Week Two made Irish eyes very sad. But Welsh eyes leeked with joy, when the Wallabies didn’t quite manage to hop into the lead in the second half. Uruguay failed to repeat their magic from Week One. Otherwise, the results were more or less as expected.
Week Three’s biggest clash is looking like England v Argentina, although no doubt there will be some surprises in the other fixtures.
We’ve also got some Pro14 and that English Premiership Cup thingy to look forward to.
Exciting (?) rugby on the telly this week
Friday 4th October
| S Africa 49 – 3 Italy | 10:45 | ITV4 |
| Glasgow 21 – 25 Scarlets | 19:35 | Premier Sports 1 |
| Leinster 53 – 5 Ospreys | 19:35 | Premiers Sports 2 / TG4 |
| Worcester 19 – 34 Exeter | 19:45 | BT Sport 1 |
Saturday 5th October
| Australia 45 – 10 Uruguay | 06:15 | ITV |
| England 39 – 10 Argentina | 09:05 | ITV |
| Japan 38 – 19 Samoa | 11:30 | ITV |
| Kings 20 – 31 Munster | 15:00 | Premier Sports 2 |
| Zebre 28 – 52 Dragons | 17:00 | Freesports |
| Cheetahs 63 – 26 Ulster | 17:15 | Premier Sports 2 |
| Cardiff 11 – 19 Edinburgh | 17:15 | Premier Sports 1 / S4C |
| Connacht 41 – 5 Treviso | 19:35 | Premier Sports 1 / TG4 |
Sunday 6th October
| New Zealand 71 – 9 Namibia | 05:45 | ITV |
| France 23 – 21 Tonga | 08:45 | ITV |
| Northampton 28 – 54 Saracens | 15:00 | BT Sport 1 |
Tuesday 8th October
| South Africa 66 – 7 Canada | 11:15 | ITV4 |
Wednesday 9th October
| Argentina 47 – 17 USA | 05:45 | ITV4 |
| Scotland 61 – 0 Russia | 08:15 | ITV |
| Wales v Fiji | 10:45 | ITV/S4C |
Ovally Balls 
Mango Unchained really is such a fucking fuckspoon:
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/oct/09/harry-dunn-parents-civil-action-anne-sacoolas
LikeLiked by 1 person
Cat – What is a fucksp….
never mind
LikeLike
Clue is in the name.
LikeLike
Italy could still have qualified in theory, no? Very unlikely, the remotest of remote possibilities but a shame they’ll never know.
LikeLike
This is what needed to have happened to her “Diplomatic Immunity”:
LikeLike
LikeLike
Looks dangerous.
LikeLike
One of the people I went to watch rugby with in SA was a diplomat . At the security briefing when you stat working there the police tell you that you shouldn’t drive drunk (obviously). If you do have a drink, call the police and they’ll come and drive you home. He never dared do it so we’d get a taxi after the post-match drinks.
LikeLike
I checked and the neighbours are out of time. Their main bone of contention is that we are reducing the width of their access (across our patio) from 2.5m to 1.2m which is wider than their door.
I’ve pointed this out to them and have had nothing back. It’s like we burnt their house down. Synts.
LikeLike
Danielle Lloyd is trending on the Twitterz today too. I had no idea who she is, so was reading the thread. People really do hold a grudge. Not that she isn’t awful, obviously, and I’ve totally gone off the idea of that bag of crisps I was going to eat now.
LikeLike
Hehe
However, at the end of the show it was revealed that her IQ was 152,[clarification needed]
I swear that’s the actual Wiki page for her.
LikeLike
Toonie thinks the game will go ahead, either as planned, behind closed doors, the next day or whatever
https://www.theoffsideline.com/japan-scotland-gregor-townsend/
LikeLike
Nigel Farage and the Brexit party have voted against a European parliament resolution calling for stronger EU action to counter election meddling and Russian disinformation.
Big surprise there.
LikeLike
Ticht – Good. I hope he’s right.
LikeLike
34 year old Leo Ghiraldini tore his ACL, MCL and meniscus in February. That is the ‘unholy trinity’ of knee bagarap.
He went through grueling rehab with the sole aim of playing for Italy for the final time at this RWC.
He has struggled to fully recover for the first 3 matches but was finally fit enough to play for Italy one last time against the All Blacks on Saturday.
He is absolutely distraught at the cancellation, apparently.
LikeLike
Why should one game be rearranged for a different date but the others cancelled?
Are Scotland’s chances to make a QF more important than 100 odd cap veterans getting one final game for their country?
LikeLike
While I think they should rearrange all of them, to be honest, pro, I think they are. Onna sentimental level, I agree with you, but you’re talking about one player v 23-odd. Some of whom are also likely to be at their last WC.
Not sure where I’m going with this. Trying to be impartial cos I think the blazers are to blame here.
LikeLike
Pro – I think Toonie is being optimistic about it being on a different day, It’s been ruled out. As Ticht says, so long as it’s safe to do so and even if they cant get a crowd in they’ll do everything they can to put it on on the right day.
Not sure they could do much about the other 2 games to be honest if they were due to take place whilst the typhoon was actually in full swing.
The rule seems silly in hindsight I suppose. A couple of reserve days would have been better, but it is what it is now and it’s all fair as long as its consistent.
LikeLike
The main thing is that Samoa give Ireland a kicking.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yes.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Pro, you seem determined to make this personal and only about Scotland.
On one level I obviously want my team to progress fair and square by beating Japan in what has become a knock out fixture. If Japan win or draw or get within seven points in losing then I’ll have no quibbles about that, thems the rulz, no problem.
I’d feel exactly the same whoever the other team involved was, this is not about Japan for me in the slightest.
Having said that, the bigger picture here is that there is a litany of fuckups in the organisation here, there are contingencies for the knock out games, Ireland were under the impression that there was a contingency in place when their game was threatened.
By all means complain about other games being cancelled, I share your frustration, but don’t blame or whine about Scotland, it wasn’t Scotland that cancelled those matches.
If the Scotland Japan game goes ahead, great, there is no problem there, I feel your ire would be more properly directed at why the other games were cancelled rather than one than will probably go ahead
LikeLiked by 4 people
“but you’re talking about one player v 23-odd. Some of whom are also likely to be at their last WC”
It’s not about that, at least I don’t think so Cat. The entire Scotland squad don’t matter here as individuals or as a group, the way things stand is that there is essentially a knock out fixture in the rugby’s premier tournament and they don’t have a contingency in place for a fixture played in typhoon season?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I don’t disagree with any of that, Ticht, I was trying to frame it in sentimental terms. Why is Ghiraldini’s last test more important than a Scottish player’s?
LikeLike
I’m going to go in for a bit of idle speculation here, imagine for a moment the Japanese and Scottish pool standings were reversed.
Who would be determined on this board that the fixture be played by whatever means necessary?
I think world rugby would feel that way too, this is the biggest game in the history of Japanese rugby, it’s bigger than Brighton four years ago, it’s bigger than Ireland two weeks ago.
The other games don’t carry nearly as much weight as this one
LikeLiked by 1 person
Cat, on those terms you are absolutely right.
LikeLike
“who on this board would be determined that the fixture be played by whatever means necessary?”, even,
soz for the grammar catastrophe
LikeLiked by 2 people
Ticht, my view would be the same either way. Once rules are in place (as much as I think they are inadequate) and have been applied to others, exceptions are not really on and I could understand others being put out.
That said, i’d still want them to do it, just not be surprised at or begrudge a back lash.
LikeLike
In shaft/non-shaft terms:
Scotland being eliminated without being eliminated = shaft
Ghiraldini not getting one more cap = non-shaft
LikeLike
The other problem here is that Italy’s game is against the Blackness. Who we know are going to be like Fisto onna rampage against them. As such, we know it’s a loss. Bar a Foinaven type long shot, they’re getting a beating and heading home. This is as close to a foregone conclusion as can be imagined.
Whereas Scotland v Japan isn’t.
Hypothetically, say Italy’s last game was against France, with qualification onna line, I think it’d be less cut and dried.
LikeLike
What ticht said +1
Rest is TL:DR
But I will add my own 2yen worth.
The travesty here is that Tokyo based World Rugby decided to award a RWC to Japan (not in itself a problem per se) but then not planning for any alternatives or changing the calendar (that most fans and unions have been crying out for for a decade or more).
The BS about “developing the game” is just that. If they want to develop the game in Asia then the last place they should support is Japan. The Japan RFU are the worst. Big money cowboys.
They have effectively killed intl 15s in Asia by trying to jump on with Sanzaar (unsuccessfully so far) because they view themselves as “too good” for the rest of the Asian nations.
They ruin regional 7s comps by playing kids and development teams until it matters, and then bring in their imports and wipe the floor with everyone cos they have the money to attract Kiwis, Australians, Tongans etc.. to their comp. Could you imagine say, Irish teams, only agreeing to play a comp if all the refs were Irish? Thats what Japan do (not Irish refs, hope you understand my point). And cos they have the money and sponsorship, its ok…
Oh, but no, the IRB (DBRW) rep in Asia can’t afford to pay for 23 shirts for the Laos team so they play in T-shirts and bibs, but can subsidise the Japanese 7s team to train in Aus.
Ever heard of poaching?: Yeah grannygate, kilted kiwis, English samoans, irish project players, NZ “raping” the islands. Over 100,000 kids on rugby scholarships in Japan. How do we feel about the Toulon comic book guy buying superstars? Nonu. SBW, Giteau and Pocock went to Japan for cultural experience
If the IRB wanted an Asia world cup, then I am 100% in support. Japan should host 1 group, 1 QF, both semis and the final. South Korea, China, HK, Singapore and Malaysia and Sri Lanka should also host games. THAT is growing the game.
The award of the RWC was nothing to do with the worlds 3rd largest economy practicing for the Olympics?
It irks me that many rugby fans (including a few of my Graun/Aod/OB friends who are so astute in other matters) castigate France, Ireland, Aus, NZ, England and so on yet give a free pass to the Japan RU
Rant over. Apologies
{totally not the Japan RU fault for the typhoon and lack of contingency. It is TBWR fault for mindlessly chasing the big bucks in the worlds 3rd biggest economy}
LikeLiked by 3 people
I think this is down more to ignorance than anything else. I didn’t know that about the scholarships, for instance.
LikeLike
I was ignorant of all of that.
But they’re so brave and blossomy!! And so much fun to watch.
I’m guessing in 10 years when they’re smashing everyone and dominating the game with their megabucks we might not be so sentimental.
LikeLike
I don’t think I’d be making a wild prediction when I say that Japan aren’t going to make RWC knockouts on a regular basis. This year is a bit of a perfect storm (pardon the pun) and isn’t the first step to being a rugby giant.
LikeLike
Thanks Yos. So I can go back to liking them again. Phew.
Not that I’m easily led and reactive in any way.
LikeLike
@Dov
IMHO: Not going to happen that in 10yrs they are smashing and dominating.
What will happen it that Japan will consistently be in the top 12 rankings, then there will be a “World league” of 10 or 12 which will demote the 6N to a subsidiary comp. The 4N (rugby champs) will not exist in its current form.
There will be some promotion and relegation for a while, but when Japan and the US get in (at the expense of Scotland/Italy/Fiji/Romania/Georgia/Samoa/ maybe even Wales) it will be ringfenced and rebranded. A lot of promising youngsters from those nations on the outside of the world league will opt to represent those nations who are in
The RWC will stay as a genuine intl comp, but seedings (not to mention player availability) will favour the 10/12 big money teams
In summary: its f@ked.
{and I am not even considering what happens on the club game}
LikeLiked by 1 person
In uber-summary
There has been a professional rugby code for over 100 yrs, and I personally love that code.
But it has led to: 2 disconnected comps, one of which is niche in its own country and the other heading that way; very little meaningful international competition; a powerless world body; complete domination by 1 media company in all comps
In meta summary: RU should have stayed amateur, or at least retained the amateur ethos rather than thinking “yes, we are now soccer” and even less “we’ll be like the NBA/NFL/NHL but worldwide”
LikeLike
Thanks Utna, it’s really interesting to read a “view from on the ground” rather than the fairy tale we get presented with.
As to your long term predictions, I’ve read similar from Scottish fans pushing for huge private investment into Scottish rugby, the logic being that if we don’t we will be left even further behind, to the point that we will not have any professional rugby in Scotland, merely academies for English and French clubs.
Any demotion of Scotland at international level will hasten this scenario.
LikeLiked by 1 person
More French madness: Ramos who had to leave Japan as he was injured – and replaced by Rattez- will play for Toulouse this coming Saturday. Go figure.
I feel sorry for all the players who were to be involved in the cancelled games. And for the fans who travelled all the way to Japan to be confined in their hotels.
I hope Scotland/ Japan will take place, if only for my entertainment. Other results are a bit less important as they were highly unlikely to have changed the pecking order. But still… what a mess. The lack of foreseeing is staggering.
LikeLike
New post in the offing….
LikeLike