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 |
Goodness me.
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Starting to think Japan could win the whole thing.
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Oh my that’s so straightforward.
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Turning into a bit of a shoeing, this.
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Could this become a thrashing?
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Bye bye
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Ha!
Commentators saying we need to score three more tries, there’s only one side likely to do that
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When I moved on this new page the words “massive fuck up fiasco” showed at the top. Sums us up pretty well at the moment.
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Japan defensive line has looked constantly offside to me since half-time. That try should finish it off really.
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Absolute guff by us
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Is it too late for Dodson to get his lawyers to get this cancelled?
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Think the Japanese player just shrugged him off there really.
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You are very funny Tom, hilarious
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Shit by Russell. Really poor kicking the ball there.
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Japan have been very very good
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AT last!
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Gwan VeeaPee
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Not sure about the qualification, but the match isn’t over.
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Scotland hit back. Real character shown. Nel drives over.
2 converted tries behind. 30 mins left
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Well done Scotland. Comeback is on!
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WP for the try.
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Come on Scotland!
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Nagare with Team of the Tournament performances at 9. Surprised he’s off.
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Heck of a game this! Heroic comeback is on. Does the Japanese bonus point mean qualification is over?
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Zander!
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Comeback definitely on!!
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Well.
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Dab, Scotland score 4 tries and win by more than 8, they go through ahead of Japan.
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This would be the comeback of all comebacks
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Dab, Scotland have to win by 8 to go through.
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Beautiful try!
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Classic Finn shite and brilliant in any twenty seconds
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All Scotland now. Great try.
Only 7 points in it
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At least we’re going out inna blaze of glory…
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That was quite the offload from Wee Johnny.
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Great play by Scotland.
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Here they come!
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Be funny if, after all the guff, this ended as a draw.
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That little inside ball, by Japan, is causing all sorts of problems.
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This is exhausting
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This is breathless.
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Jamie Ritchie is sensational.
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I think Scotland sense Japan are running out of puff.
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@Refit, they are so good at “making the ball do the work” as we used to say
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Scottish open-side is having a PoTM type game.
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Scotland are defending pretty well but Japan getting tired and not clearing the ruck/getting the passes before the ruck away as they were early on. Scotland need to keep playing fast.
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Thought Japan might have looked for a drop-goal there.
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Dammit
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Russell’s had a strange old game.
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@CMW
Tamura was dropping back to do just that, but the 9 and the forwards wanted to keep driving the fringes
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