Seventeen sides have received cards in the tournament so far, with a total of 39 yellow or red cards issued. Most ill-disciplined/unlucky/dirty bastards/ref’s a cheat are Romania and Samoa with five each, Samoa edging the evil stakes with four yellows and a red to Romania’s five yellows (albeit two to one player). Chile and Namibia are next on four each, with Namibia winning the Excellence in Evil award with two reds and two yellows, to Chile’s four yellows. So three of the four most offensive sides are minnows and people want them playing more regularly? Pfft! Clean yer act up, you lot!
Portugal, Tonga and Wales are on three each, with the latter on three yellows and the first two with a red and two yellows. Of the QF sides, Wales are by some distance the dirtiest, dirtiest bastards, with their three cards of shame, Argentina have two (both yellow), and England, New Zealand and Fiji on one apiece, although the Flying Fijians have a paltry yellow, compared to the horrific reds that the other two have. Interesting to note that none of the big sides has picked up a card at all – Ireland, France and the Boks have been squeaky clean (as you’d expect, especially from the Boks).
Discipline is going to be absolutely key from here on in, especially in the tackle area (Karl, go home), with fine, fine margins likely to decide the Groups A & B encounters, whilst neither Fiji nor Argentina has a snowball’s against England and Wales if they are reduced to 14 for any length of time. So, to the matches themselves.
Wales v Argentina, Saturday, 4pm Marseille
Wales have had the best scrum so far in the World Cup, but the slowest at clearing the rucks, whilst for Argentina – once a feared scrummaging unit – it’s the exact opposite. Argentina have struggled this year, losing to England despite being a man up for the majority of the match, and not looking all that flash in their must-win encounter against Japan. Wales have been Gatball personified: well organised, fit and stingy on defence and this should get them over the line against the erratic, but more erotic, Argentines. If Argentina’s backs click (and they’ll need good, clean ball for this, and Wales without Faletau may be slightly weakened here) they are as good as anyone’s bar possibly France and Ireland and could sneak through in dramatic style. Wales though, play pragmatic rugby first and are likely to wear down Argentina and prevail in the end – with perhaps some LRZ magic to go with it. Wales by less than 10.
Ireland v New Zealand, Saturday 8pm, Stade de France
A massive, massive encounter with some wonderful recent history between the sides – most of it in Ireland’s favour. They’ve duffed the Kiwis in a series in Mordor and have had the rub against them more often than not in recent years (can’t be bothered to look at the actual stats, the cards ones were enough for one week). Ireland are the complete package, with a very strong tight five and probably the best balanced and most accomplished loose trio in the world at present. None of O’Mahoney, van der Vlier or Doris is a huge man – they’re all around 106kg – but they’re nimble, feisty and intelligent, giving their backs the platform to weave their magic from. Sexton commands his troops behind the marauding pack with aplomb, giving space and time to a very well-drilled and skilful back line. There really isn’t much you can fault in the side. The Kiwis have apparently been slipping in under the radar. I’m not so sure. Yes, they’ve been ruthless in dispatching the lesser sides, including an appalling Italy, but their last two Big Tests have been against teams that actually defend – and the Boks and France have both dispatched them with room to spare. Are they coming to the boil at the right time? I’m not so sure: they have a callow front row, an illustrious but fading second row and an unbalanced back row, with a captain many Kiwis don’t think should be in the side at all. The backs remain lethal, however, and give the All Blacks a puncher’s chance of creating an upset. Yes, an upset. Ireland by 7 or a bit more.
England v Fiji, Sunday, 4pm, Marseille
The Flying Fijians have been more a Sopwith Camel with a spluttering engine, than an F16 jet this tournament, and come up against the most ridiculed sporting side in the history of ridicule. A question of who wants it less may be on the cards. Fiji have lost a couple of key players and the bereavement in the camp may upset their rhythm – or it may spur them on to greater things. They’re still capable of breathtaking tries and length of the field gallops, but their final passes and general handling have let them down this year. Get it right, and they could pull off the shock of the weekend (yes, I know they beat England a few months ago, but still). England? They’ve picked the Venus de Milo at 10, with his unique interpretation of None Shall Pass! and Marcus Smith at 15 – not a familiar position for him and one that he may regret if a few 20 stone (not sure if that’s an actual, possible weight for a man) Fijians come flying through the defenders in front of him. England’s pack should have the measure of Fiji’s and I think we’ll see slow poison from them, with Farrell pulling the strings from behind, although I don’t expect a symphony of slickness outside of him. England by 10 or thereabouts.
France v South Africa, Sunday 8pm, Stade de France
It is testimony to my great skills set that I’m able to type this whilst hiding behind the couch with my eyes closed. For every moment of surging belief that the Boks are Back and have been playing possum up until now (there’s a lot of tinfoil speculation that this is indeed the case down here) and will now reveal their full hand, there’s a sinking feeling that this is as good as it gets and we’ve got no more gears. The Boks have picked a side that has surprised many – with Cobus Reinach preferred to Faf and Libbok retaining the 10 jersey over supposed saviour Pollard. Damian Willemse at 15 may be the number one kicker as well. All in all, it look a more enterprising back division (save for de Allende at 12) and the 5-3 split on the bench has two very good fetchers and link players in Deon Fourie and Kwagga Smith, as well as the monstrous presence of RG Snyman in addition to the two props. Faf, Pollard and Willie le Roux give the Boks more flexibility in terms of how the match is progressing – if we’re well up, Faf will keep France pedalling backwards; if we need points, Pollard to kick; if we need creativity, Willie to play first receiver. France? Well, like Ireland they have few weaknesses and some sublime players – it’s not just about Dupont, with Jalibert, Fickou, Penaud and Ramos they have stardust aplenty in the backs. France also have a pack that can match the Boks in every department, including the famed ‘physicality’, and have been extremely disciplined. The set pieces should be titanic and it’s an area in which the Boks have been curiously sloppy in this tournament. France also attack wonderfully – when it’s on. A curious note is that apparently France have kicked more than any other side in the last 8, which is strange for a side of supposed gazelles, but the Kiwis also did it in their pomp. Clever, accurate kicking is poison to opponents and France have been excellent at this. As the depression settles in reading this, I’m reminded that the Boks almost beat France in Marseille in November last year, despite having played most of the match with 14, so it’s not all over, yet. It should be a humdinger! The head is leaning towards France with their fantastic side and even more magnificent supporters, the heart is pure green and gold. I’m going with the heart. Boks by no more than 3.
Bokky sunshiny optimism by Deebee7.
Blog News
I’ve added a page to the site for help with Tech Issues (click on Other Pages at the top right). So far it addresses the issue of WordPress not remembering your login and not allowing you to recommend posts or comments.y
Also, I have heard from TomPirracas who has sent this fab video of great reffing.
Onna telly this week
Friday 13th October
| Bristol v Leicester | 19:45 | TNT Sports 1 |
Saturday 14th October
| Exeter v Saracens | 13:30 | TNT Sports 1 |
| Wales v Argentina | 16:00 | ITV1 / STV / S4C / iPlayer |
| Ireland v New Zealand | 20:00 | ITV1 / STV |
Sunday 15th October
| Sale v Northampton | 13:30 | TNT Sports 1 |
| England v Fiji | 16:00 | ITV1 / STV / RTÉ2 |
| France v South Africa | 20:00 | ITV1 / / STV / RTÉ2 |
Ovally Balls 
Can’t keep up…
Armstrong (has to be one of ours with a name like that, and he’s a nine too…) gets try number 11.
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Stone me! Just in from the potager and there’s a miss-print on BBS’s scores …………………..tee-hee
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Armstrong – forename Niall – sounds like he’s Irish
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Armstrong is a guid Borders name and his parents obviously didn’t want him mixed up with Neal.
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Just trying to work out if I want a cuppa, or a beer, while watching Wales.
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Whoever put the numbers on the Wales shirts needs to find new employment
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The Wales kit is in a shocking state. Everyone’s numbers are falling off.
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Slow to the breakdown again…
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Great Welsh TRYYYYY!
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Whoever put the numbers on the Wales shirts needs to find new employment
I suspect they will soon have that opportunity.
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Nicely worked from Wales
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First blood to Wales. Biggar in under the posts.
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Peyper fucked
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South African out of World Cup shocker!
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Now the English referee has to decide if he hates the Welsh or the Argentines more.
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Peyper’s pulled a calf muscle. Dickson’s being subbed on.
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That’s tough for Jaco
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I miss Eddie Butler. Bet he would have read Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night even better than Richard Burton.
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Red card for Rowlands & Thomas? Head contact on each other?
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Interesting implication by Nick Mullins – that Prince William queued up with the plebs for a ticket to this match.
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Some of what we’re doing is really good and, dare I say it, quite adventurous. Too many mistakes though and the lineout especially is costing us.
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Now we seem to be having a fight again.
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Uh-oh, Lavanini’s getting in the mix.
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Probably going to be a card for Adams
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Naughty by Adams.
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Penalty reversal is fair enough, I reckon.
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Stupid.
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“He wraps” is incredibly generous to what Adams did.
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Only 10-6. Went a bit wrong with Biggar missing that kick and the lost lineouts.
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Adams is lucky there
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If Wales stay disciplined they will win. Doing as Adams, they will lose
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Wales a bit stupid there. Why poke the tiger when he plays so poorly and you dominate every exchange? Not the greatest game but Wales cant lose this if they keep their composure.
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Gómez Kodela is a great name
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Josh Adams being a total liability. Could’ve argued he interfered with the player in the air there.
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This has gone a bit runny at this point.
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CMW – TMI
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Suddenly a second try.
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Does that even need to go to the bunker?
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You must be joking!
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I think he could come in a bit more carefully, but there we are.
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Very poor second half from Wales so far.
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If Wales lose this, it will be highly controversial.
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Dyer fucked that.
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It was a good break from Dyer, but there was surely a pass on there.
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Hell of a tackle though
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Ohhhh dear.
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Nice spot from Sanchez. Wales could perhaps have won this game comfortably if they’d kept it together in the last ten minutes of the first half, but let them back in and it’s been mostly one way since then. Don’t think Argentina have been all that good though obviously good enough, done well up front but a bit disappointing to my mind beyond that. We really did fall apart, probably spared a hiding in the semi-final on today’s performance.
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It was a nice spot from Sanchez, fair play.
Feel that Wales could have won this comfortably if they’d kept it together in the last ten minutes of the first half. It was mostly one way from then on though. Good performance from the Argentina forwards, a bit disappointing beyond that, but obviously it was good enough on the day. We really did fall apart and on today’s performance have been saved from a hiding in the semi-final. Argentina will probably get one, but they’ve earned the chance to prove otherwise.
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Sorry about the ‘double post’ it didn’t appear the first time. Feel free to delete either!
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Didn’t see that coming after the first 30 minutes, and then suddenly Wales hit a wall. Two very well taken tries by Wales, but I thought they were a bit conservative, to be honest.
Commiserations to our Welsh fans here, Wales should’ve wrapped that up in the first 40.
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