Pool A - Ireland, Scotland, Japan, Russia, Samoa

[D/L]

Latest is that Japan v Scotland is still due to go ahead. Hope it does. It should be a great game, particularly if Scotland can field their strongest side.

 

[Spark]

This thing is no joke.

 

[andruid]

wow!

 

[BoyBrumby]

Japan pulling out the old "kami-kaze" trick from their playbook, it seems. Worked against the Mongol hordes in the 13th century, so why not try it again now, eh?

Played. I was going to make a similar "divine wind" smartarseicism.

 

[Grasshopper]

I'd suggest they cant cancel 2 matches and delay another, that's be a touch unfairsys in my book.

I agree, it's got to be a level playing field - as much as possible, anyway. Of course, this only serves to highlight World Ruby's pathetic lack of a decent contingency plan in the first place. Muppets.

 

[Howe_zat]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/50011693

Scottish Rugby believes it has a legal case against the game's governing body as it seeks to ensure their decisive World Cup match with Japan goes ahead.
...

"For World Rugby to simply state that the game has to be cancelled goes against the whole sporting integrity of the tournament," [Mark] Dodson told the Today programme on BBC Radio Four.

"World Rugby have pointed us back to the participation agreement and that it is clearly stated there. We've had a legal opinion and then we've taken a leading sports QC opinion in London that challenges that and unravels the World Rugby case."

 

[BoyBrumby]

Lawyers! Yay. They make everything better.

Totally understand how the Sweaties are mardy about it though. Must be the worst possible way to exit a tournament.

 

[ripper868]

Nah, worst way would be losing to Wales and Australia at home in your own World Cup, while still having Uruguay to play in a dead rubber

 

[BoyBrumby]

Nah, worst way would be losing to Wales and Australia at home in your own World Cup, while still having Uruguay to play in a dead rubber

Ha. Bastard.

It's up/down there, yes.

 

[Howe_zat]

Nah, worst way would be losing to Wales and Australia at home in your own World Cup, while still having Uruguay to play in a dead rubber

[x] oof
[x] ouch
[x] ow

 

[Uppercut]

Lawyers! Yay. They make everything better.

Totally understand how the Sweaties are mardy about it though. Must be the worst possible way to exit a tournament.

You see their manager’s comments from back when it originally seemed that the Ireland game would be cancelled?

 

[Furball]

Being eliminated from a major tournament due to weather is the most Scottish thing possible.

 

[ripper868]

Irish commentator on ITV "you just can not go in to a tackle with that kind of force"...you kidding me? The Irish player has basically headbutted the Samoan on the shoulder, who was at perfect tackling height. Berry applied the mitigation well, but Samoa can definitely feel hard done by.

 

[ripper868]

I'd say Henshaw has run into the samoan defender there as well...these 2 ITV commentators are the most 1 eyed I've heard in the tournament

 

[ripper868]

And whilst Samoa were always up against it in this match, these 2 decisions have led to an easy easy try for Ireland, and the match is effectively dead at the 9 minute mark.

 

[marc71178]

I'd say Henshaw has run into the samoan defender there as well...these 2 ITV commentators are the most 1 eyed I've heard in the tournament

Irish commentators or people commentating about Irish rugby are dreadful. I hate that Premier Sports is so pro-Irish it almost makes their coverage of the Pro 14 not worth paying for.

 

[Howe_zat]

Samoa have played the ugliest rugby they can with talented players for years, and they've been picking up cards all tournament because they come out and try and injure the opposition rather than play. I've very little sympathy for them

 

[ripper868]

This should be a red card for ireland...shoulder direct to the head. With no mitigation

 

[Spark]

Yikes, shoulder straight to the cheekbone.

 

[ripper868]

And Aki is of island heritage so should be a red card. Clear intent to injure