Alexjc Posted October 11, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 11, 2015 (edited) Wrapping it all up in Gloucester... The last Pool match of the 2015 Rugby World Cup. JAPAN 28 - USA 18. A deserved victory by Japan who lit the tournament up with that shock win over South Africa, and a solid victory over Samoa. They qualify for RWC2019 as third place in thier pool, apart from the fact they are hosts. It's an unfair situation that they win three out of four tests and thanks to bonus points gained by Scotland so they can't make it to the QFs. But they have won hearts and minds and 2019 isn't all that far away. Edited October 11, 2015 by Alexjc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yoshi Posted October 11, 2015 Report Share Posted October 11, 2015 Do Samoa get Japan's qualifying spot, given that Japan have now effectively qualified twice? Also, I don't want to taunt you Alex but...NZ v France......:scared: 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fox334 Posted October 12, 2015 Report Share Posted October 12, 2015 Do Samoa get Japan's qualifying spot, given that Japan have now effectively qualified twice? Also, I don't want to taunt you Alex but...NZ v France......:scared: No. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexjc Posted October 12, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 12, 2015 ...I don't want to taunt you Alex but...NZ v France......:scared: Meh...no. More worried if we encountered Australia. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frenchy Posted October 14, 2015 Report Share Posted October 14, 2015 O'Brien suspended for a week. http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/rugby-union/34511312 Ireland flanker Sean O'Brien will miss Sunday's World Cup quarter-final against Argentina after being suspended for a week. The flanker, 26, was given the ban after admitting he punched France's Pascal Papé in the early stages of last Sunday's World Cup Pool D game. O'Brien's ban is another major blow for Ireland with Paul O'Connell and Peter O'Mahony already ruled out by injury. Fly-half Johnny Sexton is also an injury doubt for the quarter-final. Team captain O'Connell, whose international career is now over as he is retiring from Ireland duty at the end of the tournament, sustained a serious hamstring injury in the France contest. O'Mahony picked up a knee injury in Sunday's game and will also take no further part in the competition. The normal sanction for O'Brien's offence is a two-week suspension but his ban was cut to a week because of his "remorse, good character and clean disciplinary record". A World Rugby statement read: "O'Brien admitted committing an act of foul play and therefore the independent judicial officer Terry Willis upheld the citing. The Judicial Officer deemed the act of foul play merited a low-end entry point of two weeks." Chris Henry and Jordi Murphy are obvious back-row replacements for O'Brien and O'Mahony although versatile Iain Henderson represents another option for Ireland coach Joe Schmidt. Henry impressed when he came on for O'Mahony early in the second half against France while also Henderson starred after replacing O'Connell at half-time. Rhys Ruddock could be another back row contender after being called up as a replacement for O'Mahony. Argentina will be without centre Marcelo Bosch after he was handed a one-week ban for a dangerous tackle in last weekend's win over Namibia. Bosch was a second-half replacement against Namibia after starting in the opening games against New Zealand and Georgia. O'Brien, man of the match on Sunday, will be available for the World Cup semi-final against either Australia or Scotland on 25 October if Ireland beat the Pumas. Serves him right...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexjc Posted October 14, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 14, 2015 O'Brien suspended for a week. http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/rugby-union/34511312 Serves him right...... Dirty Irish! Made worse, he did it so openly. Ireland will still be a battle for Argentina to fight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob2012 Posted October 15, 2015 Report Share Posted October 15, 2015 Boris keeping Rugby in the spotlight during this down week, and doing his best to destroy Anglo-Japanese relations: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexjc Posted October 16, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 16, 2015 Go Boris! Still...We are at the sharp end now! An Englishman walks into a Bar Usually there's an Irishman, a Welshman, and a Scot with him - But they're still at the World Cup! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yoshi Posted October 16, 2015 Report Share Posted October 16, 2015 Torn...want the ABs to win if Wales can't, but also want to support my sweep team. I'll decide at about 7 tomorrow* *Thank God England aren't in making my support position even harder. What a tangle 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexjc Posted October 17, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 17, 2015 Still got an overnight wait here in NZ...Lots of frayed nerves out there in the bars. Some big breakfasts are on order for 8am kickoff (NZDST). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexjc Posted October 17, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 17, 2015 Heartbreak in Twickenham after a hard battle... QUARTER FINAL 1. SOUTH AFRICA 23 - Wales 19. The first semi finalists found. Wales held on with the lead for 73 minutes but South Africa with a quick bench swap had the strength to break the Welsh defences with a try to the captain. A huge turn around in fortune for a side ridiculed four weeks ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yoshi Posted October 17, 2015 Report Share Posted October 17, 2015 What a game. So many close calls & missed chances. Oh well, come on All Blacks now :/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexjc Posted October 17, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 17, 2015 Here we go NZ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob2012 Posted October 17, 2015 Report Share Posted October 17, 2015 BOOM......nearly a perfect start for NZ. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexjc Posted October 17, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 17, 2015 (edited) Still anyone's game...France very much in this match, and very dangerous.Already looking forward to halftime.Nehe Milner-Scudder a breather try so needed. Edited October 18, 2015 by Alexjc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob2012 Posted October 17, 2015 Report Share Posted October 17, 2015 ^^ Yeah whatever Alex....three tries later.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob2012 Posted October 17, 2015 Report Share Posted October 17, 2015 NZ have been sublime but this isn't a scoreline we should be seeing in the knock-out stages. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yoshi Posted October 17, 2015 Report Share Posted October 17, 2015 Pure exhibition stuff - Australia must be shaking. That Savea try where he just flattened 3 defenders - yowch. Also interesting to note the gulf in class of refereeing today. Nigel Owens handled the game perfectly, he let it flow so we got a game full of tries & skill. Compare to Wayne Barnes earlier who followed every phase with a whistle for some obscure penalty. Nigel also has an amazing wit - I loved how he sin-binned that French player 'off you go, please' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
micheal_warren Posted October 18, 2015 Report Share Posted October 18, 2015 What a game from the All Blacks this morning. Perhaps one of the best games I have seen the All Blacks play for quite some time. Bring on the semi-finals 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arwebb Posted October 18, 2015 Report Share Posted October 18, 2015 Listened to the game on BBC Radio during a long motorway journey last night. Simply brutal from the All Blacks and Andrew Mehrtens is to rugby commentary what Danny Morrison is to cricket - absolutely hilarious. Extraordinary start in Cardiff with Argentina 17-0 up on Ireland in as many minutes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexjc Posted October 18, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 18, 2015 ^^ Yeah whatever Alex....three tries later.... I preferr to take the cautious approach... But don't worry...I was dumbstruck when the tryfest began...and my phone died!!! Meanwhile in QF3 Halftime sees Argentina well in control of Ireland... ARGENTINA 20 - Ireland 3. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yoshi Posted October 18, 2015 Report Share Posted October 18, 2015 Two-man team anyone? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob2012 Posted October 18, 2015 Report Share Posted October 18, 2015 Say it quietly but this is looking like quite a comeback Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arwebb Posted October 18, 2015 Report Share Posted October 18, 2015 What a Test match this is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexjc Posted October 18, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 18, 2015 Say it quietly but this is looking like quite a comeback Looking like shades of SA v Wales yesterday... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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