In their infinite wisdom, World Rugby chose to schedule the World Cup in a country that is prone to typhoons at this time of year, and to make absolutely no contingency plans should a typhoon threaten.
In a development that appears to have taken the organisers completely by surprise, there is a typhoon headed in Japan’s direction, and two matches have been cancelled, with Japan v Scotland still in doubt.
France will miss out on the possibility of beating England to top their group, and Italy will miss out on a historic chance to beat the All-Blacks and progress to the quarter-finals for the first time.
All right, nobody thinks that Italy would have beaten New Zealand, but it’s a funny old game and a couple of red cards, or another sneaky peek at the rule-book, could have produced the upset of the century. Apparently we’ll never know.
As Parisse said:
“It is ridiculous that a decision of this nature has been made because it isn’t like the fans arrived yesterday. It is ridiculous that there was no plan B, because it isn’t news that typhoons hit Japan.
“Sure everyone might think that Italy versus New Zealand being cancelled counts for nothing because we’d have lost anyway, but we deserved to be respected as a team. We had the chance to play in a big stadium, against a great team.
“The alternative is plan B. When you organise a World Cup you should have one in place.”
Should the Japan v Scotland match be cancelled, all three teams in Pool A contention will have reason to feel aggrieved also: Scotland for obvious reasons, Japan because it is not the way you’d want to go through, and Ireland because they miss the chance to top the pool (that being in Scotland’s gift, rather than Ireland’s hands, of course).
Quite frankly, World Cup should be handed a red card for bringing the game into disrepute. Players and fans alike (and no doubt the sponsors too) are rightly furious.
These matches should be rescheduled in alternative locations.
Last weekend’s rugby
For a rundown on the state of play as of 07/10, please see Deebee’s excellent synopsis.
On the telly this week … or not
Friday 11th October
| Australia 27 – 8 Georgia | 11:15 | ITV4 |
| Cheetahs 40 – 16 Munster | 17:15 | Premier Sports 1 |
| Dragons 14 – 38 Connacht | 19:35 | Premier Sports 2 / TG4 / S4C |
| Leinster 40 – 14 Edinburgh | 19:35 | Premier Sports 1 |
| Gloucester 24 – 26 Bath | 19:45 | BT Sport 1 |
Saturday 12th October
| New Zealand v Italy | 05:45 | CANCELLED |
| England v France | 09:15 | CANCELLED |
| Ireland 47 – 5 Samoa | 11:45 | ITV |
| Kings 17 – 42 Ulster | 15:00 | Premier Sports 2 |
| Scarlets 54 – 10 Zebre | 15:00 | Freesports |
| Ospreys v Treviso | 19:35 | Premier Sports 2 |
| Glasgow v Cardiff | 19:35 | Premier Sports 1 |
Sunday 13th October
| Namibia v Canada | 04:15 | ITV |
| USA v Tonga | 06:45 | ITV |
| Wales v Uruguay | 09:10 | ITV / S4C |
| Japan v Scotland | 11:45 | ITV |
Furlong is quite something, all round best Tichtheid in the game
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2nd try to Ireland. They put the ball towards the corner, but their maul collapses legally. They recycle the ball across the pitch and Furlong takes the ball at speed. He bounces out of a couple of tackles and gets the ball over the line.
14-0
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Furlong boshes his way off. Good finish.
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Furlong show and go, breaks a few tackles to score. Great try
14-0
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I agree, Utna, but I also see the point the commentators made in that the speed and intent of the tackler to make a dominant hit meant he couldn’t adjust his position when making the tackle.
This is something I’ve been thinking about for a while, how to make the tackle safer, we used to take huge guys head on by using almost judo style, using the ball carrier’s momentum against him, take the hit, fall backwards and roll him onto your side of the ensuing ruck in one go. No it’s all about hitting the carrier backwards, which is fun, I have to admit
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Almost an intercept by Samoa, after Aki throws a speculative pass across the pitch. Sexton kicks the ball dead, from the resulting penalty and Samoa get a scrum in mid-field.
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Ireland get a penalty for a deliberate knock-on. Think the Samoan defender could have gone for the intercept.
Sexton shanks the kick to touch.
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@Ticht – on the Blood & Mud podcast, they made the point that the ‘dominant hit’ is part of the problem with these tackles.
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I think so too, refit, but how do we change it? It’s not easy to legislate against
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Ryan with a super steal at a line out, then Earls with a good catch after a Murray box kick. Followed by a long Murray kick to the Samoa 22. Solid rugby.
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Ireland and Samoa both at 80% on tackle completion. Samoa have made 32, missed 8. Ireland have made 4.
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@ticht
The thing is, in those days, rolling the bal carrier to your side was a massive advantage. He had to release immediately and the ball was exposed to your sides ruckers (actual rucking)
Dean Richards, the Leicester and England no8 was a master of this bear hug style tackle
Now, the tackler must roll away immediately and the carrier can hold, roll or even crawl to present the ball for his sides clearers. The old style tackle gives no advantage
Nowadays the hit, driving the guy backwards, gives your jackler a good shot at the ball and makes it difficult for the carrier side clearers to get over the ball quickly
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Oh, very sexy from Larmour
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3rd try. Ireland are through.
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Larmour takes a lovely outside to inside line, on the edge of the Samoa 22, and gets past the defender. Sexton’s on his shoulder and get the pass for an easy run-in.
21-0. 22 mins played
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Nice run from Lamour. Sexton scores on the inside support line
Very weak defence from Samoa, though. They already look demoralised
21-0
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Samoa get some points! From a penalty, the put the ball towards the corner. Ireland defend well initially, but Jack Lam gets driven over the line.
21-5
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Jack Lam scores.
He’s out of contract at the moment. Here’s why:
He received offers from a couple of clubs in France but said he turned them down in order to play for Samoa.
“It was a no-brainer for me.
“There was a couple of contracts in France that I could have taken but they had the condition that I had to turn down the World Cup and (the chance to) play for Samoa – in the future as well – but I just couldn’t do that, seeing I still had too much to offer in the jersey and it just didn’t cross my mind,” Lam said.
“It was a bit of a risk coming, especially for my family, but (my) missus and family are all behind with by decision.”
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/400823/rugby-world-cup-jack-lam-puts-manu-before-money
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There is some truly dire passing by Ireland. One of which results in an injury to a Samoan player, as he picks up a low ball and gets clattered by Aki. TMO is checking.
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Definite red
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Aki for the bin now
I just looked him up and I share his birthday
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Henshaw should get any card going here.
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Aki red card
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TomP, that’s very interesting, it’s been rumoured for a long time that clubs were insisting players give up international aspirations, I think that is the first time I’ve seen it confirmed
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It’s Ulupano Seuteni that is injured. On review it doesn’t seem that he was that low. Aki is ruled to have made direct contact with the head, with not enough mitigation and it’s a red card.
Ireland down to 14 for the remaining 50+ mins.
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Fair decision.
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I think he’s unfortunate because of the way the situation developed in front of him. It’s high and dangerous though.
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Ouch. Hope Sueteni is okay.
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There seem to be some Japanese people in the stands supporting Ireland! Very courteous of them.
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What the hell’s happened to our passing?
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Ticht,
Trevor Leota had to pull out one World Cup because Wasps wouldn’t pay if he were to go. Not exactly the same but a variation,
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82% Possession for Ireland.
Samoa need to hold their discipline when Ireland go through their one out phases around halfway.
If they can avoid being penalised Ireland look likely to drop the ball if they attempt to move it wider.
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Must find a pub. With TV.
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I thought Larmour would score there,
but it was a false aLarmour
(sorry)
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Good passage of play. Ireland very vigorous in attack and recycling the ball well. Samoa’s defence solid enough to hold out.
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And there’s the fourth try. Mind you, we still need to win this with 14 men.
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Sexton with a very good finish straight off 9 at the scrum.
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Japan’s ‘captain’s run’ :
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26-5 at the Sea Urchin Uteruses.
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I’m sure the pitch will be fine though.
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No way was Sexton 5m behind the himdmost foot at that scrum when the ball emerged.
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Refit, I’ve been keeping one eye on the latest from Tokyo and surrounding area, I can’t see the game going ahead.
Shame, but there we are.
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“No way was Sexton 5m behind the himdmost foot at that scrum when the ball emerged.”
I’ve seen this penalised once. In a Varsity Cup game in South Africa. The player who offended (and then scored) was quite bemused.
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Tommy Bowe is a rubbish host.
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@Tomp
Yeah, very rare for an attacking team to be penalised for off side at scrum or lineout
That one was blatant, though.
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That was made for this TMO, who enjoys his part in the game,.
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Super pass from Murray to Larmour
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Another try for Ireland. Lamour over in the corner after sustained pressure for around 5 mins deep in Samoas 22
33-5
Ireland will start cotton wooling players now
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This is v impressive from Ireland, Wales hugged and puffed with 15 against Fiji
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Best & Sexton first to be cotton-wooled.
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