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 |
If Japan score 4 tries, but still lose by >8 – do they still go through?
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Feeling for the Scots posters here but this is a scorcher for a neutral.
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And another incredible try by Japan.
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@Ticht – the RWC website is actually quite good for live match stats.
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Nice try, Russell.
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Russell drops it, but that raking kick through for Graham is not being covered by Japan
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Eek we’re getting shredded
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Cheers refit, 68% territory and possession for Japan
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“If Japan score 4 tries, but still lose by >8 – do they still go through?”
‘pro, yes, if Scotland don’t score 4 themselves. Scotland need to be 4 match points clear of Japan in this game.
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Gray got away with one there.
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Think ref has that right.
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“Think ref has that right.”
Translation – I’d rather Ireland played South Africa than the All Blacks,
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75% possession. Jeez
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@Chimpie
But only 1 score ahead. Possession will turn ar some point
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Russell needs to sort himself out. He’s getting frustrated about correct calls by O’Keefe.
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We’ve lost the officials at the scrum
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Dell better watch the ref doesn’t notice his reactions.
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Russell has been a bit unlucky with those situations though.
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Noice
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So simple yet so effective
We’re going home
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Bounce didnt favour Hogg there!
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Scotland have to feel a little relieved after that miss.And then Japan score!
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Scottish bounce
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@tomp – no, translation was that I think he’s got it right.
Lovely score again from Japan.
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We’re waaaay off the pace.
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This is some of the best attacking rugby I have ever seen.
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I dont like Japan rugby, but must admit they play a great style.
Wonderful to see a backline play with depth and simple passes in front of the man. Great stuff.
Scotland need to calm down. They are rattled now
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All drift on the defence. No one forces anything on the Japanese. Lucky bounce but a slightly too easy a try.
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Don’t know many teams that could survive the speed and quality of continuity Japan bring to this game.
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This is just great stuff from Japan. Damn them!
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Japan are getting numbers on us out wide far too easily
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Quite agree pro. The Japanese handling in the backs is the best I’ve seen at this world cup. Bar none
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I thought they might implode with the emotion, and it’s been the opposite.
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Fantastic first half for Japan. Sccotland are a second half side so fingers crossed for them. At the moment they’re just too slow and too passive to stop the Japanese attack.
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Utna, may I ask what it is you don’t like about Japan rugby?
It seems to me fast, intelligent, powerful and clean.
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Apart from the first 10 minutes we have been absolute shite. And Japan have been absolutely brilliant. If we get anything out of this game it will be a bloody miracle.
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Wow, Le Genie needs to pull something out of the bag here. Not just no posession, huge amount of tackling, but got the ref pissed at scrum time too. Empty the bench of forwards, Toonie.
Have to say would penalise Scotland at every scrum for delaying the crouch. I see a few teams doing this, waiting 3 or 4 seconds after the refs call and the other side goes down, reckon it gives a bit of an advantage.
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@flair
Big boys of Asian rugby and not shy about throwing their off-pitch weight around.
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Scottish defensive line going backwards when Japan attacked for the third try. Not good at all.
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Loving how the Japanese props are running clever lines in midfield and busting over the gain line.
Great hands.
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17 (Seventeen(!!!)) tackles by Jamie Ritchie in the first half.
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“Scottish defensive line going backwards when Japan attacked for the third try. Not good at all.”
Budget stuff. Maybe a bit leggy and/or looking at the clock thinking the half was basically over.
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I love Japan’s second try, the short passing from the forwards is just wonderful. For the others I don’t know why Scotland are getting caught short out wide so easily, they have to do something about it or they’re going to get thrashed.
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Other stats. Japan made 28 tackles and kicked 4 times in that half. Scotland, 112 and 11, respectively. Hint to Scotland, try and keep the ball in hand.
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@SBT – ” got the ref pissed at scrum time too”
According to Flatman Alan Dell is creeping because he doesn’t want the big man firing into him. Make of that what you will.
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We are only getting the ball in our own half, Tom, that’s what those stats don’t tell you
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Japanese props also running very clever bordeline interference/blocking lines too.
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We’re out.
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That’s torn it
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Wow
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