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 |
Well, I can see this is about to go well.
*fetches popcorn*
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Playing a game a day or two late in an empty stadium is better than just not playing it. The end.
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I also think Sergio is being a dick claiming that if NZ needed the points then the game would go ahead. He knows this because of …. ?
I reserve the most ire for whichever total arse proposed to cancel ‘dead rubber’ games and move the ‘important’ ones to those venues and times.
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Pro, answer this honestly, please, if Japan, or USA, had been in our shoes would you want World Rugby to leave no stone unturned in order to get the match played?
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“Playing a game a day or two late in an empty stadium is better than just not playing it. The end.”
The empty stadium part would be a great outcome for the away team, which is of course why they are suggesting it.
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Good grief. Think I’ll leave this load of baws well alone
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“I also think Sergio is being a dick claiming that if NZ needed the points then the game would go ahead. He knows this because of …. ?”
Next he will be referring to DBWR and saying administrators are biased in favour of the teams he doesn’t like.
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Pro, I’m suggesting it too, when cancellation would obviously suit Ireland.
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I don’t like this attempted re-write of rugby baddies. The list hasn’t changed and Scotland are nowhere near the top 10.
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@Ticht
my concerns are
1. that every team and every game are treated equally.
2. that decisions on cancellations are made on the grounds of safety and feasibility and not influenced by any organizations or individuals with other interests.
Some matches and some teams interests should not be promoted above those of others.
In the same way that players accept the decisions of officials on the field with good grace they should also accept the off field decisions of officials in a similar manner.
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Pro, do you think World Rugby to do everything they can to make sure the Japan v Scotland game goes ahead?
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should do
I edited, but not well enough
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Updated list:
Rugby Baddies:
1. Typhoon Hagibis
2. WR
3. Ireland (just because)
Rugby Whiners:
1. Scotland
2. Sergio
Rugby Dickheads:
1. Eddie Jones
2. Whoever came up with the idea of suing the organizers of the tournament
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“Rugby Whiners:”
*coughs*
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Baddies list is easy:
Typhoon wotsit
WR
Ireland
Wales
Wales
Wales
Wales
Wales
Australia
NZ
See. Perfectly fair. Scotland nowhere near it.
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We do lack quality Dickheads now The Hask has retired (Dog rest his bones).
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do you think World Rugby to do everything they can to make sure the Japan v Scotland game goes ahead?
Each game should be treated with equal importance.
Other games should not be abandoned in order to consolidate efforts to enable a chosen game to take place.
The decision on whether the game can be played should be made by those with the knowledge and responsibility to make the best possible decision with safety the main overriding factor.
Those decisions should be accepted with good grace by those affected.
Those whose interests are affected by such decisions should stop trying to put pressure on the organisers in advance of the decisions being made.
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Cat, you can’t blame a typhoon for being a typhoon, it’s like shaking your fist at a rainbow
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Ooh, Australia Georgia going to be wet.
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You haven’t answered either question Pro, just obfuscated
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It’s still a baddy, though innit. Even if it’s just being a Typhoon. ‘slike one of them daft movies like Armageddon where a meteorite is about to obliterate humanity. Meteorite is clearly the baddy.
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Sure, there are always some lesser human baddies, cos drama, but in real terms, like Day After Tomorrow where Global Warming is the big baddy, but there’s wolves and climate change deniers getting in the way of Dennis Quaid’s heroism. Not to mention some oik trying to pork Jake Gylennhall’s girlfriend. But the baddy that they actually have to run away from is, er, the wind.
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I may have slightly mangled the plot of that.
Anyhoo, in this case, our lesser baddies are WR. They’re like the climate change meddlers. Or Walter Peck in Ghostbusters.
More like the latter, now I think about it.
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Something something rugby values. Yeah nah. Biting your tongue is not the same as accepting Clancy’s incorrect penalty call with good grace. Scotland, Parisse and anyone else can pile on DBWR as much as they want. I’m happy to dip into my personal supply of petrol to assist.
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You can like your own comments on this thing? Amazing. Truly one of my favourite features.
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Walter Peck likes his own tweets, no doubt about it.
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The Typhoon is a force of nature, like the Aliens in Aliens. WR is Carter Burke, trying to sell out everyone else and save his own skin
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I’ve done that a few times, Larry, by mistake of course. You can “unlike” by clicking again
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@Chimpe
Typhoon is Gozer the Destroyer, WR is Walter Peck.
Cos Typhoon is an act of OT dogness, and Walter Peck is a shitty low rent bureaucrat who gets in the way of our brave heroes.
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Why would I do that? I really liked my comment.
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@Ticht
I’d be hoping not to indulge in conspiratorial ranting and constant whining in the hours before an extreme weather phenomenon likely to endanger the safety and wellbeing of thousands of people.
I’d hope that the organizers and relevant authorities would take the best (and let’s face it, only) decisions possible.
I would be very disappointed, but I’d hope to do my best to put things in perspective.
I’d be very interested in there being some sort of investigation into the tournament planning, what exactly was meant by ‘contingency planning’ and into the roles, responsibilities and actions of relevant individuals and groups.
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Walter Peck is vaguely redeemable. Carter Burke is not.
I’m here all day, pointing out material differences between characters who share some sort of archetypal framework.
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Pfft
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But while Peck and Burke are both little men wielding power vested in them by The Man, Peck arguably means well (on top of loving his power) and has a vague public service ethos. Burke is a snivelling, personal gain, greasy-pole-climbing suite.
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I don’t think that the Hask is that much of a dickhead. I might be alone in this opinion.
He’s a product of his schooling but seems like a relatively nice guy.
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You can all work out what suite auto corrected from.
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I’m trying to think of a redeeming feature of Burke, but am really struggling
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At the risk of offending Pro, I have to say I am looking forward to Georgia winning this with 80 minutes of driving mauls.
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There were a couple of bad eggs in Avatar, the company guy and the jarhead, no formula characters there
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I think the organizers should make every (equal) effort to ensure every affected game can go ahead if possible.
One game should not be prioritized above others and no risks should be taken, especially due to pressure from affected parties.
Anyone who thinks there is some sort of conspiracy here to put Japan into a QF needs to have a word with themselves.
Japan have been wanting to play this game for 4 years. As their coach says, they want to wake up on Monday morning knowing they either deserve to be considered one of the top 8 teams in the world, or they don’t.
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OK then. What about wosshisname that has the Ghostbusters committed in Ghostbusters 2?
The problem with Carter Burke is that Carter Burke is just audience shorthand for Weyland Yutani, who are unquestionably the real baddies of the first three Alien films. Ash, Burke, Bishop (Alien3 Bishop) just represent the corporation.
So, if Typhoon= Xenomorph, then Weyland Yutani= World Rugby, and Carter Burke= Clancy. Cos reasons.
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Avatar
Alternatively known as a mash-up of Cameron’s greatest hits, even down to the soundtrack. (Seriously)
Except with added racism.
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I like big ‘splosions and people riding dragons and shit as much as the next teenager, and maintain that Avatar is the most expensive B-Movie ever made.
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Who the fuck is Carter Burke?
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In this scenario who are the squaddies?
Scotland must be Ripley. Fighting through the shaft of all shafts etc.
Or probably Hicks. Going down screaming under the weight xenomorphs after being shafted by Burke.
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“Avatar
Alternatively known as a mash-up of Cameron’s greatest hits, even down to the soundtrack. (Seriously)
Except with added racism.”
Good flight sequences though
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Honestly, Craigs, your education is severely lacking.
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Avatar had great visuals, was overly wanky in places. and had more holes than plot.
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Ah right. An annoying corporate dude. Got it.
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Maybe Craigs could relate more it was Bloodborne was used inna metaphorical way. Not sure who the pig and the pig fister would represent though.
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