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 |
I think a (name your unlikely country) RWC triumph is more plausible than the Dragons reaching mid-table.
LikeLike
McCloskey smashed in the fact by a forearm. Not that he looked like it bothered him.
LikeLike
Apparently that’s not foul play.
LikeLike
McCloskey going off now, looking slightly wobbly.
LikeLike
Taylor Davies goes over for try 5. Another likely hooker from the West. Very disappointed that Daf Hughes isn’t in the starting side. By name alone he should be a top top top top player. Fact.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Just been a late shoulder-barge on the Ulster full-back too, but that’s not interesting either.
LikeLike
Are they playing at the University ground or the White Elephant stadium, thaum?
LikeLike
Nelson Mandela Bay, apparently.
LikeLike
Kings have been a lot better in the second half and were close to scoring a couple of times.
LikeLike
Jonny McNichol is gonna be all right when he gets Welsh soon.
LikeLike
Kings back pulls a hamstring and has to go off, leaving their last replacement to come on … a forward.
LikeLike
Put a stream up on another page. The Big Stadium it is. Gavin Cowley on mic duty. He’s my favourite of the South African commentators.
LikeLike
TRY Ulster. First points of the second half.
LikeLike
Latest news from Scottish supporters on the ground in Japan is the storm has passed and it wasn’t as bad as feared. There was a heck of a lot of rain though, so there is still a chance of flooding and landslides…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good news, Ticht. Fingers crossed for the flooding and landslides not happening.
LikeLike
In this second half, the person with the most time has been the TMO. zzzzzz
LikeLike
Kings try.
Everyone: players, fans, and the ref are likely to die of boredom at this point.
LikeLike
I like Dan Davies a lot, but he’s just … oh, dear … not a good end to a good chase.
LikeLike
54-10 to the Scarlets. Angus O’Brien has improved a little since moving West.
LikeLike
Match over at last. 17-42.
LikeLike
All the best with the recovery slade. My dads hip replacement has been great for him, hope the same for you
LikeLike
That was a brutally efficient effort by Ireland earlier with 14 men
LikeLike
Zebre are sucking quite badly without their internationals
LikeLike
@Chimpie
Ireland’s gameplan is ideally suited to being a man down.
They only use 9 men for much of the time, and with 80%+ possession they are not likely to be caught out in defence,
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think only Elton John could answer a question from Bob Dylan (yes, that one) by comparing writing Tiny Dancer to having a wank….
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/oct/12/this-is-a-very-good-question-bob-dylan-elton-john-interviewed-by-famous-fans
Although I find that song actually a bit boring, compared to most of his other early 70s stuff. Don’t know what that says about my wanking abilities though….
LikeLike
In a slightly more wholesome tone, this is early Sir Elt with added Mick Ronson. About as far away from Don’t Go Breaking My Heart as you can get, thankfully….
LikeLike
More information on Kipchoge’s marathon time:
LikeLike
Glasgow appear up gor this. 14 to 0 after 9 minutes
LikeLike
14 – 7
Could be a high scoring jizz-a-thon this
LikeLike
I’m tired just watching this
LikeLike
Good match this
LikeLike
This
LikeLike
This ‘n’ that
LikeLike
Why do the Welsh keep knocking each other out?
LikeLike
Valleys thing probly
LikeLike
Quitened down after that manic start
LikeLike
Why is it that, whenever I see that we have an attacking lineout on the 5m line I just KNOW that there will a fucking overthrow!
LikeLike
It’s a Scottish thing BB
LikeLike
The commentary on the Glasgow Cardiff game is very good, Gareth Delve is insightful and has two eyes – refreshing
LikeLike
It’s great to see an 18 year old scrum half shouting and bossing hairy arsed old forwards around.
Go Jamie Dobie
LikeLike
Not Martin Williams then?
LikeLike
Definitely not BB, but one of the giys I really admired as a plauer, Stevie Ferris, is the worst
LikeLike
I hate typing on an ipad
LikeLike
Glasgow have lost the breakdown tonight
LikeLike
Sounds as though we’re making heavy weather of this. (No pun intended).
LikeLike
Well that was tight
LikeLike
time for some punk rock
LikeLiked by 2 people
Any idea when the decision on tomorrows matches will be taken ?
Am I correct in thinking that Scotland need a bonus point win, and also need to restrict Japan to only one bonus point to go thru?
LikeLike
Just a win without Japan getting a BP
LikeLike
Don’t know when the shaft / non shaft decision will be made
LikeLike