The Wednesday Rugby World Cup thread

[Simster]

Arguably the most anticipated day of the tournament so far:

Japan v Scotland (14:30, Gloucester)
A game that had been deemed so insignificant that it was being played at one of the two small club rugby grounds has now taken on huge significance. The group is officially wide open and will remain so regardless of this result. Which Scotland will turn up? Come to think of it, which Japan will turn up?

Australia v Fiji (16:45, MillStad)
Australia expected to cruise this, but I think we can expect to see trys in this one. Fiji are in last chance saloon, Australia will be desperate for a bonus point in a group where they could prove crucial.

France v Romania (20:00, Olympic Stadium)
First outing for Romania in the tournament and I don't think much can be expected of them in truth. Unlike Japan, they haven't come into the WC in any sort of form and are a shadow of their former selves. I'll be watching more out of hope for a good game than anything else.

 

[deletebeepbeepbeep]

Gutted to be at work for Japan V Scotland.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

What ****ing MORON decided that Japan v Scotland should ko at 2.30pm?

 

[mikeyjh]

Japan & Fiji have been right royally shafted with the scheduling.....

 

[Prince Monolulu]

That first game will be a cracker, the Japanese on the crest of a wave.

 

[Easy 10]

Absolutely RIDICULOUS that Japan have to play again today after that EPIC game on Saturday, whereas the Jocks will rock up fresh as daisies having not even played yet. 2 games in 4 days for Japan, very unfair on them, given that their opponents haven't booted an egg in anger yet. England got 8 days between fixtures as well.

The competition is so skewed towards the 1st tier nations. Any Finals tournament should be a level playing field, but this so clearly isn't. Just ensures the same old nations will be in the QF's as usual. Piss poor scheduling against the smaller teams.

 

[Easy 10]

Quite a comedown from the Amex as well.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

Piss poor scheduling against the smaller teams.

You say that, but SCOTLAND seem to have done okay out of it.

 

[Sheebo]

I fancy Japan to get close...

 

[Official Old Man]

Gloucester holds some 14500. I believe the 'home' crowd at the Amex all went for the underdogs (Japan) which helped them. Will this game be a Scottish crowd though?
If you have a recording listen to the anthems Saturday. Around 136 people sang the Japanese anthem whilst 10000 sang the SA.

 

[Monsieur Le Plonk]

Scotland still strong favourites. The Scots now have the benefit of knowing they need to be pumped up for this and can't go taking it easy.

@HKFC It's the 4.30 game that I am unhappy about. I'd imagine most of us are either setting off for the pub or the commute rendering the 1st half pretty much unwatchable. Telly in the office for the Japan game is a bit of a godsend.

 

[Simster]

What ****ing MORON decided that Japan v Scotland should ko at 2.30pm?

Presumably Asian television?

 

[Gwylan]

Quite a comedown from the Amex as well.

It's a compact ground but there's a cracking atmosphere. Japan will have the support of the neutrals so the place should be rocking.

And I finished a big work project last night so can take an afternoon off

 

[jackanada]

Absolutely RIDICULOUS that Japan have to play again today after that EPIC game on Saturday, whereas the Jocks will rock up fresh as daisies having not even played yet. 2 games in 4 days for Japan, very unfair on them, given that their opponents haven't booted an egg in anger yet. England got 8 days between fixtures as well.

The competition is so skewed towards the 1st tier nations. Any Finals tournament should be a level playing field, but this so clearly isn't. Just ensures the same old nations will be in the QF's as usual. Piss poor scheduling against the smaller teams.

True that.
I haven't recovered from that game yet, and I was a neutral watching at home on a sofa.

 

[atfc village]

Quite a comedown from the Amex as well.

It's a Rugby ground where Rugby World Cup matches should be played.

 

[Icy Gull]

What ****ing MORON decided that Japan v Scotland should ko at 2.30pm?

In fairness did that fixture hold any attraction at all to anyone other than the nations involved before Saturday??

 

[Icy Gull]

Absolutely RIDICULOUS that Japan have to play again today after that EPIC game on Saturday, whereas the Jocks will rock up fresh as daisies having not even played yet. 2 games in 4 days for Japan, very unfair on them, given that their opponents haven't booted an egg in anger yet. England got 8 days between fixtures as well.

The competition is so skewed towards the 1st tier nations. Any Finals tournament should be a level playing field, but this so clearly isn't. Just ensures the same old nations will be in the QF's as usual. Piss poor scheduling against the smaller teams.

Love it. Your interest levels are now raised! Fiji get a shit deal too as they have to play again today against the fresh Aussies. They are also in a much tougher group than Japan. You are slowly becoming a rugby fan I do believe. Please keep the rants up.

 

[Simster]

Absolutely RIDICULOUS that Japan have to play again today after that EPIC game on Saturday, whereas the Jocks will rock up fresh as daisies having not even played yet. 2 games in 4 days for Japan, very unfair on them, given that their opponents haven't booted an egg in anger yet. England got 8 days between fixtures as well.

The competition is so skewed towards the 1st tier nations. Any Finals tournament should be a level playing field, but this so clearly isn't. Just ensures the same old nations will be in the QF's as usual. Piss poor scheduling against the smaller teams.

I won't disagree with this, but we've seen a lot worse haven't we? Exhibit A:
[yt]3kQJDEaNXyU[/yt]

 

[Easy 10]

Love it. Your interest levels are now raised! Fiji get a shit deal too as they have to play again today against the fresh Aussies. They are also in a much tougher group than Japan. You are slowly becoming a rugby fan I do believe. Please keep the rants up.

Well, I wouldn't go THAT far. Rugby is a silly sport. This World Cup scheduling is all over the shop, and domestically what about the Aviva Premiership champions being decided by Playoffs ?? I CANNOT get my head round that. You finish the season top of the league, but that doesn't make you Champions - you still have to beat the winners of a 2nd and 3rd placed Playoff first.

If that was in football, then last season, Manchester City and Arsenal (who finished 8 and 12 points adrift of Chelsea) would have an end-of-season Playoff against each other, and the winner would face Chelsea to decide who are the League champions. Its STOOPID.

 

[Icy Gull]

Well, I wouldn't go THAT far. Rugby is a silly sport. This World Cup scheduling is all over the shop, and domestically what about the Aviva Premiership champions being decided by Playoffs ?? I CANNOT get my head round that. You finish the season top of the league, but that doesn't make you Champions - you still have to beat the winners of a 2nd and 3rd placed Playoff first.

QUOTE]

Could it be that the top clubs lose their best players to the Six Nations for big swathes of the season meaning that lesser clubs might win games that they might not otherwise have won? Playoffs at the end of the season with full strength sides redresses the balance.

This is complete speculation and could of course be complete bollocks

Thinking about it, how much FUN would the Premier League be if games were played during World Cup and European Cup qualification and friendly weeks with the top clubs missing all their stars