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 
Chapel sucks the life out of my Sundays.
And now we’re not playing knock ons.
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Get in. Very decent attacking by Tonga.
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Boo.
Looks like England’ll have to win 3 proper Tests in a row to win the Cup.
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Obviously not counting the France game as a proper test then?
Actually, having watched them today, you may be right.
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Paul Rees
“Scotland will be returning to Yokohama, venue of their opening weekend defeat, to face Japan. Few neutrals will be rooting for them and for many it would be karma if the country behind the collapse of the nations league, and the pathway to the top for emerging nations, were knocked out by a tier-two country.”
The man’s an arse.
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NRL Grand Final this morning. Some magnificently inept refereeing saw the ref award 6 more tackles to Canberra and then changing his mind without telling the players. From the resulting handover the Roosters scored the winning try
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Pro- are you going to watch the NFL today- it’s the bears, who I have a soft spot for, based entirely on Walter Payton and William Perry.
Remember staying up late to watch Super Bowl XX.
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Read Rees’ drivel today. I remember next to nothing about the Nations League thing other than that it was a blatant cash grab by the SANZAAR federations and everybody hated it.
Strikes me as harsh to blame Scotland for its failure.
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Cat – he’s mentioned it on more than one occasion during this RWC.
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Ratings update:
Good:
NZ
SA
Wales
Japan
Meh:
England
Italy
Shit:
Russia
Namibia
Australia
Canada
Tonga
France
USA
Ireland
Scotland
Argentina
Samoa
Fiji
Impossible to rate:
Uruguay
Scotland will go up to meh when they tonk Russia.
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@BB
Rees or Pro?
If Rees, I’m certain that he’s the only person in the world who cares.
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Rees.
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Cat:
USA 9 France 12 with 16 minutes to play.
They gave France quite a scare.
Not exactly sure they were ‘shit’.
They’ll certainly fancy their chances against a disappointed Argentina.
Although they’ll probably have to rest starters to stand a chance of beating Tonga 4 days later.
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Both the Italian props who lifted and spiked Vermeulen have been banned for 3 matches.
The players will both miss Italy’s remaining pool match against New Zealand on 12 October. The balance of the suspension will be served in the Rugby World Cup quarter and semi-final should Italy progress. If Italy does not progress, the balance of the suspensions will be served in the players’ upcoming PRO14 matches.
With two other props injured in that game the Italians have had to call up two youngsters from back home to play against NZ.
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These guys can count themselves very lucky to only get a three match ban
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Ginger Baker RIP. Great drummer and non-glad-sufferer-of-fools
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Wolves are now my 2nd favourite EPL team.
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Mini Vunipola looks like quite a sharp player.
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The mighty Wolves, that is. Not having much luck with watching my teams this weekend. Drags video plans fail, and now out in the boozer to stream the Wolves match live thinking it was a tea-time kick off. Rats.
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And in the other big RL news of the day Oldham Roughyeds beat Newcastle Thunder 18-14 in the Betfred League 1 play off final to get promoted to the Championship.
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Mighty indeed, MrIks!
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@OT – they’ll get to play the likes of York again!
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Squidge! Wales! Squidge!
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Refit, here’s an interview with your boy: https://www.rugbyworld.com/tournaments/rugby-world-cup-2019/rise-rugby-youtuber-103879
i like the bit about his dad tuning into Radio Wales in the car. My old man used to do exactly the same thing.
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World Rugby offers 3 minutes 28 seconds of highlights of NZ v Namibia. Very tight on the Haka, only 30 seconds.
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Who could have predicted the length of those bans? Unprecedented.
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OT – wish I hadn’t watched that. The great Ginger Baker came across as a bit of twat, really.
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@thaum
There’s another one where he is being interviewed by Chad Smith and he’s even worse in that one.
And ANOTHER one where he slags off John Bonham because he, apparently, couldn’t play swing very well. Which kind of misses the point of John Bonham.
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I guess this is what World Rugby are trying to avoid:
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OT – aye, John Bonham was perfect at what he did.
Ginger Baker was also a real great; loved him.
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John Bonham – brilliant drummer, but a bit of a twat
Ginger Baker – brilliant drummer, but a bit of a twat.
Bloody drummers…
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Cat – I’ve killed Micolash and found the secret path to Brain of Mensis but ran out of sedatives though so couldn’t get past the winter lanterns. I feel that I’m close to the finish now. Unless this is all an elaborate dead end and the main game is turning left at some point I missed. Wouldn’t put it past the game’s designers tbh.
My path to greatness is as follows:
– go back to the Upper Cathedral Ward and get the Cosmic Eye Watcher Badge
– buy lots of Sedatives from the messangers
– kill Winter Lanterns and spiders then release Brain of Mensis
– get Blood Rock and upgrade axe
– make contact with Brain of Mensis and then kill it
– kill Ebrietas and resurrect Annalise
– find Alfred’s remains
– kill Mergo’s Wet Nurse
– kill Gehrman
– kill the final boss
Then take a break and play some normal games….
– Start the First Hunters DLC.
I might also buy the Blades of Mercy.
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@craigs-
No, you’re there. The only thing is I don’t think you have enough umbilical cords to summon the Moon Presence. Cos you wasted the hooker. Fauxesfka has one, so get that and that may be enough. (Also, well worth seeing).
You also have to kill Queen Yharnam in the last chalice, but it’s entirely understandable if you fuck that off.
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Granny crack dealer gives you sedatives, BTW.
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GOOD:
England
All Blacks (for 8.5 minutes over three games, or 6 min excluding haka time)
John Bonham
The France That Won’t Turn Up in the QF
Craigsman
MEH:
Granny Crack Dealer
Alfred’s Remains
Ginger Baker
Rugby
SHIT:
Winter Lanterns
Blood Rock
Mergo’s Wet Nurse
The Other France
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You have to fancy Canada’s chances…
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Cat – I got the umbilical chord from iosefka aa while back. I probably need about 6-7 sedatives so was thinking that getting the badge would be easier.
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You don’t need that many.
Sell all your insight. Use Ashen Hunter gear. That stops frenzy rising. The Lanterns are vulnerable to thrust attacks- it breaks their attack. You should be able to take them and only use 1 per lantern. There’s only 2 you actually need to worry about.
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Don’t kill Gherman if you want to do old hunters. It automatically triggers NG+ and the OH is hard enough in NG.
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But, but I hate the fucking lanterns!! Worse than any other beast in the game.
BTW why would you want the Yarnham stone? I can’t find any information on what it does.
Don’t kill Gherman if you want to do old hunters.
Damn.
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“Don’t kill Gherman if you want to do old hunters”
Karl.
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Wales: L Williams; North, Jonathan Davies, Parkes, Adams; Biggar, G Davies; Wyn Jones, Owens, Francis, Ball, Alun Wyn Jones (C), Navidi, James Davies, Moriarty.
Replacements: Carre, Dee, Lewis, Shingler, Wainwright, T Williams, Patchell, Watkin.
Fiji: Murimurivalu; Tuisova, Nayacalevu, Botia, Radradra; Volavola, Lomani; Ma’afu, S Matavesi, Saulo, Cavubati, Nakarawa, Waqaniburotu (C), Kunatani, Mata
Replacements: Dolokoto, Mawi, Ravai, Ratuniyarawa, Yato, Matawalu, Vatubua, J Matavesi
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Fear fear fear fear. FEAR!
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USA (v Argentina)
1. Fry
2. Taufeete’e
3, Lamositele
4. Brakely
5. Peterson
6. Lamborn
7. Germishuys
8. Dolan
9. De Haas
10. McGinty
11. Brache
12. Lasike
13, Campbell
14. Scully (c)
15. Te’o
16. Fawsitt
17. Kilifi
18. Mullen
19. Landry
20. Pinkelman
21. Augspurger
22. Hooley
23. Iosefo
Considering we have Tonga just 3 days after this fixture Gary Gold is not resting many dedicated starters. Probably only Civetta and Davies left out altogether, with Hooley being eased back in off the bench.
Assuming that the US camp reckon Argentina might be vulnerable and fancy a crack at them.
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They say Fear is a man’s best friend. Different punctuation, mind.
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Moriarty and James Davies into the back row. Tiddlers Davies and Navidi playing as high-tackle bait no doubt. Hope Moriarty isn’t too fired up to get his place back.
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I’m relaxed. I’ve put the numbers through the quantum computer and the results speak for themselves.
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Wales by 14
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