What a day of rugby we have ahead of us! After France trounced a poor Italy with some lovely rugby last night, we have a couple of palate-teasers in the form of Wales v Georgia and England v Samoa, either one of which might possibly throw up (not boak – well, maybe) an unexpected result.
Then we are on to the main course, where obviously what we want Ireland to do is quickly score four tries and then let Scotland have the ball undefended (see graphic). This is because I hope (for his sake) that Dupont will not be playing in the first quarter-final match, and the French squad has also lost other valuable players. Mind you, they are still a very scary team to face, and so far we’ve only seen the All Blacks against seriously inferior competition, apart from France. So perhaps we should go for the outright win after all.
Our chances of this have improved what with having one Ulsterman (Henderson) starting, and one on the bench: McCloskey, who will come on and show Aki how to play properly.
Pudding has to wait until Sunday, where we have the tasty prospects of Japan v Argentina, Tonga v Romania and Fiji v Portugal.
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Onna telly this week
Friday 6th October
| France 60 – 7 Italy |
Saturday 7th October
| Wales v Georgia | 14:00 | ITV1 / STV / RTÉ2 / S4C |
| England v Samoa | 16:45 | ITV1 / STV / RTÉ2 |
| Ireland v Scotland | 20:00 | ITV1 / STV |
Sunday 8th October
| Japan v Argentina | 12:00 | ITV1 / STV |
| Tonga v Romania | 16:45 | ITV3 |
| Fiji v Portugal | 20:00 | ITV1 / RTÉ2 |
Ovally Balls 
BB – I think the foot was possibly curved up off the turf? But I wouldn’t have argued if the call had gone the other way.
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McCloskey on for Hansen! On the wing???!!!! No, Ringrose going to wing.
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Watching this and wishing England could play with a fraction of the dynamism of either Ireland or Scotland.
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Lowe’s trimmed fringe is so weird.
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Fuck it, that’s us done.
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That was sublime play.
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Great try. Something of a role reversal going on in terms of how the teams are attacking.
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If Scotland played like that against England, they would be ripping them to shreds. Ireland look like they have 17 or 18 players on the pitch.
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TRY Ulsterman (Iain Henderson)!
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Whatever game plan we had its oot the windae now. We are getting pumped.
Still nervous Thaum?
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Bloody hell, how is this half and hour in already?
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That was a try if the facking ref hadn’t got in the way.
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BB – slightly less so but still yes. I don’t think the scoreline reflects the match.
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Well, I don’t think that was a try. But as it’s been awarded, here is our chance, now we’ve got our try bonus point, to let Scotland win by 21 or more. But … Scotland has to cooperate! If they don’t score that many, we’re out! Can they be trusted?
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On the basis of this first half so far, we coould play all night and not score.
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… Either that or Scotland have to win by 4 or less.
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@Thaum – something that came up on the Blood & Mud podscast this week, regarding the group permutations. Can you imagine asking PO’M to throw a match?
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Refit – ha, I wouldn’t want to be the one to do it.
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It’s kicking off!
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Okay, I’m a lot less nervous now.
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This is just embarrassing now.
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I was very worried in the first half, but in the second, it’s a different story. Still don’t think the scoreline reflects the match.
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Bit worried for our wingers. Don’t think Gibson-Park and Ringrose are going to cut it next week.
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That was nice of Crowley, letting Scotland have a play with the ball, via a shit kick.
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Hooray! Scotland score..
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At least Scotland aren’t getting nilled.
That was a lovely try.
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7 down, 30 to go for the win. Scotland can do this.
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Okay, Scotland can stop scoring now, as I don’t think they’ll get to the 21 mark.
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Ok, I was joking just then, but it seems Scotland took me seriously.
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That’s the Hugh Jones that scared the shit out of England.
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Refit – anyone running at their defence with the ball in hand scares the shit out of England.
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What about walking at them? Might that work?
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This has been a shonky last quarter. They all just want it done.
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Well, I’m disappointed that Scotland didn’t get through. And I’d have liked SA to also go through, but in a different pool.
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Disappointing. Ireland were really good in the first half and it was just too much for Scotland. The sort of game that makes it feel like the gap between Ire/Fra/SA/NZ and the rest is far too big for anyone else to even keep it close against them, but hope to be proved wrong on that front (and I’m sure I will be at some point even if it isn’t during this tournament).
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We’ve had some worrying injuries. Not Sexton, as might have been anticipated, but Hansen and Lowe. Hope they’re both okay for next week.
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I think Lowe got Beirne’s finger in his eye. I’m hoping he’s fine. Mac seems a bit more worrying.
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I reckon the only team that can stop Ireland winning the thing is NZ. That’s a belter of a match coming up!
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First they came for South Africa.
And not a peep.
Then they came for Scotland.
Everyone turned their back.
Now they turn to New Zealand. No one complains.
When they come to get us in the final, there’ll be no one left to defend us.
Dog help us versus the green hordes.
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Fear not Flair, your lads will have plenty of time to rest and prepare for the Top 14 after next weekend.
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Faletau is out of the rest of the tournament. Big blow for Wales. Anscombe uncertain.
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Deebee, that’s big talk coming from a team that already lost a game. When is the SA equivalent of T14 resuming?
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Feel sorry for Scotland but there was no way they could win yesterday. Not enough power, no big ball carriers, hence almost always too lateral.
And whoever coaches Ireland’s defence is better than Shaun Edwards.
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Wow. Almost an Ireland-type start from Argentina! Try in about a minute.
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What a line and step by the ARG 12!
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Flair – Simon Easterby, formerly of Scarlets & Ireland, is the Irish defence coach. Doing a bang-up job.
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Do like that Argentina shirt though.
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That deserved a try! Japanese scrum half does a wee kick over his shoulder for players to run on to! Shame they knocked on in the end.
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Japanese lock forward srpints down the wing, kicks forward, gets the lucky bounce and scores!
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What the bloody hell was that?? Most wingers couldn’t do what the JPN lock just did.
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