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 |
Very good game so far. All Tonga for 20 mins, but only 1 try to show for it. Tonga bombed a few chances, but USA errors kept giving them the ball back
Then passes start sticking for the US and they score two very good tries
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Had Blaine Scully not been replaced by Te’o, and had he caught both those scoring passes he would be joint top try scorer in the competition.
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@Tom
He’s a physics guy so yeah probably.
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Welcome back Killer. How’s life treating you?
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Veainu is great to watcch.
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Yo Refit. Life is acceptable. Still living the dream. Spending a lot of time in US on business these days. Go Eagles!
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Ah, fuck me! Fatty cant even flop over the line for Tonga without spilling it! That was hopeless.
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Great from US 9
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“it was try no 2 all right, but he’s made a no. 2 of it”
A Mehrtens
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Bizarre logic from Owens, they have knock-on advantage so don’t play the ball.
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US look great in little sections but basics not there; scrum, lineout, first-up defence.
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Entertaining half. Tonga playing an attractive game but making too many errors.
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USA leading 12-7 at half time. This is a fun match.
Jet-set Killer? Nice dude.
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Morning regulars and esteemed guests.
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I fear the wind (against the US in the second half) and short turnaround will do for us in the second half.
We are still missing too many tackles,
Losing our best scrummaging prop to injury has not helped.
In exactly half of our WC games we have lost a prop to injury in the first quarter.
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Al Jiboori has carried the ball well.
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Excellent defensive work from Bryce Campbell – 12 tackles made.
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“In exactly half of our WC games we have lost a prop to injury in the first quarter.”
Italy lost 2 props to injury v SA. Not good to be a prop in a ‘pro-favoured side.
WP Nel for a hat-trick later.
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I expect Scotland to win later and have decided to go to the gym instead of watching.
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Wow. USA missed 31 tackles in the first half.
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Fantastic kick into the wind by De Haas
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Missed the first half. See what you mean about that last pass!
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Ach. Veainu blows a great chance with a pass into touch,
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We seem to be missing tackles yet also defending really well.
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Fantastic.
Long, long attack by the Americans. Civetta drops 5 out and Tonga punt downfield, chase and score.
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US look tired. No wins from 4 suddenly looks on the cards.
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We are going to tire now.
fucked by the short turnaround.
I can see them pulling away to win by 20.
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Tonga back in the lead!
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USA should be relegated to tier 3. Getting totally owned here.
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Captain birthday score!
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Piutau scores on his birthday in his last test. He’s played very well. 24-10 now. Now way back for the USA.
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Inside center shouldn’t be missing his man there. They desperately need D training.
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24-12, my apologies.
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Another great try by Tonga! Just about done enough now, but in reality should have sewn this match up in the 1st half, but for butterfingers.
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Playing Tonga after a 3 day rest is not ideal for any team.
We should have played the reserves against Argentina
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MacGinty would be a really good international outside half if he was quicker.
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I think MacG has played some nice stuff.
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“They desperately need D training”
They have a defence coach you might have heard of – his name is Jacques Fourie
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All the players looking stuffed with 15 to go. Lots of happy Americans being shown in the crowd during an injury break. Have they looked at the scoreboard I wonder?
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He was a fine player, clearly over his head as a coach.
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Jesse Pinkerman comes on and immediately goes for the line. Can’t crack it.
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Gary looking a whiter shade of pale rather than Gold.
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@Pro I ain’t dissing the Yanks. I look at them and think: how do they make a dent in 2023?
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Ridiculous penalty Nige
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Enjoyable contest, regardless.
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Good work by Nasi Manu at the breakdown 5 out. Very pleased to see him playing and doing neat stuff.
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Killer!
A welcome return.
I’m glad Scotland’s predicament is to be decided on the park, but now I have The Fear
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Agree with Iks. Often the tier 2 games are better to watch because the cheating isn’t as professionally executed.
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Nasi Manu was All Black material, just never caught the breaks
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@Ticht the FEAR is real. This Japan side are a relentless proposition.
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