Rugby thread (6 Nations, Heineken Cup etc)

[Matt Defis]

Handling errors is a problem for every team, the humidity just seems to be making the ball that slippery that the control just isn't there. 

[Matt Defis]

Japan are looking so good. 

[Earlleft]

They are great to watch. Some game against the Scots in a week. Definitely everyone's second  team.

[lolly]

Except the Japanese obviously...

[McFly]

Excellent display from Scotland, got the vital bonus point. Scotland should go into Japan game on sunday, could be a cracking game, with confidence. Pity both teams cant go through

[McFly]

Ref and TMO ruining Wales v Fiji

[Matt Defis]

Jesus christ that was horrible again, Pacific island teams really are boogeymen for Wales.  

[McFly]

If Fiji were a bit more disciplined they could have won that game, Wales did well to survive.

[merman]

Injuries mounting for Wales though, could affect them in the quarter-finals

[Matt Defis]

Guess we're lucky that gatland learned gots lesson after the last world cup and spent the last 4 years building some really good strength in depth. 

 

I think we'll be good, Biggar looked fine after the game, Davies is a key player to be losing though. 

[g wings]

Wales threw it around too much but did well in the end.

 

Biggar is out of the next game but should be ok after that.

 

Hope Jonathan Davies isn't injured, he’s world class and his defence is key for us. 

[JohnC]

England-France and New Zealand-Italy called off due to typhoon. Each is a 0-0 draw. England and France go through from Pool C. New Zealand and South Africa go through from Pool B.

 

Scotland-Japan remains under review, final decision Sunday morning. It could knock out Scotland. Previously in that pool, Ireland-Samoa was under threat, with the risk of Ireland being knocked out by the typhoon until it changed course. Shame that a typhoon could be deciding the group.

[Fry Crayola]

I hope not. Mostly because Scotland - Japan should be a cracker at least, but also because if it's called off, Ireland are fixed in second place.

[glb]

Credible point for Italy, they’ll be dancing in the streets of Rome!

[Fry Crayola]

Nah, they'll be gutted they couldn't get just one more score to send them through.

[glb]

They’d have to have beaten the All Blacks with a bonus point to go through

 

Shame to see games cancelled, but makes sense for those that have been declared draws. Guess Japan Scotland is being given as late a chance as possible to go ahead because the pool is still wide open.

[Fry Crayola]

8 minutes ago, glb said:

They’d have to have beaten the All Blacks with a bonus point to go through

 

First tie breaker is head to head result, so they'd need to win by eight. We're both wrong!

[glb]

[Waggo]

Got to be honest but I hope Japan do Scotland good and proper today.

 

I think the Scottish RFU’s response to the possible typhoon cancellation has been unsportsmanlike to say the very least.  We are not talking about a bit of bad weather here, but a major catastrophe that so far has killed at least 18 people and could have even been much worse than that!!!!  On top of that they knew the regulations regarding cancelled games when they signed up to the tournament, so threatening to sue if the game had been cancelled leaves a sour taste in my mouth.

 

Further to this the Scottish coach was questioning the decision leading to the Japan bonus try in the last round of games. 

 

So on balance I would be quite happy to see Japan stuff em and bounce them straight onto the next flight home (Weather permitting of course).

[Matt Defis]

Can't say I disagree with any of that. 

 

Wales have been shockingly bad that first half, so many mistakes. 

[Captain Novaforce]

Glad Scotland game going ahead, Japan looking pretty strong

[glb]

Scotland should sue themselves for not turning up.

[Waggo]

Yup they are getting battered and it ain’t down to typhoon Hagibis.  Karma can be a real bitch.

[layten]

Scotland starting to think demanding the game go ahead was not the best idea.  

[Gabzy]

Come on Japan!

[JohnC]

So Ireland only have to beat New Zealand next round 

[Waggo]

Going to be a cracking weekend of Rugby next week.  Not a duff match in there.

[SimonC]

54 minutes ago, Waggo said:

Going to be a cracking weekend of Rugby next week.  Not a duff match in there.

 

There certainly is! That's my mornings sorted for next weekend. I'm in Germany the following weekend so if England get past Australia I may have a problem with getting to watch it....

 

Wales must be favourites for a final spot given the teams in their half of the draw? No idea on the other side with NZ, Aus, Ire and Eng all in the mix. NZ probably beating England in the semi would be my best guess.

 

Closer to home, I've got season tickets for me and my kids for Northampton this season. We've been going to around 10+ games the last few seasons so it made sense to get them. Then it  didn't seem like good sense when we'd seen them lose 3 at home in a row. So it was good to hear they got a first win of the season yesterday. Away from home 

[kensei]

2 hours ago, JohnC said:

So Ireland only have to beat New Zealand next round 

 

Think whoever wins it will likely have to go through New Zealand. I know the whole we've never been past a quarter final thing, but Schmidt doesn't care about that, he wants to win it. 

 

Given form we're heavy underdogs and if Bad Ireland turns up we are in for an absolute hiding, but if Good Ireland turns up we've a chance. We've at least done it before now. 

[bear]

Good to see them calling out Jones. His hatred of Ireland makes Sammy Wilson look reasonable by comparison.