World Cup in Japan - Rugby Union

[TheGreenGoblin]

Another coming team is the USA. Looking quite good against France even they they are losing the match it seems.

[Woody]

Greetings from the Ecopa Stadium, arrived early, but really good atmosphere, lots of locals supporting South Africa

[Woody]

The Springboks thrashed Italy, but really enjoyed the experience, met supporters of lots of different teams and I wish that I could spend longer at the tournament and in Japan.
Not sure that this shouldn’t be in the “stranger encounters “ thread, but started talking to an England supporter whilst queuing for a train after the match , he’s traveling on the same train as me back to Tokyo and has a spare ticket for the England v Argentina match, which has been paid for, so he offered it to me for free , guess I’ll be buying him a couple of beers tomorrow

[FD2]

Did you get a good view of the 'spear tackle' Woody? - not really a tackle but a clearout. It was just completely pointless and they were lucky to lose only one player.

Cheslin Kolbe looked amazing. Enjoy the Argentina game - I hope the streaming service holds up here tonight!

[FD2]

https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/sport/r ... -world-cup

[Woody]

Did you get a good view of the 'spear tackle' Woody? - not really a tackle but a clearout. It was just completely pointless and they were lucky to lose only one player.

Cheslin Kolbe looked amazing. Enjoy the Argentina game - I hope the streaming service holds up here tonight!

Only saw it on the big screen in the stadium, but a fair few people thought that both Italian players should have been sent off, but Wayne Barnes, the English referee, bottled it.

[FD2]

It certainly looked as though both players lifted him at the same time. I couldn't see any difference between the guilty parties.

[Mrs Ex-Ascot]

Good to see England beat the Argies yet again.

[Woody]

Just back from the match, uncomfortably hot and humid and that was just sitting in the stands, quick shower, a couple of beers, bit of kip and up early doors for flight back to UK

[FD2]

Yes, they didn't like it up 'em did they?

Farrell cops another hard knock from a shoulder charge to his head and the offender was sent off - he committed his side to playing with 14 men for a large part of the match so shouldn't be very popular at home. In the slow motion replay it looked very deliberate. "That's for the Malvinas gringo!"

Farrell's head seemed to be slightly out of true after that, as most of his penalty and conversion kicks went to the left.

[FD2]

take that!.png (633.68 KiB) Viewed 480 times

[FD2]

An earlier attempt to knock his block off:

but then the boy does have form himself:

Farrell's tackle.png (79.78 KiB) Viewed 479 times

[Woody]

An enjoyable few days in Japan, seems to be a good mixture of people who are travelling around taking in games not involving their own country and the local culture, actually wish that I’d been here longer and as for the guy who gave me a free ticket to the England game last night, absolute legend

[Karearea]

^ Lucky you, Woody!

[4mastacker]

Mrs b likes watching "all-in rugby" as she calls Union, as opposed to "between-the-legs" League. Understandable, as she is more of a cricket fan.

Anyway, she came out with this pearler whilst she was watching today's match - "Oh! I've just realised that one team speaks Japanese, the other speaks Jockinese". I do wonder about her sometimes.

[larsssnowpharter]

Well, there you have it. The Japanese send the Jockinese "homewards tae think agin"!

What a game! The Scots didn't seem to know what hit them in the first house but the size of the mountain they had to climb in the second didn't deter them from trying.

The crispness of the Japanese handling was brilliant and their starting front row showed how smaller, strong guys can be effective. Shades of 'Mighty Mouse'.

Looking forward to seeing them playing SA. How will they manage the power of that pack and its height in the lineouts. There's some history between them.

[Pontius Navigator]

What was remarkable was every point was a converted try, no penalties.

[FD2]

Coverage started after midnight here so will try a catch-up - it sounds like it was a great game. Sorry the Scots are going 'homewards', but a Japanese win might stir up more interest there and get another country seriously involved in the game.

Let's hope the weather stays good for the rest of the Cup games.

[Capetonian]

[Woody]

I think that the Kiwis are confident .