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I would have thought the Scots would be delighted at the prospect of the game being cancelled.
It'll surely spare them the embarrassment of being schooled by Japan?
Surely they must be able to find a stadium out of the firing line for Japan/Scotland?
There are plans in place. knockout stages there are alternative days for matches but its impossible to do for all the pool matches
Namaste Not really . We want it played - not because we are confident of a win, far from it. But because its the right thing to do and should be a cracker of a game. Its the game that most fans of any country have had marked as the game of the pool stages
impossible to do for all the pool matches
If it's genuinely impossible to put any contingency plans in place (new venue, behind closed doors, etc) then don't have a tournament in typhoon season.
More rest for England and France but neither have had a hard close game yet, wonder how it will play out.
it is a shame and safety first but I think AA’s implication here is right. England need more of a test, and they’ve some players that need game time to get into this World Cup. They’ve just been denied that. To me that makes the Aus game just that bit harder and there are connotations which could affect us.
e.g. If Billy V goes off quickly then Wilson has little game time. Farrell is ill currently and although Ford seems to be playing well he’s not really been under pressure yet and we know that’s where he cracks. Slade Mako & Nowell not really had much time. These are quality players but to come into a knockout with Australia like this makes me nervous, especially if they keep their bench as per the Wales game.
its the right thing to do and should be a cracker of a game. Its the game that most fans of any country have had marked as the game of the pool stages
Well I don't see NZ and England complaining - despite both missing out on a good hit-out and entering the quarters somewhat undercooked. I think the most anticipated game of the pool stages was SA/NZ although that seems like a very long time ago now.
Hey, I'd like to see the Scotland v Japan game go ahead too. As you say, it should be a cracker. However, the "right thing" to do is abide by the rules, the saftey issues and the tournament director.
However, the “right thing” to do is abide by the rules, the saftey issues and the tournament director.
No. The right thing to do would have been to have contingency plans in place. They've had enough time.
NMbuzz, how many times have Japan beaten Scotland in a test match? For somebody telling another poster to get a life about not liking England you spend a lot of time trying to troll us. What's wrong; is your arse still sore after the last 2 Calcutta cups?
I'm a bit torn with this. I do think its highly unfair should Scotland / Japan be called off and Japan go through without having played the crucial decider. But if Italy can go out in that fashion, then its only fair I suppose. (Yep Italy didn't really have a chance, but the rules are the rules I suppose).
But I do get the point that there has been years to make plans. It is typhoon season, albeit coming towards the end, however planning should have catered for this possibility. I actually think the organisers have gotten away with it, could you imagine if other teams needed to ensure they progressed by playing. I think because the neautrals will want Japan to go through, the noise won't be as bad as if the scenario was England, France or Wales going out because they were unable to play their last game due to weather and fan safety concerns. No offense to Scotland, but I'd say a large number of people see them as similar to Italy, just below Tier 1.
I did chuckle about Japan vs Scotland being the game most fans have marked of the group stages. Maybe in Japan and Scotland it is.....Wales vs Australia, NZ vs SA, England vs France? Anyway I digress.
BruceWee - there are contingency plans in place including the possibility of moving games - its just its impractical to have spare days for game in the pool stages.
Woodster - thats what I have seen said by many. Two teams with all out attacking styles, evenly matched and its the hosts chance to go thru
Scotland beloww teir 1? Who has the calcutta cup?
It’s a bummer the game has been called off. I think we need a decent run out plus if we do progress further, we’ll never hear the end of how much rest we’ve had etc.
My main concern is Australia. We’ve do well against them in recent times however they’ve had a coupe of tough games so should be fully battle hardened. Hmmmm.
What’s wrong; is your arse still sore after the last 2 Calcutta cups?
Ha ha! Actually, it's still sore from 1990!
As I'm surrounded by Scots I feel that it's my patriotic duty, as an Englishman, to wind them up as much as possible.
Seems to be working......... 😉
There is a name for that, Eh TJ?
I did chuckle about Japan vs Scotland being the game most fans have marked of the group stages. Maybe in Japan and Scotland it is…..Wales vs Australia, NZ vs SA, England vs France? Anyway I digress.
I think even before the tournament started it looked as if the Japan v Scotland game would be crucial in deciding who out of the two and possibly Ireland as well would go through. Along with the relatively close strength of the teams, I for one was certainly looking forward to this game as much as any.
Whilst I like to troll Scotland fans a little, I feel hugely for them should the game be abandoned. The game could easily go either way. We’ve all been looking forward to this competition for years and it’s a lousy way to go out. Also, from a selfish point of view, if Scotland go out because the game is abandoned we will still be hearing about it in 2051!
We’ve all been looking forward to this competition for years and it’s a lousy way to go out.
True but if they'd actually bothered to turn up against Ireland instead of putting in one of the most abject performances I've ever seen from a Scottish team then they wouldn't be in this position - would they?
Besides - the game may still go ahead. They're not deciding until Sunday morning apparently.
Scotland will hopefully redeem themselves and earn the reward of a quarter-final against the ABs(!)
True but if they’d actually bothered to turn up against Ireland instead of putting in one of the most abject performances I’ve ever seen from a Scottish team then they wouldn’t be in this position – would they?
They didn’t play well, but Ireland were number 1 in the World at the time iirc. You don’t have to be the best in your group to go through. Nobody is suggesting SA should not go through.
If Scotland don’t go through because of a cancelled game, I will feel for them hugely.
They didn’t play well, but Ireland were number 1 in the World at the time iirc.
That may have been so but the fact is Ireland were a long way from being no1 on the pitch. 2 hammerings by England and totally embarrassed by Wales in the 6N. Their subsequent defeat to Japan showed exactly how good they weren't.
If the Scotland side who drew with England had turned up they'd have run Ireland off the pitch.
I think any Scotland fan will tell you the game against Ireland was awful. worst one for a while. given that Japan beat them we should at least have given them a game!
there are contingency plans in place including the possibility of moving games
Why are no games being moved then? I understand that it's impractical to re-allocate tickets but why not play in an empty stadium if it comes to that?
but why not play in an empty stadium if it comes to that
It's a good question but apparently not one that the RWC are required to answer.
Games like this show that they should have had some kind of secondry competition and maybe the finalists make it to the world cup proper,
So the RWC would only involve 8 teams? Even then a couple of them would expect a hammering.
Perhaps the rugby world in general should help improve the standard of play among the lesser teams making RWC a meaningful competition. I can’t remember which team has only played 19 tests since the last World Cup - that’s laughable. There’s plenty of money in the sport, it should be invested in the sport’s future.
But....this is a discussion that’s happened every RWC since 1987!
Perhaps the rugby world in general should help improve the standard of play among the lesser teams making RWC a meaningful competition
I agree completely, but it won't happen because there's money involved and the Six Nations/SANZAR administrators do not want to share what they have. The term "Tier 1" doesn't actually refer to the best teams, just the ones that are in established competitions. Unless the likes of Japan, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Canada, USA, etc can get to play the top teams regularly, things will not improve.
On expansion - top teams should go to the pacific islands to play. Even if they send a B team. No one had been for years before scotland last went and I do not think anyone has been since. Scotland had a great tour of Fiji and were very well recieved by the hosts - and reaped the reward in some ways by creating a link leading to quite a few pacific island players joining our clubs
Pacific islands could even have a "pacific islands lions" team for away tours
I think they tried a Pacific islands team a few years ago TJ but the sanzar countries have too much riding on poaching their best players.
Let's not pretend Northern Hemisphere clubs haven't also played their part. How many players have been pressured into not appearing or retiring from international competition by their clubs?
I was lucky enough to spend 3 weeks in Fiji over the summer. Brilliant place. Great people.
We went to the Fiji Canada game. Good fun but even the best tickets were only £10 and it wasn't even half full. It's scandalous that NZ have never played in Fiji, I agree, but big teams touring there won't help that much in financial terms. The pop is only 900,000 so the TV market is limited too.
What the small nations need is a bigger slice of the pie from the RWC dish and a share of gate receipts when they play away games.
As it is the big fish keep getting bigger. Monopolising all the income and stealing all the players.
If the PI nations had the means to keep their players and be able to recall the ones who'd been capped for the sake of it by tier 1 nations then we'd see a very different RWC.
BruceWee - the fijian scots were all available to represent Fiji. at big cost to the clubs
the fijian scots were all available to represent
Indeed they were but, in theory all players should be released for international duty regardless.
Nemani Nadolo and Timani Nagusa both mysteriously "retired" from international rugby at the same time. Coincidentally both play for Montpellier. I'm sure it was nothing to do with their improved contracts?
They're not the only ones.
BruceWee – the fijian scots were all available to represent Fiji. at big cost to the clubs
I know. But I suspect they didn't get the choice of contracts that English and French clubs reportedly offer Pacific Islanders. 30 - 40% extra if they agree to 'retire' from international competition.
Interesting conversation on 5Live last night about the Pacific Islanders. It is possible for players to play for clubs in NZ leagues but part of the deal is that NZ then retain the right to sign them up for the All Blacks which does make it hard for them to get the development needed to benefit the national team. And it sounds like it is hard enough to coalesce talent with so many Islands and not much in the way of supporting infrastructure and quality pitches.
Not sure where the conversations have got to in World Rugby about the tier 2 nations and how they can be better developed and get more opportunities against the big boys. It's almost as if the established nations don't want them to develop too much in case they start to upset the current status quo. Only obvious changes over the last decade or so is the admission of Italy into the 6 Nations and Argentina into the Southern Hemisphere competition
Bruce, you appear to be complaining that we aren't pressuring them to refuse international rugby? I always thought the SRU stance was actually quite decent.
What the small nations need is a bigger slice of the pie from the RWC dish and a share of gate receipts when they play away games.
This x100.
Bruce, you appear to be complaining that we aren’t pressuring them to refuse international rugby?
Nope, definitely not. I'm not a total arsehole. I'm proud to see Glasgow players in as many teams as possible during the World Cup.
I'm just pissed off that the same stories come out every WC, World Rugby makes the same noises, and then it happens again 4 years later.
There was an article about the use of scholarships in NZ and Oz for teenage talent in the Times, but I can’t find it. This is an older one from the Telegraph and is in the same tone.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/international/fiji/11854929/Rugby-uncovered-Despicable-abuse-of-young-Pacific-talent-is-huge-stain-on-game.html
They're obviously not using the right gameplan:
TL:DR George North is a waste of space
Discuss
I expect the gameplan involved trying to stay away from Radradra. George has been decent in the other games, he's not the threat he once was but he's the best option we have at 14 given Liam at 15.
PS that flow diagram was the Ospreys gameplan when Shane Williams was playing!!
Wales to play Uruguay, 3 9's in 23 and one 10!!!
Wales: Halfpenny; Adams, Watkin, Parkes, Amos; Patchell, A Davies; Smith, Elias, Lewis, Davies, Beard, Shingler, Tipuric (capt) Wainwright.
Replacements: Dee, Carre, W Jones, Ball, Moriarty, James Davies, T Williams, G Davies.
3 9’s in 23 and one 10!!
Yeah but Gareth Davies could play anywhere. He's simply a great rugby player.
Yet he's still only your second best scrum-half........
Yeah but Gareth Davies could play anywhere. He’s simply a great rugby player.
I assumed it would be James Davies. He thinks he can play anywhere..
Would struggle with the concept of seeing G Davies and Tomos Williams in 10 and 12!!! I expect James Davies may be covering wing, seen him do that for Scarlets.
An article in i newspaper this morning said that the contingency plans for bad weather that were talked about a year ago included playing games in the week after the allotted time, or moving to a different stadium. Nothing was mentioned about cancelling games or awarding draws.
Now I’m the most cynical person in the world (especially in respect to rugby) so it doesn’t surprise me too much that the host nation might get a free pass through to the QFs. 😂
How are you forgetting the fantastic 10 that is Hadleigh Parkes? eeek