Rugby World Cup 2019

[paul_e]

I don't watch enough rugby to know how severe it is of a "crime", but the shoulder barge looked bad without being awful, to my eyes.

Tbh, I thought England were pretty poor today. Loads of errors against limited opposition, with Heinz looking particularly poor. French commentators seem to love Genge and Cokanasiga.

Final bit on the red card, it was after the whistle and there was no attempt to make it a tackle, as I said above, I been in a game where a guy got a broken jaw from something very similar so it's one of those things that I look at more critically (along with spear tackles which would be an auto 12 week ban for me). Out-muscling someone chest-to-chest is illegal but I'm fine with it, but as soon as you use your shoulder you're trying to hurt them, especially if you put your arm across your body like he did (therefore making no attempt to tackle). If you do it and only make contact with their body/arms then it's a yellow but as soon as that drifts to the face it's about as easy a red to award as you'll ever see. It's the equivalent of a 'studs up over the ball tackle' in football, there's just no mitigating factors at all.

On the errors I think it's because of the games being indoors. Aus and Fiji had problems in Sapporo as well (where our first game was) but this was the first game in Kobe, Scotland and Ireland both play at this one in their next games so it will be worth keeping in mind. Thankfully England are in more traditional surroundings from now on. I disagree on Heinz though, I thought he did well without doing anything outstanding, or making any major mistakes.

I'm not surprised about the 2 the french commentators loved, France always like a powerful carrier and those 2 are amongst the best in the world, Coka in particular was superb today he 'won' every single impact, either breaking the tackle or driving beyond the support tackler before going down (which stops the easy turnover) I thought he was exceptional. Credit to Watson as well who was electric when he came on.

[PaulWinch again]

Looked to be tough conditions today. That shoulder barge was awful.

[UK Redsox]

I don't watch enough rugby to know how severe it is of a "crime", but the shoulder barge looked bad without being awful, to my eyes.

It was very bad. Clearly a red card and the bloke should be banned for the rest of the tournament.

Not even the pretence of wrapping arms, after the whistle, plenty of time to pull out....as the ref said at the time, no mitigating factors.


EDIT......as Paul said

[Axl Rose]

A big Leeds United flag hanging from the stands in the Japan Ireland game.

[Villan For Life]

That was a good comeback by Japan!

[Axl Rose]

Bollocks. Wallet to take the proverbial battering now!

[JD]

What an upset. Going to be an interesting group this one.

[garyshawsknee]

Cracking game. Relentless from Japan.

[UK Redsox]

Brilliant from Japan.

Bad result for Scotland

[cdbearsfan]

Well, Scotland getting what they deserved for their pathetic performance against Ireland. Well done, Japan.

[PaulWinch again]

That was a properly impressive display.

[paul_e]

Brilliant by Japan, I'd given them an outside chance of qualifying but they're looking a great bet for the quarters now.

[Meanwood Villa]

Looks like I've missed the result of the tournament so far travelling down to Villa Park. Better be worth the trip now!

[paul_e]

9mins in and the ball has barely left the namibian 22, fair play to them defending their line for so long but this gas got battering written all over it.

[manic-road]

That is a fantastic result for the World Cup, ranks up there with Japan beating South Africa at the last World Cup.