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 
I see Scotland are the New Evil in the likes of Rees’s eyes and deserve to be knocked out at the earliest opportunity.
Whilst the Brave Blossoms are all that’s good in the world of rugby.
I really hope we piss all over their parade.
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I’m more or less resigned to going out though. Just had a bad feeling about this world cup from the start.
At least Edinburgh are Going Well currently (Glasgow sucking baws in counterpoint).
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With my ‘it’s for the good of the game’ hat on, I’d love to see Japan go through, soz Scotland.
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would be good if we could become Japan’s World Cup Nemesis.
Never been a nemesis before.
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*puts on the ‘it’s for the good for the game’ hat*
Nope, still better for Scotland to win and go through.
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We’ll probably be really poop vs Russia then spank Japan and go out. That would be classic Scotland.
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Chimpie, Fugazifan wrote a good slap down of that idiot Reece’s point, it’s btl, not too far down.
The long and short of it was that the nations league thing would be the shaft of all shafts to sides excluded, Samoa, USA, Georgia, Tonga, Canada etc, they would never get a chance of playing the teams in the club outside of the world cup and they’d get no preparation for the bi-annual playoffs for promotion . T2 sides were not consulted or considered, initially the club wanted the USA to exploit the potential cash mountain there and it was only after huge outrage that Fiji was included instead.
It’s convenient to single Scotland out as the pantomime villain but there is no truth in it.
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No one seems to give a shit about the good of the game in Scotland where we don’t have hugely rich corporations subsidising the pension pots of ex-sanzar internationals
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If Scotland beat Japan well in a display of rugby that suggests they might win a QF then all is well.
A scrappy Scotland win that sneaks them a QF appearance – which they then lose without ever looking like winning – will not be great for rugby.
The hosts going out in tragic circumstances for the second time in a row will leave a big turd in the bowl for the rest of the tournament.
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Pro you are not being truthful with yourself if you think either Scotland or Japan are going to beat New Zealand, it is not happening, end of.
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is there a way they can both go through?
THAT would be good for the game.
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@Ticht.
I know, that whole idea was a crock of poop and it wasn’t just Scotland that torpedoed it for being fundamentally flawed and unfair for numerous tier 2 sides. Anyone who thinks that is an eedjit.
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Dova, if Samoa beat Ireland it’s possible, but that is a vanishingly small likelihood
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“No one seems to give a shit about the good of the game in Scotland where we don’t have hugely rich corporations subsidising the pension pots of ex-sanzar internationals”
The only Japanese team playing meaningful non-domestic rugby against T1 opposition has just been kicked out of Super Rugby.
I’d still say it’s advantage Scotland as far as club rugby is concerned.
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@Dov
Scotland beat Japan and Ireland lose to Samoa.
Or the Ireland / Samoa match gets called off due to a storm or something & they both get 0 points.
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‘I’d still say it’s advantage Scotland as far as club rugby is concerned.’
Pfft. 2 barely funded pro sides vs. a fully pro domestic league sloshing with money? Nonsense.
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The Sunwolves getting kicked out of Super Rugby was Scotland’s fault too, you know. The only thing that matters is the Scotland don’t get out of the pool, even if they beat the side that gets through in their stead
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Oh, and while club rugby in Japan is known for paying high salaries, only the world class foreign players and a very small number of Japanese star players are paid, which means most of the players still play at an amateur level.
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FIFY:
fully pro domestic league sloshing with money = Nonsense.
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Rugby in Scotland is truly in a dire state, as confirmed by their annual report of 2019:
Scottish Rugby’s 2019 – Annual Report highlights:
– Historic net cash debt free.
– Turnover up £3.9m to a record £61.1m
– Most successful season ever for Scotland matches with over 400,000 fans attending six sold out games.
– Continued drive for sustainable clubs with £3.1m invested into grassroots.
– Retention of the Calcutta Cup – first time in 35 years
– Ground-breaking new sponsors and broadcast deal for Scotland Women
– Scotland 7s win Challenge Trophy at two rounds of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series
– Glasgow Warriors reach the Guinness PRO14 Final in front of a record crowd at Celtic Park
– 795 teams in the Mitsubishi Motors UK Schools & Youth Conference from 273 schools and clubs.
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“Oh, and while club rugby in Japan is known for paying high salaries, only the world class foreign players and a very small number of Japanese star players are paid, which means most of the players still play at an amateur level.”
My understanding is that the players are employed by the company that fund’s their team, they are professional in all understandings of the word
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Then your understanding is completely wrong.
Some of the players are employed by the company in the sense that they perform a non-rugby job for the company in addition to playing rugby.
Players (especially older ones) regularly miss training and matches because of conflicting work schedules.
In fact, just this year the JRU officially decided NOT to make club rugby in Japan professional.
Here is a good article arguing that club rugby in Japan should turn professional:
https://www.lawinsport.com/content/sports/item/why-japanese-rugby-needs-to-turn-professional-and-the-legal-challenges-it-could-present
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I already read that article pro.
My problem with what you are saying is that these teams are backed by billion dollar corporations like Suntory and Toyota, which in of itself is not a bad thing, but Edinburgh and Glasgow are entirely dependent on the SRU, Glasgow get around seven thousand through their gates, Edinburgh half that.
Rugby really was nearly dead in Scotland, it was only the private schools that kept it going in the wake of a teacher’s strike in the 80s that killed schools rugby, the clubs had to take it over. Mini rugby is popular in Scotland and the clubs have done a good job in keeping players up to 18 years old, but outside of HBH’s club and a handful of others we are struggling.
I’ve said before my home tome club ran four adult sides from a population of 6k, no there is one. Below the two pro 14 sides there are the brand new super 6, who are yet to play a game, essentially these are six teams with academy prospects and the best club players getting paid three grand a year, below that strict amateurism is being enforced
Given the difference in population it’s not surprising to me that Japan has five times as many adult players as Scotland.
Utna had a far less rose-tinted view on Japanese rugby than we normally read, it was interesting to read from someone with direct experience
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For the record, I enjoy watching Japan, this will be the eighth time we’ve played each other going back 30 years.
I hope we can keep our 100% record but it’s going to be tough, they are a good side with momentum and a huge support
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You see this figure here
“Turnover up £3.9m to a record £61.1m”
That £61M runs the Scotland men’s and women’s squads, it pays for the men’s and women’s sevens squads as well as the Under 20s and now the Super 6 and the academies plus the age group regional teams.
Oh and it funds Edinburgh and Glasgow too.
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Apologies if I seemed snappy.
I can get frustrated when T1 teams bemoan their lack of money / clout.
I know Scotland are not in as great a position as England, France or Ireland, but let’s face it – when it comes to disastrous management, lack of resources and absence of decent numbers of quality players their struggles pale into insignificance compared to Canada and Namibia. Or Samoa.
Even T2 teams with ‘professional’ club competitions are still ‘professional’ only to a certain extent.
While The Bast, Foden and others might be paid reasonably well to play in the MLR, most domestic players work on the side to make ends meet. Joe Taufeete’e was a club bouncer, for example.
Romania has its ‘professional’ super league – but even the ‘star’ foreign players are only on around 1,000 euros a month, if they get paid at all (salaries are regularly delayed, apparently)
And, as we have discussed, most players in Japan are employed by the company that owns (NB not ‘backs’) the team.
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I forgot to mention the numerous bursaries and grants available from the SRU for schools for equipment and itinerant coaches for school that want to “try” rugby which are from traditionally football, and yes shinty, areas
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Since it’s all Scotland this, Scotland that this morning
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Baddies to a man. 6/2 bench split v the minnows is something that only true evil would do.
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Gone Hooker-tastic with Brown at 7. Saving our first choice BR for the weekend.
Think that’s everyone in the squad getting a run out now. If we get some front foot ball (without dropping the pill) those backs can do some damage.
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@yos
And 3 hookers. We’re just the worst.
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No real surprises in that side, resting as many as possible. The six-two split on the bench is interesting, obviously we’re looking to get the job done and get the likes of Brown and Cummings off the park asap
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Going to miss this game completely. Not sure whether that’s a bad or good thing.
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Going to watch us play Japan from behind the sofa.
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It wouldn’t surprise me if Turner plays the full 80, providing we get what we need from the game. Brown will be hooked so one of Bradbury or Ritchie will have to play. Toolis will do the full game
Horne the younger can easily double up on a four day turnaround, so no worries there, probably same for Darcy Graham
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Probably some pinball multiball shenanigans lined up for 2nd half lineouts. This is taking things too far.
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Not only three hookers, but three tighheads, is there no end to Scotland’s depravity?
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“Or the Ireland / Samoa match gets called off due to a storm or something & they both get 0 points.”
Chimpie, have a keek at this
https://www.theoffsideline.com/ireland-hurricane-haggis/
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I’m not sure the Duncan Taylor risk has paid off, it was a big ask for him to come in to a world cup having missed the entirety of last season. Hutchinson was playing very well, he’s a young guy and will be back, and Huw Jones will still be around for a while, but maybe one of them would have been a better option for this tournament.
20/20 hindlegs as Sag would say
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Think we should all club together and get beers delivered to chimpie. He’ll need them but won’t be able to buy them.
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I have beers in the house. Not getting caught out again.
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@Ticht. Yeah, quality player 2 years ago, just don’t think he’s where he was, albeit with little chance to shine. Similar with Barcs. Legend, and should have been at the WC 4 years ago but think there are better options now.
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Chimpie – Remember, if you drink them, you will no longer have any and therefore will need to buy more.
Seems obvious I know, but you’ve struggled with this kind of thing before.
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Shit, Dov.
That’s just made things complicated. What do I do?
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So, where does this leave the state of play for this week, with a few QF spots still up for grabs?
Pool A – Scotland will dump all sorts on Russia to set up the tantalising final match against Japan after Ireland grimly stamp their authority (and probably much else too, the Unsmiling Bastards) on Samoa in midweek confirming their place in the QF. Neil Francis, I think, says the only way they’ll prolong that is booking the return flights through Thomas Cook. Japan, with the luxury of a few extra days turnaround, will be almost favourites to turn over Scotland, possibly topping the group too. I hope so, the hosts will fancy another crack at the Blunderboks en route to a semi.
Pool B – The Boks are under immense pressure to get 5 points against Canada tomorrow to ensure they get through. Steve Hansen would like nothing more than allowing Italy safe passage at our expense, so they’ll definitely throw the match if there is a chance of Italy going through. Definitely. Underhanded Bastards. But the Boks will prevail, finishing 2nd to the reigning evil and a repeat of Brighton in the offing against the Billionaire Bastard Blossoms and their ersatz squad. Kiwis will stroll past Italy and hopefully be completely underdone for the likely match against Ireland.
Pool C – England have the group wrapped up and will doubtless hammer an utterly inept France in their final Group match to lay down a serious marker for the knockouts. Eddie’s Bastards, as they’re known to everyone outside the reaches of Hadrian’s Wall, the Severn Estuary and La Manche, will go into the QFs cock-a-hoop and more underdone than a bleu steak. France bumble into the QF courtesy of Argentina being an overrated club side.
Pool D – Fiji have an outside chance of pipping Wales to the 2nd spot, but Wales would have to lose to Uruguay for that to happen. The Bastards, as they’re known to everyone (either for fielding players from Cardiff, if you’re from the other regions, or for fielding non-Cardiff players if you’re from the Capital, or for being Welsh if you’re anyone else) will brutalise Uruguay to make it through, regardless of what happens against Fiji. Australia are through, barring a cyclone and will probably have what’s left of the French squad for breakfast.
So, the line-up, after this week’s matches looks like this:
Underhanded Bastards vs Unsmiling Bastards
Billionaire Bastard Blossoms vs Cuddly Springboks
Eddie’s Bastards vs The Bastards
Le Bastards vs Wannabe Underhanded Bastards
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I mentioned the appalling indecision by the refs in the NRL Grand Final at the weekend that ended up with Canberra thinking they had another set of six, not knowing the ref had changed his mind without telling them. Of course the Roosters then scored the winning trees from the next set of six from the handover. There was also this beauty – one of the most annoying parts of modern RL is the fact there appears to be a trainer permanently on the pitch coaching the players in attack. Canberra charged down a Roosters kick which would have led to an almost certain try for Elliot Whitehead. Except the Roosters trainer got in the way and stopped it. And the Roosters got the put in to the resulting scrum as well.
https://www.foxsports.com.au/video/league/nrl/did-a-falcon-rob-the-raiders!749936
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Nice summary DeeBee. I think you have your predictions pretty much spot on as well.
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Actually, no you don’t. You have Wales and Australia mixed up.
Don’t you?
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Deebee hates Scotland too.
*puts him on the list*
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Ireland also used this innovative method by sneakily putting a member of their non-playing staff on the pitch v Scotland. They even went so far as to give him the number 10 shirt.
Joe is a genius.
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