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 |
Ooh, another forward pass by Parkes in that one.
LikeLike
Nice of Gardner to run a blocking line for that try, makes up for pinging JD for a legit steal
LikeLike
Looked like there might have been another forward pass from Hadleigh in the build-up.
LikeLike
Gardner’s got in the way a couple of times today.
LikeLike
Good use of the ref from TW.
LikeLike
Faletau! *Sighs*.
LikeLike
Shane disagrees, thinks he was trying to stop him.
LikeLike
Amos!
Urrrrrr.
LikeLike
Carré covering 12 next week confirmed
LikeLiked by 1 person
That was just piss-poor by Amos.
LikeLike
*Fires Amos into the Blues*
LikeLiked by 4 people
Village level. Just. He’s been beyond poor
LikeLike
#clutches at straws
Tomos Williams has been good off the bench. As has Carre. Halfpenny has been solid
Adams good as always
#clutches at straws ends
Amos has had one of the worst games I have ever seen.
LikeLike
He’s had a stinker.
LikeLike
Carre loves busting through Uruguayans.
LikeLike
My stream died about 3 minutes ago. Good.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That was cheeky.
LikeLike
Gareth Davies scores a great solo try to end the game.
LikeLike
The scoreboard does lie afterall.
LikeLike
Being pedantic, he didn’t take the penalty through the mark
LikeLike
Let Brad kick the conversion.
LikeLike
I think 35-13 flatters Wales. They made awful hard work of that and Uruguay put in another strong performance.
LikeLike
Carre to bench next week. That’s the only mover.
LikeLike
So, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels v All That Is Good next up
LikeLike
More about Uruguay than Wales. They did all right and some bright sparks of play along with the fierce defence.
Kearns mixing up his Adamses and Amoses.
LikeLike
Great game across the board by Uruguay, Wales a bit disjointed, but a scratch team and plucky underdog opposition made them work for it. Also policy to run everything and not kick for territory probably didn’t help.
Potentially the best game of the tournament coming up, you would be daft to miss it.
LikeLike
@yosoy
I think Beard to bench also in place of Shingler
LikeLike
I thought James Davies brought some control at the breakdown, Tipuric was getting outmuscled by Uruguay wingers at the ruck
LikeLike
I’ll take three penalties from Mr Greig for 9-0
LikeLike
Wainwright, Navidi and ? for the back row next week.
LikeLike
@utna
Yes, forgot about the need for a proper lock.
Can we send Amos home (but not to Cardiff) just to rid the squad of any bad vibes?
LikeLike
@Enzo
Tipuric. Don’t even have to think about it.
LikeLike
Iks – it’s possible.
LikeLike
LikeLiked by 9 people
Karma doesn’t exist.
Lawyered up whiners > Plucky T2 Pasifika child slavers by 20
Hogg bounce and assistant referee Laidlaw to feature heavily.
I just managed to row 2km on the machine in 6.43.
There is very little that could displease me today after such a fantastic date night with Mrs ‘Pro and confirmation of my elite level fitness at age 40 this morning.
Bring on the Hoggbounce!
LikeLike
The 7 Virtues of the Samurai Warrior? Fuck me.
LikeLike
The Canadian team have been out filling sandbags and helping clear up the typhoon damage today.
Not a single moan about the game being cancelled, no lawyers involved, just straight out to help with the recovery.
LikeLike
Admirable from the Canadians. They really do need better lawyers.
LikeLiked by 5 people
Hyperbole alert
This is one of our sport’s biggest games
LikeLike
Big Jim has warned against getting overexcited and picking up yellow or red cards…
LikeLiked by 2 people
I’m excited.
LikeLike
This is exciting.
LikeLike
Yellow for Larry.
LikeLike
Oh, Japan anthem first
Scotland are good at home
LikeLike
I suppose my premium skin is in wanting Ireland to win the group. That requires Scotland to win this match and Japan to get one bp or none. However, either of these two teams can progress in those circumstances.
Japan anthem is a bit slow. Mildly dirgesque. Like a better GSTQ.
LikeLike
“Like a better GSTQ.”
That’s a low bar
LikeLiked by 1 person
Japan need two bonus points to go ahead of Ireland, no?
LikeLike
Is it true that Hallan Amos turned up to lend a hand only to fall over thin air and simultaneously burst the three largest dams in Japan?
LikeLiked by 6 people
@tomp – yes.
LikeLike
Cmon Scotland. And Japan. Be gutted for whoever goes out.
LikeLike