Only realised towards the end I have Japan in the sweepstake. That was the most I've ever enjoyed a game as a neutral. They weren't lucky either, good value for their win. I thought they'd do the usual minor nation thing and tire at 60 minutes then ship a load of points but other than a few individual missed tackles they more than held their own. Makes things tough for Scotland.
We're desperate. That said, remember that our injuries today were to some of our back up players. We still have Roberts in the centre. We still have Mike Philips (who can be great). We still have, umm, Gavin Henson to call up for full back cover.....................
England were no more than OK but, ultimately the result, a bonus point win, was all we could have hoped for. Use of the TMO was ridiculous at times. It's a strange one as the decisions made via TMO were the right ones but officials should officiate. Set piece not good and not enough bite on the forwards . . . no big feckers taking the ball up the middle before throwing it wide. Courtney Lawes has been very quiet by his standards in the last couple of games and I'd be on the phone to Dylan Hartley if I was Lancaster.
Georgia beating Tonga was a pretty big upset but . . . as far as upsets go, Japan beating SA is just about the biggest I've witnessed in any sport. Certainly the biggest in Rugby and a victory of heart over reputation. Wouldn't want to be playing the Boks next.
Samoa v USA went according to form but probably closer that many would have thought. Wales 2nd string did the job on an obdurate but ultimately amateur Uruguay. Cardiff A&E must be packed.
Argentina certainly look to have benefited from being in the Rugby Championship and it will take a good side to beat them. Sonny Bill was a very very effective replacement and The Blackness will only get better.
Japan vs Scotland on Wednesday has to be the pick of the midweek fixtures . . . I doubt there will be many neutrals there after Saturday's performance.
We're desperate. That said, remember that our injuries today were to some of our back up players. We still have Roberts in the centre. We still have Mike Philips (who can be great). We still have, umm, Gavin Henson to call up for full back cover.....................
We're desperate. ...... We still have Mike Philips (who can be great). ...............
Mike Phillips is one of the worst scrum halves ever. He takes an age to dig the ball out, then takes 3 steps sideways and then finally passes.... not fit to clean Gareth's boots, let alone lace them!
He's not a bad auxillary donkey mind!
Been a great first weekend capped by Japan's amazing result.
Agree about how much Argentina have benefitted from greater exposure to the SH big 3.
Samoa were disappointing I thought - played far too loose to early, but credit to the USA for hanging in there.
It doesn't get any better than that Japan game. Simply stunning. As said above, I don't think I've ever been on the edge of the sofa screaming for Japan before.
It doesn't get any better than that Japan game. Simply stunning. As said above, I don't think I've ever been on the edge of the sofa screaming for Japan before.
Unfortunately didn't see it live. Hearing about it I watched it on ITV player and still couldn't quite believe it. Great stuff.
Phew. As has been said, if the answer is James Hook then you're asking the wrong question. Fortunately, in replacing Corey Allen, Gatland has asked a different one.
England have the hardest group with Australia and Wales. The Welsh will have an unfair advantage when they play England as they spend all year chasing white things around a field.
Mind you we may have to take lessons from the English when we catch them...
I was at the Japan game, and it was probably the best atmosphere at any rugby game I've been to - absolutely electric, and very few neutrals by the end!
Especially nice was the Japanese family - lad on dad's shoulders - who were cheered and clapped all the way through the stadium on the way out.
Can someone remind me how exactly England, Wales and Australia ended up in the same group? I mean look at NZ's group FFS.
Yeah, twas just the way the draw fell.
But to win the world championships, you have to be able to beat the best...
Well it's a poor system then.
I don't buy it, the teams from Pool A will be more tired and beaten up than the All Blacks - it's an unfair disadvantage.
Can someone remind me how exactly England, Wales and Australia ended up in the same group? I mean look at NZ's group FFS.
Because Wales decided to be really really censored around the time of the draw. They managed to conspire a 9th place. That put them in the 3rd draw part. Nominally you'd expect the Tri Nations and the Home Nations (and France) to occupy the top 8 but variability from Wales, Ireland and, poor Scotland, sees Argentina et al bump into it regularly.
Had Wales been a place higher (they lost narrowly to Oz in the make or break game) they'd certainly have avoided Australia England and would have been the 2nd tier in a different group.
We're desperate. ...... We still have Mike Philips (who can be great). ...............
Mike Phillips is one of the worst scrum halves ever. He takes an age to dig the ball out, then takes 3 steps sideways and then finally passes.... not fit to clean Gareth's boots, let alone lace them!
He's not a bad auxillary donkey mind!
Sort of agree with you, especially now as he's way past his best but at his peak he was very good albeit a different type of scrum half to Edwards (or the greatest of them all, Dai Bishop ). He's much more a Terry Holmes type, running at the back row and creating space. That doesn't really suit the Welsh way of playing though and Webb is going to be missed.
It's being reported that Ford is being dropped to the bench and that England are starting with a 10-12-13 of Farrell, Barritt and Burgess............. Jesus F#cking wept!!
This is a line up with "we don't want to lose" written all over it!
I have no idea how Burt has taken four years to arrive at this midfield combination, it is just the most unimaginative selection available!
It's being reported that Ford is being dropped to the bench and that England are starting with a 10-12-13 of Farrell, Barritt and Burgess............. Jesus F#cking wept!!
This is a line up with "we don't want to lose" written all over it!
I have no idea how Burt has taken four years to arrive at this midfield combination, it is just the most unimaginative selection available!
Dropping Ford . . . WTF? In the absence of the injured Joseph, I would also have though that Slade would add the rapier to Barritt's broadsword.
Burgess selection could be the making or breaking of England. I can't work out whether this selection is that of a man trying to make the best of a bad situation (ie injury to JJ) or whether it's trying to match Gatland's perceived selectorial guile.
Doubtless the winning coach will be hailed "a genius"
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Me too!!
Only game I saw, missed Ireland steamroll Canada and France best Italy. Wouldn't mind another upset or two, make the second rounds interesting
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They gave it there all for 80 minutes. Poor sods being the whipping boys of the group.
Agree with the NZ game. Second half could really light up
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Georgia beating Tonga was a pretty big upset but . . . as far as upsets go, Japan beating SA is just about the biggest I've witnessed in any sport. Certainly the biggest in Rugby and a victory of heart over reputation. Wouldn't want to be playing the Boks next.
Samoa v USA went according to form but probably closer that many would have thought. Wales 2nd string did the job on an obdurate but ultimately amateur Uruguay. Cardiff A&E must be packed.
Argentina certainly look to have benefited from being in the Rugby Championship and it will take a good side to beat them. Sonny Bill was a very very effective replacement and The Blackness will only get better.
Japan vs Scotland on Wednesday has to be the pick of the midweek fixtures . . . I doubt there will be many neutrals there after Saturday's performance.
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Mike Phillips is one of the worst scrum halves ever. He takes an age to dig the ball out, then takes 3 steps sideways and then finally passes.... not fit to clean Gareth's boots, let alone lace them!
He's not a bad auxillary donkey mind!
Been a great first weekend capped by Japan's amazing result.
Agree about how much Argentina have benefitted from greater exposure to the SH big 3.
Samoa were disappointing I thought - played far too loose to early, but credit to the USA for hanging in there.
Can Japan recover for Wednesday?
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Mind you we may have to take lessons from the English when we catch them...
http://www.standard.co.uk/news/commuters-saw-man-have-sex-with-goat-6329803.html
Especially nice was the Japanese family - lad on dad's shoulders - who were cheered and clapped all the way through the stadium on the way out.
Yeah, twas just the way the draw fell.
But to win the world championships, you have to be able to beat the best...
Well it's a poor system then.
I don't buy it, the teams from Pool A will be more tired and beaten up than the All Blacks - it's an unfair disadvantage.
Because Wales decided to be really really censored around the time of the draw. They managed to conspire a 9th place. That put them in the 3rd draw part. Nominally you'd expect the Tri Nations and the Home Nations (and France) to occupy the top 8 but variability from Wales, Ireland and, poor Scotland, sees Argentina et al bump into it regularly.
Had Wales been a place higher (they lost narrowly to Oz in the make or break game) they'd certainly have avoided Australia England and would have been the 2nd tier in a different group.
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Sort of agree with you, especially now as he's way past his best but at his peak he was very good albeit a different type of scrum half to Edwards (or the greatest of them all, Dai Bishop
This is a line up with "we don't want to lose" written all over it!
I have no idea how Burt has taken four years to arrive at this midfield combination, it is just the most unimaginative selection available!
Dropping Ford . . . WTF? In the absence of the injured Joseph, I would also have though that Slade would add the rapier to Barritt's broadsword.
Burgess selection could be the making or breaking of England. I can't work out whether this selection is that of a man trying to make the best of a bad situation (ie injury to JJ) or whether it's trying to match Gatland's perceived selectorial guile.
Doubtless the winning coach will be hailed "a genius"