What a cracker of a first round! Some delectable rugby, some surprises, and plenty of dodgy reffing decisions to moan about.
Tonga and Samoa have yet to play, but Wales easily contained Fiji. The big surprises were the performances of the two South American minnows: Chile gave Japan a good fight, although they ran out of puff before the end, and Wrwgwai (that’s the Welsh spelling of Uruguay, per MisterIks, apparently) gave France a hell of a fright.
So what’s in store for this weekend? Mostly very one-sided fixtures; it’s not even worth speculating about the scores. The closest matches may well be Samoa v Chile, Australia v Fiji, England v Japan, and South Africa v Romania, now they’ve lost Marx and seeing as how they don’t have a proper 10.
Wonderful win for Fiji.
Now let’s hope Oz can do a number on Wales, who should also have lost to Fiji. But am afraid it will come down to BPs.
Fiji are great, more disciplined than ever, with a good scrum, a good kicker, but a poor line out and their bench isn’t up to much.
Hope than can make the QF and face England again.
“Now let’s hope Oz can do a number on Wales, who should also have lost to Fiji. But am afraid it will come down to BPs.”
Not sure if this is anti-Wales (I know you’re not a fan) or (more disturbingly) pro-Aus sentiment as a Wales win will pretty much put Fiji through and an Aus win is what will take it down to BPs. There are other possibilities involving Wales or Fiji losing to Georgia of course.
After the first Sunday roast of the season I’m relegated to the computer – which means I’m about two minutes behind play – Japan have just this second equalled
If it helps I would say from experience that ‘ahead, but not far enough ahead that you couldn’t lose if you keep playing the same way’ is even more dangerous than being behind…
Looks like Lawes has scored one of the ‘weirdest WC tries’ tries. Back from Stuart’s hands, into Marler’s head and forward, where Dave picked it up and scored with a confused look on his face.
Couple of stats quoted by the commentator suggest England don’t really pass to their centres. Not sure if this is just because their forwards drop the ball so often before they get the chance though.
See what happens when you DO give it to your centres. England secure the try BP with the final play of the match – although May did get a head clatter in the build up.
Don’t know about that, they’d almost certainly still have won, but the head-pass try followed by Japan not finishing off their one great passage of play in the second half did save England from a potentially panicky last 20 minutes I guess.
Hilarious discussion between the pundits. CW thinks that Farrell should start and be captain for the match against Chile (and I reckon Chile do too) and then make a decision for the following match. Wilkinson went all Zen and talked about energy, and it wasn’t really clear what he thought, but most likely that England should just stick with Ford as they’re obviously playing much better with him.
Dayglo said something to the effect that you can’t dump ‘an icon and talisman’ and never mind Ford winning the last two matches with a much improved team.
Think that’s stretching things on tonight’s performance though fair enough with the previous game. Even then Argentina’s effort is very much in the running for worst performance so far by a tier 1 team though it’s probably shaded out by Wales v Portugal and maybe England tonight. Guess France v Uruguay is in there too.
“Wilkinson went all Zen and talked about energy, and it wasn’t really clear what he thought”
Least of all to him by the look of him. I think JW is a terrible pundit. He’s not obnoxious at all in the way some of the others are, but all you can ever find out at best is stuff that relates to how he thought about the game which let’s face it is mostly going to be unique to him as he’s definitely different.
CMW, am neither anti Wales nor pro Australia.
Like most people I support the minnows in a neutral game. I thought Fiji were robbed by the ref (Welsh cynical antics, time wasting etc… towards the end not helping) therefore I wish Fiji would go through at the expense of Wales. Wishful karma etc…
Tonight England were a bit fortunate with their comical try but then ( possibly relieved?) they started playing much better. Confidence is so important. Many talented players but a team that plays with the hand brake on. Behind a pretty average set of forwards, Ford is clearly a better FH than OF. Ben Earl had a great game too.
Ovally Balls 
Wonderful win for Fiji.
Now let’s hope Oz can do a number on Wales, who should also have lost to Fiji. But am afraid it will come down to BPs.
Fiji are great, more disciplined than ever, with a good scrum, a good kicker, but a poor line out and their bench isn’t up to much.
Hope than can make the QF and face England again.
LikeLike
Good value from the super Japanese fans with lots of flamboyant costumes
LikeLike
You might be okay on the conversion front Deebee
LikeLike
Refit, I really don’t think it’s the right choice. That’s all!
LikeLike
Switched over to the sheep trials to avoid massive amounts of English commentawankery.
LikeLike
God, that England kit with the red ‘shwoosh’ down the shirt and onto the shorts, was hideous.
LikeLike
“Now let’s hope Oz can do a number on Wales, who should also have lost to Fiji. But am afraid it will come down to BPs.”
Not sure if this is anti-Wales (I know you’re not a fan) or (more disturbingly) pro-Aus sentiment as a Wales win will pretty much put Fiji through and an Aus win is what will take it down to BPs. There are other possibilities involving Wales or Fiji losing to Georgia of course.
LikeLike
Wales and Fiji all the way for me!
Wales won One Man and his Dog, btw.
LikeLike
When I say ‘all the way’, I obviously don’t mean winning the whole tournament, unless of course Ireland fail earlier.
LikeLike
England looking much more combobulated than in previous matches.
LikeLike
Fucking hell, a nice steady maul and one shit pass and Japan are in our 22.
LikeLike
Just because you have penalty advantage doesn’t mean you have to kick it!
LikeLike
England are in a game here!
LikeLike
After the first Sunday roast of the season I’m relegated to the computer – which means I’m about two minutes behind play – Japan have just this second equalled
LikeLike
I may go to Whitehosue and Mortimer fishing at nine
LikeLike
Good charge down there. England lucky to survive.
LikeLike
England not given much choice but to score a try there. Expect them to kick on now.
LikeLike
Japan take the lead via a pen. Then Ford sticks in the corner, following a restart. England disrupt the lineout and Ludlum crashes over to score.
10-6. 25mins
LikeLike
May, you tit. He runs into the Japan FB, after he clears the ball and they now have a pen just outside the Eng 22.
10-9. 32mins
LikeLike
You were saying CMW?
LikeLike
13-9 at half time, after Japan choose not to play out the last 15 seconds on their own line.
But for a couple of unlucky bounces and fumbles, Japan could be in the lead.
LikeLike
Did the trick didn’t it?
Excellent homage to bad Welsh Autumn International performances from England so far.
LikeLike
If it helps I would say from experience that ‘ahead, but not far enough ahead that you couldn’t lose if you keep playing the same way’ is even more dangerous than being behind…
LikeLike
I’d still back England to beat Wales should they end up meeting (reasonable chance though on balance I think it probably won’t happen).
LikeLike
Ugo: “There’s an argument to say this England team isn’t as good as they were in 2019”
LikeLike
CMW – file that under No shit, Sherlock.
LikeLike
Looks like Lawes has scored one of the ‘weirdest WC tries’ tries. Back from Stuart’s hands, into Marler’s head and forward, where Dave picked it up and scored with a confused look on his face.
20-12
LikeLike
Oh, that was lovely from Japan, but the replacement prop just couldn’t hang on to it.
LikeLike
Matsushida sitting down Mitchell was fun.
LikeLike
Daly’s not going to score those tries he was on about like that.
LikeLike
England are okay, until they hit the Japan 22, then it gets a bit panicky and loose.
LikeLike
Excellent kick from Ford, game over.
LikeLike
Good conversion too to make sure!
LikeLike
It seems to me that George Ford is much better than Farrell. The whole team seems better without the latter.
LikeLike
Couple of stats quoted by the commentator suggest England don’t really pass to their centres. Not sure if this is just because their forwards drop the ball so often before they get the chance though.
LikeLike
Argentina’s defence holding out.
Eh?
LikeLike
I mean, I know they’re all furriners and that, but how do you confuse Japan with Argentina?
LikeLike
Turning over the ball on Japan’s line seemed inevitable there.
LikeLike
Japan are doing well to keep going in defence even if they’re not facing anything too flash.
LikeLike
Ben Earl is one of the most creative players in the England team, at the moment.
LikeLike
The Argentinians have presumably turned Japanese as they couldn’t face having British (or American) government/culture/know-how any longer.
LikeLike
See what happens when you DO give it to your centres. England secure the try BP with the final play of the match – although May did get a head clatter in the build up.
Final score 34-12.
LikeLike
Well that was… uuhh… yeah.
LikeLike
Dab: jammy?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Don’t know about that, they’d almost certainly still have won, but the head-pass try followed by Japan not finishing off their one great passage of play in the second half did save England from a potentially panicky last 20 minutes I guess.
LikeLike
Borthwick looked a lot happier than Gats ever does after that sort of thing.
LikeLike
Hilarious discussion between the pundits. CW thinks that Farrell should start and be captain for the match against Chile (and I reckon Chile do too) and then make a decision for the following match. Wilkinson went all Zen and talked about energy, and it wasn’t really clear what he thought, but most likely that England should just stick with Ford as they’re obviously playing much better with him.
Dayglo said something to the effect that you can’t dump ‘an icon and talisman’ and never mind Ford winning the last two matches with a much improved team.
LikeLike
“with a much improved team”
Think that’s stretching things on tonight’s performance though fair enough with the previous game. Even then Argentina’s effort is very much in the running for worst performance so far by a tier 1 team though it’s probably shaded out by Wales v Portugal and maybe England tonight. Guess France v Uruguay is in there too.
LikeLike
“Wilkinson went all Zen and talked about energy, and it wasn’t really clear what he thought”
Least of all to him by the look of him. I think JW is a terrible pundit. He’s not obnoxious at all in the way some of the others are, but all you can ever find out at best is stuff that relates to how he thought about the game which let’s face it is mostly going to be unique to him as he’s definitely different.
LikeLike
CMW, am neither anti Wales nor pro Australia.
Like most people I support the minnows in a neutral game. I thought Fiji were robbed by the ref (Welsh cynical antics, time wasting etc… towards the end not helping) therefore I wish Fiji would go through at the expense of Wales. Wishful karma etc…
Tonight England were a bit fortunate with their comical try but then ( possibly relieved?) they started playing much better. Confidence is so important. Many talented players but a team that plays with the hand brake on. Behind a pretty average set of forwards, Ford is clearly a better FH than OF. Ben Earl had a great game too.
LikeLike