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 |
When Cheetahs get it through the hands to the wings they look very good
12 – 6 to the home side
LikeLike
It gives me the terrors Tichto. Away with the tendrils of Apple and Google and Faceboak! We have over-trusted untrustworthy actors.
LikeLiked by 2 people
You’re not wrong MrIks
LikeLike
Meanwhile it is raining in Newport. Perfect conditions for a classic encounter between the Drags and Connacht.
LikeLike
“did you ever consider that the Great Nappy Burning might be the climate change tipping point that sends us all into oblivion?”
I’ll be too busy to care, dancing naked round the fire high on hallucinogens and chanting incantations.
LikeLike
“I’ll be too busy to care, dancing naked round the fire high on hallucinogens and chanting incantations.”
Or Friday night, as I like to call it
LikeLiked by 5 people
Right, half time, I make that alcohol o’clock
LikeLike
@CMW, is that trombone devoid of entrails and maintains a parp solely accountable to its own workings?
LikeLike
@Iks – ’tis but slightly soiled.
LikeLike
Thread by @nicktolhurst on twitter:
+BREAKING+
Multiple media orgs are compiling evidence for publication that Russian financing of Boris Johnson is greater than previously estimated.
& that Alexander Temerko was more heavily involved in the plot to oust Theresa May than previously documented.
While it is already publicly documented that Temerko has financed Conservative party to the tune of millions over the past decade – what is less known is the input he’s had within Johnson’s close circle & the “additional financing” he’s arranged to support Johnson.
I’ve now seen documents that some of the reasoning behind the UK intelligence agencies decision to not share information with Johnson while he was Foreign Minister are due not just to Johnson’s “chaotic private life” but also to his links to Temerko & associates.
One of the ways this financing of Boris Johnson has been hidden is by hiding the money through support for Johnson associates such as former MP James Wharton through Temerko companies.
Wharton you may recall put forward the first bill calling for an EU referendum.
What greatly concerned security services is Temerko didn’t only finance the party & Johnson but used his private resources/accom as part of Johnson plot to oust May.
Implications that an oligarch with Russian military ties was as part of a plot to oust an elected British PM.
UK intel also concerned that Temerko has publicly (in UK) prior to his gaining British citizenship presented himself as being a Putin neutral/opponent – in fact Temerko now revealed to have much closer ties to Kremlin & Russian military than previously suggested.
But here’s where it gets even more worrying:
Theresa May in 2017 became increasingly worried about Russian interference in UK politics/elections & condemn outright Russia from November 2017 onwards – in public.
Why is the date important?
In the very same month that May, informed by UK intelligence of increased Russian interference, announced a new harder line against Russia the Foreign Secretary – one Boris Johnson – came out with a 100% contradiction of May/UK security services.
It is at this point…
At this point 3 things happened:
1. May further curtailed Johnson’s access to classified information
2. Temerko steppes up involvement in plan with Johnson to oust May
3. RT started favourably reporting Johnson’s comment (incl the now famous “not a sausage” comments)
This date also important as it marks the start of Johnson’s growing relationship with Bannon. Up until 2017 Johnson has atleast played at “one nation” but with Brexit – from 2017 this was ditched & he started to essentially to follow Trumpist playbook.
Problem with this thread is Ive enough for 200 tweets. But I’ll leave with this.
90% of above is publicly verifiable. Now while Boris was smoking cigars at Alex’s place plotting to oust a UK PM on way to yet another young lady..
…what do you think the Kremlin were doing?
LikeLike
“what do you think the Kremlin were doing?”
Kidnapping young rugby players with a view to getting them to flirt with members of their national team?
LikeLike
Well I’m willing to join in the fire dance on trombone, CMW.
LikeLike
“Problem with this thread is Ive enough for 200 tweets.”
Well we have had extreme weather events, contingency planning, internet of things/pish, pish, reusable nappies, bloodborne, Russians, Newport, trombones and some rugby. Can’t see that there would be an audience for it all though.
LikeLike
You cannot let a Cheetahs winger get the ball.
LikeLike
I can’t stop them!
LikeLike
Munster’s forwards are also getting slaughtered.
LikeLike
Cheetahs left winger is infuriating, he is so quick but takes the wrong option so often
LikeLike
WTF was he thinking, oh he got away with it
LikeLike
Dweba is quickly becoming my favourite non-Scot
LikeLike
BP try for Cheetahs. At least it’s not just us!
LikeLike
@’pro. It would help for me if you edited and put into context such a long post so it helps me to get to grips with the point you want to make.
LikeLike
Thaum, Glasgow took a tonking there two weeks ago, the are a formidable side at home now
LikeLike
@Iks – it might not.
LikeLike
Is that Volmink, ticht? He’s strong as well. Small-Smith, on the other wing, is a classy player but maybe a little off top speed.
LikeLike
Ticht – they really are. And I think this team might travel well too. Pienaar seems to have glued everything together for them.
LikeLike
Small-Smith is a slightly amusing name. Lucky it isn’t Small-Johnson.
Which reminds me (tangentially) that I saw a very funny number plate the other day: PPII KUP.
LikeLike
Rhyno is a rollicking given name.
LikeLike
Pienaar is such a lad. Can’t wait till he moves back to East Belfast. Maybe we’ll be neighbours. In such event, I will not be weird.
LikeLike
Speaking of East Belfast, have you eaten at Cyprus Avenue? Superb!
LikeLike
Aye, Thuam, Pienaar is pure class
LikeLike
I had breakfast there ages ago. I was on the phone at the same time – place was empty, so I was not being a dick – which reduced my enjoyment but the food was nice. I resolved to go back for dinner at some point. Since then it has bought the gaff next door and doubled in size, so it must be doing something right, especially in Ballysnackamore with all the competition (some of which is good and excellent value). My wife was supposed to be going there for dinner tomorrow night but is going somewhere else instead.
Such a long tract to say no/sort of.
LikeLike
This is impressive
LikeLike
In fact, Ulster has a better record than Munster here :-)
They might have scored 9 or 10 tries against us, but we got 4 of our own, so at least got a point from the match!
LikeLike
Listened to some Astral Weeks for the first time in ages not two weekends ago. Should have dropped that fact in there.
LikeLike
“My wife was supposed to be going there for dinner tomorrow night but is going somewhere else instead.”
The perfect AoD/Ovally Balls review!
LikeLiked by 3 people
Astral Weeks
*sighs*
LikeLike
Larry – I’ve never had such a hard time deciding what to order, and ultimately chose the crispy Cajun spiced squid, which was absolutely sublime.
LikeLike
Ticht – the resto is of course a hat-tip to Van, who is from that area. My reason for going there was to see CS Lewis park, which was nice, but the food completely eclipsed it!
LikeLike
“Small-Smith is a slightly amusing name.”
His (great?)grandad had a car dealership in Bloemfontein and added the Small to differentiate him from someone else.
His little brother’s just finishing at Grey College in Bloemfontein. He’s a super player and very quick.
LikeLike
Of course the Cyprus Avenue wot the song’s named after is also there … and the hollow mentioned in Brown-Eyed Girl.
LikeLike
TomP – I’d’ve gone with Black-Smith.
LikeLike
Fab try.
LikeLike
There’s a great Christie song about the Lisdoonvarna festival that goes, “Van the Man and Emmylou, Moving Hearts and Planxty too”
It’s also probably the only song to sing the praises of Toyota HiAce vans, I had a flatbed HiAce van when I started out
LikeLike
USA to play Tonga:
1. Fry
2. Taufeete’e
3. Lamositele
4. Peterson
5. Civetta
6. Lamborn
7. Al-Jiboori
8. Dolan
9. De Haas
10. McGinty
11. Brache
12. Lasike
13. Campbell
14. Scully (c)
15. Hooley
16. Hilterbrand
17. Kilifi
18. Mullen
19. Landry
20. Germishuys
21. Pinkelman
22. Augspurger
23. Te’o
Hilterbrand and Al Jiboori coming in to the 23 means every player in the squad will see gametime. Thretton Palamo had 10 minutes v France,
LikeLike
I can just remember seeing Planxty posters all over the place when I was growing up.
LikeLike
Thaum, I’ll try and find the story. There was a reason why it was Small.
Deebee probably knows WS-S’s dad, who’s a hotshot lawyer in Joburg, I say “knows” I mean “has been bought lunch by”
LikeLike
James Hilterbrand made fun of the gray in my beard at half time at the bar at the wee cup final a couple of years ago.
I said, “all right shorty”
LikeLike
Behold Ticht’s new moniker: Greybeard.
LikeLike
World Rugby Statement
It is disappointing that the Scottish Rugby Union should make such comments at a time when we are doing everything we can to enable all Sunday’s matches to take place as scheduled, and when there is a real and significant threat to public safety owing to what is predicted to be one of the largest and most destructive typhoons to hit Japan since 1958.
Along with the 19 other teams, the Scottish Rugby Union signed the Rugby World Cup 2019 terms of participation, which clearly state in Section 5.3: “Where a pool Match cannot be commenced on the day in which it is scheduled, it shall not be postponed to the following day, and shall be considered as cancelled. In such situations, the result shall be declared a draw and Teams will be allocated two Match points each and no score registered.”
LikeLike
Graybeard, I’m Scottish 😀
LikeLike