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What does this tell us about the coaching and on field leadership?
Don't set yourself up @aa you'll just feel even worse when you don't make it out if the group 8)
Nmbuzz...Trying to blot out Joel Tomkins there eh?
6 caps...SIX caps...
So today,various HD recorders set, Tonga game should be red of tooth and claw,France Italy should give us an idea of " which French team will turn up" SA/Irish will be turkey shoots.
Danw I agree with the strategic call, but I think they would have scored more by mauling from those penalties. That's where the leadership counts - as soon as we destroyed them the first time, we should have been doing it again and again - the ref had already awarded a penalty try so the poor Fijian maul and cynical destruction of it was firmly established as a precedent.
An hour of that and Fiji would be 50 down easily in my view - and I thinks points difference might matter in this pool.
That's a good point on the mauls. You wouldn't catch Ireland wasting an opportunity to maul a team to death. The was a general lack of direction from England- almost like playing in red turned them in to Wales in the November internationals involving Fiji
Trying to blot out Joel Tomkins there eh?
No. He didn't play in any RWCs. 3 caps plus 2 for the Saxons in 2013.
England have this bizarre notion that RL players can be parachuted straight into the England Union Team in order to play centre.
Along with the aforementioned Farrell, Hape and Tomkins we've also had Henry Paul and (shudder) Barrie Jon Mather. They've all been embarrassing failures.
SB is better than the lot of them but that doesn't mean he should be there. Surely in all of England there's an inside centre better than a pedestrian Saffa and a RL forward who's still learning where to stand?
Anyhow, the World Cup has just started properly at Kingsholm 8)
Those Georgians are monsters! 😯
Georgia 🙂
@Idle don't leakers early, it's a long tournament. I did say to my wife (first RWC since we've been together) that there are many games and I but I will be watching only some, I was even prepared to miss France v Italy tonight to have a drink with her friends - what sacrifice eh 😉
Tom Youngs is too fast to be an England centre.
Thoroughly enjoying this game.
No biff yet though 😐
@Idle don't leakers early, it's a long tournament. I did say to my wife (first RWC since we've been together) that there are many games and I but I will be watching only some, I was even prepared to miss France v Italy tonight to have a drink with her friends - what sacrifice eh
Ha, she's been with me long enough to know the priority is:
Bike
Rugby
Wine
Beer
Wife
😆
(Hopefully she's not reading this! 😳 )
Good game that, more finesse than I thought there'd be. Georgia looking much better than the last time I saw them.
Didn't get out early today, so I've got to miss one of these at least if I want to get a bike ride in on this fantastic day.
on't set yourself up @aa you'll just feel even worse when you don't make it out if the group
I'm resigned to that already. I just think its amazing that a pro player who has been eating drinkingvand living rugby for the past year doesnt know that
The official website is saying only 14k at a 'sold out' Kingsholm today, which is well short of capacity - evidently not over packing the terraces or something.
Went for a ride, came back to see Japan draw level with RSA 😯
That's the last time I listen to STW about the likely game quality 🙂
COME ON JAPAN!!!!!!
😀
HONTO NE!!!!!!
GO Japan
How good has this been!
Wow, thought theyd have taken 3 point for a draw!
😀
superb
Much prefered watching that game over the England one
WTF
Oh my God
Wow!
Sayonara, baby!!!
Whoa!
Well I think the World Cup just began. 8) Epic game.
Yes, yes, yes!
Brilliant result for the whole tournament and the whole game!
Amazing stuff.
What a game 😀
I'm glad I watched that, I was going to give it a miss expecting a routine win for SA. Totally gripping stuff.
Just got back from a ride. Brilliant stuff i love japan xx
What that has done is pushed SA towards England's potential QF draw, if they finally get their s@@t together.
That group is WIDE open.
I'm just back from Japan, and heading back there next Thursday. I feel some of my Japanese whiskey coming out tonight.
That group is WIDE open.
Yeah, now more than a touch worried about how Scotland will get on.
It was so refreshing to watch a team that can pass the ball about, not get 'white line fever' and actually convert under pressure. If that was Scotland I would of been wishing for them to take the 3 points at the end. Going for a win would almost certainly ended in tears.
Well, it might be unsporting, but I'm so happy Japan only have four days to recover before they play us.
Putting 30 odd points on SA is an achievement in itself... but to win in that manner with no fear of playing running rugby even in added time... amazing!
What a way to win too! So calm and clinical in injury time. Great try too!
Holy crap, the scots should be absolutely petrified!!!!!
Very well played Japan, looks tougher still for Scotland
This is getting stupid now!
Fantastic.
Even if they didn't win - they will be know for not taking the penalty option.
But they did win! KFC Bargain Buckets all round!
wrecker - Member - Block User - Quote
Samoa for me. Keen on the canadians too.
Poor Canucks - had a bit of lesson today. 🙁
I expect Scotland to comfortably beat Japan. A 4 day turnaround, plus there is NO chance Scotland will now be as complacent as the boks.
Chances are SA will still top the group if they beat Scotland, which is certainly now in the balance. This game today as made this WC already for me.
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😀
Very good CFH. 😀
Super Gavin Henson ?@UnrealGavHenson
Amazing stuff! Not seen the Japanese cause such a big upset since Big Gav ate that gone-off sushi! #RWC2015
On my way back from the match now. That was unbelievable! Turned up expecting a drubbing, witnessed sporting history. The atmosphere was electric, Springbok fans were really sporting in defeat too, great event!
South African friend posting this on Facebook, I replied at half time with "Her majesty has called the Japanese to say she is not amused", in my wildest dreams I didn't think they'd close it out.
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Unfortunately did not see the game but will find a re-run. What an outstanding result.
@dave, yes indeed Rugby history made in Brighton of all,places !!
I too think Scotlamd will be too fresh and wise to allow another Japanese win, sadly. Would love to see a Japan / England QF, even if we where tuned over I'd be pleased for Japan.
Poor Canucks - had a bit of lesson today.
as expected.
I expect Scotland to comfortably beat Japan.
hmm. there was a lot more quality in that SA side than the scots can muster. I expect it'll be anything but comfortable.
As often happens, I expect this to be Japan's 'final' and there's no way they are going to match that again.
Shame really, but even that result is going to be such a massive boost to rugby in Japan.
Well, we had a grand day at Kingsholm yesterday - really enjoyed watching the Georgians and Tongans go at one another. Some of those Georgians are big lads! 😯
We were stood just outside the Shed - couldn't quite believe we were bathed in sunshine for the whole game. 🙂 Saw that nicely worked Tongan try in our corner that Nige disallowed which was rough on the Tongans we thought.
Down to the Fanzone for the first half of Canada - Ireland and then to the pub for a bite and a few pints for the second half. The atmosphere round the ground, Fanzone and pubs was grand - helped by the autumn sunshine no doubt.
A throughly enjoyable day out. 😀
Like
Wrecker, there is a lot of quality, but the boks have been in turmoil for a few months, and badly out of form. Eddy Jones also knows their setup intimately and devised a game plan to counter their lumbering giants.
There's not a lot between all of the other teams in group B, so it will be really interesting as a neutral, but I still expect Scotland to qualify, and probably SA too.
Just back from anagallis juniors first rugby training session!
Can anyone explain what the point of that Orangutan is? I hate itv this world cup for me proves the worth of the license fee.
Wrecker, there is a lot of quality, but the boks have been in turmoil for a few months, and badly out of form.
Absolutely, but they are still ranked 3rd in the world.
I agree that group B has suddenly become one of the most interesting. Any two of four in that group could go through. Samoa have a very good team this year and are more than capable of beating the scots, Sa and japan on their day.
Can anyone explain what the point of that Orangutan is? I hate itv this world cup for me proves the worth of the license fee.
Indeed - ads in between the anthems and kickoff FFS! No idea about the monkey,
I hope Junior AA enjoy it - we've just started KJ01's second season last week, and they've start pad work (mauls) and now all passes must be backward, whereas last year was throwing and catching, running then mini games of tag. Its starting to looking a bit more real!
Why is there no plate competition for the teamsvwho do not make it through..... I would have thought it would develop the skills of the countries and throw up some interesing games?
Can anyone explain what the point of that Orangutan is? I hate itv this world cup for me proves the worth of the license fee.
Apparently it's so that my boys can try to be the first to shout 'Sam/Joe get off the pitch' at each other every time it appears.
Erm.
Good to see the proper Haka back.
McCaw binned, first time I have ever liked a Wayne Barnes decision
Glad we seem to have skimmed over the Wales game as it wasn't great 😳 Pretty much as expected from a makeshift team (Wales not Uruguay!). Of the players on for any decent length of time, only Davies looked sharp. The team selection seemed to be about avoiding injury to the key players and they still seemed to pick them up! It can't be long before Hook, Phillips and Jones re-unite 😆
It looks like Cory Allen has done a significant hamstring injury. He is going to be scanned tomorrow (Monday) and Liam Williams got a knock on the thigh. Samson Lee and Paul James have got tight calves and Dan Lydiate had a head assessment, but he has passed that, which is good, as he’s now able to take a full part in training next week. Aaron Jarvis popped a rib cartilage as well. I don’t think it’s too serious, but he was in quite significant pain. He really dug in deep for the last 20 minutes or else we would have had to go down to 14 men. He really put his body on the line which was impressive from him. Sam Warburton had a bit of a tight groin, but he’s ok. I’m all right!
Given the way this tournament is being reff-ed so far and the use of TMO McCaw is going to have to change the way he plays or he's going to be off the field every match. NZ looked pretty rusty and butchered plenty of chances, they'll get better but didn't look close to RWC winners today
Havent watched the Wales game. Bit worried about Williams and Samson. Can we risk starting with Samson or having him on the bench? If Liam plays Amos can play wing and butter fingers Calamity Cuthbert can be dropped. No idea who would cover back 3 from the bench though. Please no one say Morgan or you will make me cry!!
I'm not much of rugby follower but I'm enjoying watching some matches on TV so far, except for that caterwauling horror Paloma Faith. What were they thinking!
from how cuthbert played today, morgan is the least of the problems!
That Uruguayan open side looked like a 45 year old prop! Turns out he's an IT consultant..........I'd better watch what I say, he might be a STW member!
Cuthburt and Amos were both pretty awful. Cuthburt didn't catch anything all game and Amos was constantly offloading to the opposition. Morgan even cleaned out a ruck!
No idea who would cover back 3 from the bench though.
When asked in the studio the unanimous answer was "Hook.... or er... well Hook... but here's some others Gatland will actually bring in instead"
Given the way this tournament is being reff-ed so far and the use of TMO McCaw is going to have to change the way he plays or he's going to be off the field every match.
There was a noticeable difference between watching NZ around the breakdown and everyone else so far- they really did stick out for pushing the limits (and breaking them). That said, the way the breakdown seems to be refereed is anything goes for the attacking team and only slightly stricter for the defending team. It does make for more flowing rugby but the pedants must find it hard to watch 😀 You still won't get away with tripping someone though by the looks of it- naughty boy!
Well that was a pretty fantastic first weekend of the world cup, good opening ceremony with a nod to the history albeit inaccurate, lots of good games, brilliant crowds (both size and atmosphere) and a big upset - roll on next week.
Yep, absolutely loved the first weekend!! Some great games! SA v Japan, NZ v Argentina and Tonga v Georgia we all fantastic.
Would appreciate a proper STWRefOpinion but isn't a deliberate trip a straight red?
I thought that as well, CFH.
It would appear not!
http://laws.worldrugby.org/?highlight=Trip&law=10.4
Seems a yellow was above the norm. Bravo, Barnes!
Thought carter trying to dislodge the ball with his foot needs looking at, reckless and caused injury.
A lot of cynical play from the all blacks, they do t like it when it doesn't go there way. McCaw sent for ' I can barely believe it.
Massive respect for Barnes, great referring today.