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 |
@OT, this is no joke. That’s my favourite ABBA song, and it is in my head most mornings since I can’t remember when. Really.
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Right, I got bored with that half-way through, but it reminded me of this, so this is really the last one:
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Ticht – that’s (yet another) great RT. Here’s one with Linda.
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Thaum that whole gig where the Britney song comes from is on youtube, plus the backstage stuff
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Cheers for that, Ticht; have bookmarked it. Off to bed for tonight (you’ll all be glad to know).
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I meant heroin.
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Like this:
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Now look what you made me do…
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Now there’s a great band Is, twin guitar heroics.
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One of my favourite botched tries is Robbie Fleck, largely because he’s such a bellend.
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It looks set to rumble on, slowly:
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/oct/15/world-rugby-scotland-disciplinary-action
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We’re exploring the exended Scooby Doo Universe at the moment. There’s a new series called Scooby Doo and Guess Who?. We’re just watching an episode featuring Ricky Gervais at the moment. He’s worse than Scrappy Doo.
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Nige on the whistle for Ire v NZ. England and Australia get Jerome Garces. Wales v France has Jaco Peyper and Big Wayne Barnes is peeping for Japan v SA.
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*puts the farm on Ireland*
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Hell hath no fury like a blazer scorned
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Oh God, the FEAR was building up badly enough already and now we’ve got Random Decision Generator Garces (RDGG).
Means the breakdown will be an absolute free for all which definitely helps the Wobblies. Have to hope it’s torrential rain and RDGG’s toin cross decides that the England scrum is dominant.
I’d actually like to see Curry/Underhill/Wilson as our back row now as Wilson is better than BV at the ruck (especially a half fit Billy V) and it could be crucial with the combination of Garces, Pocock and Hooper.
The only positive is if the RDGG favours us, Cheika and Hooper will probably get themselves banned for life with their apoplectic rage.
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“Hell hath no fury like a blazer scorned”
That might be what WR said about Mark Dodson.
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Tomp – it never fails to amaze me how fucking stupid the organisers of our game can be. The best way to avoid disrepute is to draw a line under everything.
But oooooohhhhh no, someone always has to win…
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Ffb – I know. This streak has to end right? The aussies would love it to be now.
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BTW Cat – got the sedatives from grandma, killed the winter lanterns, and the spiders, freed the brain, got the blood rock, upgraded my axe, made contact with the brain and then killed the brain.
Mergo is next. Oh yes.
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Tonga hooker Paula Ngauamo has been handed a seven-week suspension after pleading guilty to kicking a USA opponent in the face on Sunday.
He didn’t attend the hearing, so only got a one week reduction from the 8 week standard.
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Dodson has done a fair bit for Scottish rugby but on this occasion I think he just may have been better to keep his mouth shut.
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My only consolation with Jaco is, hopefully, that both teams will equally feel the despair.
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“got the sedatives from grandma, killed the winter lanterns, and the spiders, freed the brain…”
I got that far thinking it was about preparing for the England game.
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Amazing. Reduced ban despite not even showing to the hearing. DBWR is genius.
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MrIks – in terms of hide behind the couch fear it’s similar.
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He got DHL to swoop in with some fig rolls.
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Not sure if I’m sanguine about Ireland’s QF. Our form this year has been poor. We are playing the best team. Ergo no pressure. On the other hand, another QF exit is bleak.
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The 2011 semi feels like it was only yesterday. I thought I’d done a pretty good job at repressing it for the past 8 years, but it’s all come flooding back. The four hours sat in the door of the garden shed, muttering swears to myself before my then flatmate brought out the misery beers. How bitter they tasted.
I don’t ask for much, rugby Gods. Just let us avenge that defeat so that I can have another thoroughly miserable semi final weekend.
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Quite looking forward to Sunday, actually.
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Massive underdogs AND Keith Earls, Enzo. Nothing to fear.
England on the other hand, are likely to risk a load of scrum penalties and 60 minutes with a pair of tired legs playing Mako. Would like to see a Marler/Genge split at loosehead. Also, Canberra great Ricky Stuart in camp. Cue an explosion of kicking away possession from deep, with added rugby league style kick it for Jonny close to the line.
Wales should be able to strangle France, but France.
Japan unlikely to repeat heroics, but we can all hope. (Apologies Debee).
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Off to see this boy in Guildford tonitght. Back in Uk for a couple of weeks, can’t seem to escape Connecticut.
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Sbt – Guildford eh? Very noice.
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Ugo wants Japan to join the 6 nations. By itself, not a shit idea. But there’s the logistics (which he discusses) and player welfare to consider.
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Yeah, brother in law a bit of a muso, and big fan of local girl Emma Stevens, who is playing as well.
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Japan in the 6N would be brilliant. Can’t see it though.
Wales are nailed on against France.
NZ will probably beat Ireland but it’s less of a done deal than if they were playing anyone else.
Oz will definitely beat us. It’s due and they have the back row and backs to give us a lot of trouble.
SA will finally in a completely non-cuddly way destroy the dreams of a nation. All nations in fact. they’ll basically ruin everything for everyone. The Bastards.
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Why can’t they just leave this whole cancellation / non-cancellation non-event alone and move on?
I’m pretty sure a lot of people have bigger things going on now than dragging out a row about something that didn’t even happen.
Bastards.
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@Craigsman
For me it’s better for Japanese rugby for them to join the 6N than the RC.
NZ and SA will beat them up regularly, whereas they could be contenders in the 6N.
Part of the problem in giving T2 teams more meaningful fixtures is that the 6N and RC seemingly must happen each and every year, as must the November and June internationals.
i would love to see the 6N and RC operate on alternate years, with larger European, ‘Pacific’, South American and African championships in the years between.
European:
6N A + 6N B – 12 teams (2 pools of 6, top 2 teams qualify, third place into a ‘bowl’)
‘Pacific’:
Aus, NZ, Japan, Canada, USA, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga (2 pools of 4 teams)
South America:
Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, Chile
Africa :
SA, Namibia, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Tunisia
Obviously it means Argentina and SA have lower quality opponents, but WR should demand the regional superpowers support rugby in their own backyard.
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Enzo – yes, playing the best team means less pressure for your boys. The challenge will be to put out of their minds the fact that it should never have been this way as they should be on the other side of the draw .
I get what you were saying about needing to bring your A game against either opponent which is true but with the ABs your A game might not be good enough where as with everyone else it almost certainly is.
I do hope you can knock them out. It will leave the whole thing wide open.
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NZ vs Ireland prime candidate for an upset. The ballsacks haven’t played a game in 2 weeks, or a vaguely competitive game in a month. Favourites in theory. .
Ireland are underdogs with a point to prove after their defeat to japan. Get fired up & out there for a classic Ireland victory.
Ireland’s to lose.
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Pro – Its a nice idea.
The 6N will never give up it’s annual event (not arguing the rights or wrongs just stating the obvious)
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Can’t believe this English underdogging. Shocking. England by lots.
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Who decided on the hierarchy of crockery based trophies? To me a cup should be nowhere near the top. A bowl is more useful, even a plate would be better.
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@yos, I was travelling and watched it on my own in a hotel bedroom by Regent’s Park. I remember jumping up and running towards the tv behind that late HalfP kick that didn’t quite have the legs. *Sigh*.
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@Dovahkin
Of course.
At my age time is flying the 6N seems to come around so often.
I’d love to see a wider European championship on occasion instead.
While T1 teams make the right noises about growing the game, I do wonder how much they mean it.
More good teams means more competition and problems for the current model.
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Chimpie, Nope. We’ve not had a proper game out there yet and have blown all the biggest games we’ve played in, in the last year or so. It’s not long since Oz battered the ABs.
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I think England are going to batter Australia. England look scary.
I also think NZ will beat Ireland by 10-15
In fact I can see 4 fairly comfortable victories for the favourites.
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@expro
I can also well imagine New Zealand winning the quarter final, semi-final, final, and the bowl for Best Swept Dressing Room.
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Pfffft to this English underdogging, pfffft I say!
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