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 |
Murray off too.
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Samoa constantly infringing. Giving up loads and loads of territory.
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“Must find a pub. With TV.”
In pub with tv. No Bundesliga. Holger the barman ex-rugby player. Rumours abound that next 6N blog meet should be in Heidelberg.
*Stop press* blue skies and 22 degrees today.
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Heidelberg? Why not! Never been there.
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Samoa could be going down to 13 here.
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Just a penalty.
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Try comes at last through Stander.
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mmm…… heidelberg………………printing presses…………………wonderful things o see in action!
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Stander crosses for Ireland
Seems like the whole game being played in the Samoan 22
15 mins to go
40-5
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Stander scores. After what seems like decades of Ireland attack on the Samoa line.
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Aaaaand, we’re back in the Samoan 22 with a line-out. Rinse and repeat.
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Oh, not quite the 22.
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back from hospital with new hip…………………………..progress each day but seems a way to go!
French health system came up trumps – home nurse visits and 30 physio sessions with taxi thrown in.
Currently on lots of pain killers so may be writing drivel………………………….
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Nice moment there. Samoan right wing putting his boot back on. Ireland kick his way. He drops the boot, catches the kick, passes to a teammate then goes back to doing his laces
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Try through the backs this time! Chip-through for Conway to touch down.
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Conway scores. Carberry puts it through and Conway scoots on to the ball.
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I’d put McGrath as 4th best Irish scrum half.
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TomP – yep, me too. Murray, Cooney, Marmion, McGrath.
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I think he dropped that.
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He did.
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Shame. Tough technical decision.
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“Currently on lots of pain killers so may be writing drivel”
At least you have an excuse. All the best!
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Congrats on new hip, Slade!
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Pretty DOMINANT peformance by Ireland. 47-5 win with 14 men for the most part.
Will get a lot of confidence from that heading into the QF
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There’s a home at the Drags for Jack Lam.
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iks / thaum – thanks people!
currently sporting stretchy white full length pressure stockings in white – straight out of blackadder regency period!
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Moneyball rugby: https://therugbymagazine.com/international/gain-line-analytics-why-england-and-frances-world-cup-contenders-need-to-play-them-sooner-rather-than-later
I don’t buy it all. There’s a grain of truth but …
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Nice one, Sladey. Discotheque round yours next week?
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I should say so TomP. Here’s an appropriate homage from an appropriate band to tight-fitting stockings…
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And getting that hip moving, gradually…
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Bimey! Missed the first two minutes and Ulster already have a try.
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“Currently on lots of pain killers so may be writing drivel”
*ignores open goal*
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Good luck with the recovery, Slade
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*likes own post*
Hooray, it works!
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Second try for Ulster, which I also missed because the stream froze.
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Third try! Saw this one: it was a team effort culminating in Herring running it over the line.
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Wow, Ulster have started well
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Big difference from last week! Big difference in the opposition too, mind.
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After a period of pressure from the Kings, Ulster regain the ball through a Kings mistake, and appear to have scored the BP try. TMO looking.
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Try is good. It’s 3-28 at 31 mins.
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Fantastic! Brilliant from Coetzee to put Cooney with a couple of defenders that he manages to beat.
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Well, that was slightly incoherent, but you’ll know what it means. 3-35.
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Kings get a try!
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Well, that was slightly incoherent,
Are you watching the match chez Slade, Thaum?
PS Good luck with the recovery, Slade.
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Are the Kings so much worse than the Drags?
Asking for a Region.
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LADOAB – Slade has selfishly not shared any of his strong painkillers with me.
Iks – They are pretty poor! But they do have quick backs if they get the ball.
10-35 at HT.
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Ulster are much better than Connacht, Iksy.
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Scarlets are 26-10 up, bonus point already. Ryan Combeer looking decent.
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Strange days when a Welsh RWC triumph is more plausible than the Drags reaching mid-table.
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I’m hoping it’ll be Ireland v Wales in the final. Failing that, a rematch of Ireland v Japan.
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