt. Kearney playing 8, according to the commentator.
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G’wan Japan.
Great start
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Breathless. Brilliant start by both sides.
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Ireland a bit soft on these early defensive sets.
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For the good of the development of the game, I think Ireland should roll over here.
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Japanese market’s almost cracked, FFB.
It would’ve been better for rugby if England had lost to the USA. There’re a lot of dollars in the American market. Plus, ‘pro’d’ve been really happy.
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Would have been better for my marriage too
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RIngrose is attacking very well at the moment,
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Good take from Ringrose.
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Ringrose has started off at a kick…
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‘lick’
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https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/news/stoke-on-trent-news/i-cant-help-having-big-3362946
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Ringrose ate his Weetabix this morning, Jebus.
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Jackson to Japan.
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My second favourite bit of Ireland’s Call will be when it wins the Eurovision Song Contest, which it surely will one day.
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That’s where I don’t like the choke tackle rule – you’ve just made 15 metres in the tackle, why should you get turned over?
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It’s not a choke tackle rule, it’s a maul rule.
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And if you can maul but not retrieve the ball and you still get the scrum, the maul becomes too easy as an option. Hence the rule.
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Ron Kearney hadn’t scored a try for Ireland since 2015 prior to this tournament. Now Peak has two in two.
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Oh I know what it is/why it has to be there, it’s just that very specific scenario that’s annoying (except when it’s my team turning it over obviously!)
Ireland’s kicking game working well here. Uncle Joe done his homework
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I have no problem with the maul turnover law, but why is collapsing said maul never penalised unless the maul starts from a lineout?
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Bleeuuurrgghhh … oh, is there rugby on? I seem to have stayed up too late.
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After a couple of terrible maul defences, Japan have a really good one so far. Their tight play has been excellent (to go with their more recognised skills)
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@FFB – agreed it’s not perfect, although I’m not sure that example was truly a choke tackle, the Japanese fella looked happy to stay upright and form a maul rather than ruck.
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Japan need to get some possession – they looked good in the first ten but all Ireland since
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Oooof, Rory.
@Piperboy – yeah, Japan look good. Don’t think the scoreline reflects the game so far. I’ll take it, though. And good efficiency from us.
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Our discipline has been shit so far. Several needless pens.
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@thaum
Just to make you feel better
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“Ron Kearney hadn’t scored a try for Ireland since 2015 prior to this tournament. Now Peak has two in two.”
The game against Wales wasn’t in this tournament, Larry.
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Good gas, JvdF. Matsushima is rapid.
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OT – tyvm. I shall listen at half-time.
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@Tomp – yes, of course. Dull of me. 8am thinking – knew he scored in his last game (which of course wasn’t the last game).
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Rory in a bit of trouble on the outside cover. Pretty rapid from JVdF.
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Urgh, that was a horrible lineout.
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Murray wasn’t off his feet but he should have been pinged for no clear release anyway.
This is a great test.
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Japan well up for this. Great game so far.
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Nice
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Mullered at the scrum!
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