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 didn’t spot that from Expro. I take offence that, because I’m not Irish I can’t enjoy their game. Personally I think it’s a very technical game that, when executed properly, is hugely impressive.
I mean, that 41 phases against France was a masterclass.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Oh dear has this inadvertently started something?
LikeLike
The old autocorrect defence is going to be a challenge.
LikeLike
Perhaps ‘as a Scottish chimp some of my best friends are Irish gibbons”?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Gibbons are all right. Jibbons are better.
LikeLike
How could I not?
LikeLiked by 3 people
Well done Japan. An amazing game. Toonie has some big questions to answer.
I avoided this place today, because I thought we might see some ugly stuff from the usual crowd of one. Looks like I was right. Ah well.
LikeLike
@Chek – don’t let Chimpie upset you.
LikeLiked by 4 people
Phew, I’m off the hook.
LikeLike
@TomP – did you expect ‘company of two’?
LikeLike
Is chek from norn iron? Didn’t think I’d insulted any other countries today
LikeLike
You don’t have to be the victim of this sort of thing to be offended by it.
LikeLike
Probably a southern baboon
LikeLike
Proof of thieving awaited
LikeLike
Chimps, Gibbons, Baboons…
Why weren’t gibbons a species in the Planet of the Apes?
LikeLike
@LADOAB – probably not great enough.
LikeLike
@CMW – A good answer.
I would have also accepted, “It’s not in the source material.”
A primate XV is needed I feel…
LikeLike
Bonobos are the unfortunate ones to miss out, but they were probably too busy shagging to turn up for the auditions.
LikeLike
I actually thought that chimpie had one of his rare ‘good’ days.
LikeLike
Baboons are of course monkeys.
LikeLike
Chek – just don’t read his comments. I get drawn in from time to time but it’s better just ignore them. Especially the longer ones.
LikeLike
All apes are monkeys, but not all monkeys are apes – or so I’ve heard.
But that is possibly why baboons aren’t featured in Planet of the Apes.
LikeLiked by 1 person
“Gibbons are apes in the family Hylobatidae. The family historically contained one genus, but now is split into four genera”
Just like Ireland.
LikeLike
The Hoolock gibbons are probably the Wesht. Could be Munster though I suppose.
LikeLike
Craigs, it goes a little deeper than that. Sometimes you can feel the silence as people stop posting in case they accidentally get drawn in, or often there is a sense of walking on eggshells. Ticht apologising to BB for saying he didn’t think a Pearl Jam song had the best vocals was a prime example. BB and Ticht have both been swapping musical opinions for years, noone is going to be offended by someone saying that one song is better than another, Ticht could probably call BB a Dave from Swindon for playing it, and it would be taken in the spirit which it was meant, but every now and then someone is so insistent on spreading discord that lines get blurred amongst others. We all love this place, but sometimes end up tippy toeing around each other, or just not posting or visiting at all, because after all, its all about fun, and shared interests, and it ain’t fun when someone is constantly spraying vitriol around.( Don’t mind it a bit, but……. )
LikeLiked by 5 people
Sbt – sure. And I have met at least one poster who doesn’t visit because of it. I just don’t want Chek to become another.
I should probably raise my hand as someone who has gone over the top and stuck to their guns too much in the past.
LikeLike
“I just don’t want Chek to become another.”
Neither do I. And to be honest I’m surprised that even one person found time during Japan-Scotland to be rude about the Liberal Democrats. Whoever it was needs to have a long hard look at themself.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Part of that last post is sincere BTW.
LikeLike
@Chimpie – Probably a southern baboon
***Sits on haunches, scratches arse. “What’s up northern cousin?”***
@Craigs – Sticking to your guns is typical of you bloody hunting lot. Cough.
LikeLike
CMW – Scotland-Japan was a wilder ride than a Kentish car key party. Exhausting, exhilarating, end-to-end entertainment.
LikeLike
Deebs – from my cold, dead hands etc.
LikeLike
Deebs – on that subject I remember going to my uncle’s house as a kid and he was half way through processing a deer he’d just shot when we got there. It was entirely unexpected and quite strange to see as a 13 year old who was used to seeing meat as burgers and whole chickens.
He also had a rack full of hunting rifles and a locked room full of other things including pistols and shotguns for clay pigeon shooting. It was almost like a stereotypical ‘Merican hunter’s arsenal.
LikeLike
Just for the record there are people who have left or contribute less due to the constant focus on a couple of home nations sides and sensitivities about criticism of those teams.
This blog, more so than the last version, appears to be even more dedicated to Scotland, Ireland and the Pro14 – and that’s fine, but eventually the numbers contributing will decline.
I don’t believe any of the comments I made yesterday were especially offensive – plenty of people were angry that Scotland were whining about legal action on the eve of a fatal typhoon before their game had actually been cancelled – which could be seen as insensitive and insulting to their hosts. Compare this with the Canadian team who made not a single objection to their ‘World Cup Final’ being cancelled and instead went out and helped with the clear up – literally shovelling shit.
Some people are far too sensitive about their teams and favourite players. If I say ‘Hogg was poor today’ or ‘Ireland play brutal, unimaginative and ugly rugby’ these are perfectly valid criticisms and not insults.
What some individuals then do is make snide personal remarks in return. Then a little clique of the ‘offended’ get together to try and drive the dissenting opinion away, followed by a session of mutual congratulations about how nice to each other they all are. It’s predictable and dull.
In previous times the blog was far more diverse and interesting. Now it just keeps coming back to the same subjects over and over again.
The variety and interest of the group is rapidly declining into a love-in for a handful of teams, broken up by the same jokes over and over.
That’s where my frustration comes from.
LikeLike
Commiserations to Scotland — one consolation that they had a chance to go through on their own efforts, rather than being chucked out by the wind. And the way they nearly took that chance made for one of the best games I’ve seen (first half) or listened to (second half) for years.
Very difficult not to be pleased for Japan though… the Gods of Sporting Narrative are doing some good stuff so far.
LikeLike
Not sure what this is for. I don’t remember anything from him:
TOKYO, 14 Oct – Uruguay replacement Guillermo Pujadas has been cited for an act of foul play contrary to Law 9.27 (unsportsmanlike conduct) in their Rugby World Cup 2019 Pool D match against Wales on 13 October.
LikeLike
Think of it as a gentle Intervention, Pro. Your Contributions on elite performance, league exploits and smaller nations are great., and some of the many subjects that have made this blog fascinating over the years. As Craigs rightly says, some of us ( me on a couple of not so notable occasions), cross the line when it comes to personal opinions and differences, and I hope I have apologised appropriately and corrected my mistakes, Chek.
Perhaps you do not quite appreciate how bitter and angry some of your posts come across as ?
If I come across as snide, I do not mean to be, I am trying to be subtle.
LikeLike
@Brookter
If the game hadn’t gone ahead, Japan going through would have been forever tainted with the ‘yeah, but they only played 3 games’. As it was they topped the group in handsome fashion.
Suspect the bok’s forward power will starve them of possession more than we managed but you never know.
LikeLike
Does it mean England, New Zealand and France are now forever tainted?
LikeLike
Forever
LikeLiked by 1 person
New Zealand forever tainted, England denied hard match , so are undercooked, and therefore massive underdogs against Australia, and France will have had an extra week in camp together without playing, so plenty of time to ferment rebellion, leading to an explosion of Gallic flair.
LikeLiked by 3 people
England are forever tainted because they are England.
NZ are tainted because they are the Blackness.
France are tainted because they should have lost to Tonga anyway.
Pro, some of what you say may be lost in translation, but I really appreciate what you bring to the table and I often agree with you. But my, the tone of some of those posts! This is not a childish blog where it’s fun to provoke the apoplexy of the synts, but a friendly place where others are genuinely interested in your opinion.
LikeLiked by 5 people
Good. It was the French I wasn’t sure about.
LikeLike
Wales are forever NAILED ON.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Isn’t Japan coached by an ankle-stomping synt? Surely that’s enough taint to go round. He was quoted this week as saying that his contribution to the team success has been teaching them how to be dirty cynical cheats like everyone else.
LikeLiked by 4 people
“In previous times the blog was far more diverse and interesting. Now it just keeps coming back to the same subjects over and over again.”
Ever considered running a Masterclass on self awareness, Expro?
LikeLiked by 6 people
@BK – he’s not the fella who stomped on Dwayne Peel’s ankle behind the try line when someone else, probably Dan Carter, was scoring a try against an already badly Lions in team in 2005?
LikeLike
dropped a ‘beaten’ there.
LikeLike
Kyran Bracken in 93, MrIks.
LikeLike
Ouch, I remember that.
LikeLike
My team of the tournament so far (players I’ve enjoyed watching version, not necessarily the best):
B Barrett
Matsushima, Lafaele, Nakamura, Kolbe
Ford
Nagare
Nakajima, Horie, Alaalatoa
AWJ, Maro
Polledri, Himeno, Navidi
Heavily Japancentric. Nowhere near enough Welsh/legends, too many Saes and token Aus/NZ/SA selections. Honorable mentions for Santiago Arata, Tyler Ardron and Ron Kearney.
LikeLike