That is a fantastic result for the World Cup, ranks up there with Japan beating South Africa at the last World Cup.
I'd say it's bigger because it feels less like a one-off shock and more like part of the ongoing development of the Japanese game. For a few World Cups there have been nine teams battling for eight QF spots. I think that might be up to ten for this tournament and the next few.Is there anyway they could find room in the schedules to add Japan to the Four Nations?
Quote from: cdbullyweefan on September 28, 2019, 11:25:45 AMI'd say it's bigger because it feels less like a one-off shock and more like part of the ongoing development of the Japanese game. For a few World Cups there have been nine teams battling for eight QF spots. I think that might be up to ten for this tournament and the next few.Is there anyway they could find room in the schedules to add Japan to the Four Nations?Japan and the us are joining the championship (former tri-nations).Edit - looks like it's japan and then either the us or fiji. There was some debate about making it 2 6 tier leagues and adding all the pacific island teams, namibia, uruguay and canada but i think that idea is dead.
Quote from: paul_e on September 28, 2019, 12:55:51 PMQuote from: cdbullyweefan on September 28, 2019, 11:25:45 AMI'd say it's bigger because it feels less like a one-off shock and more like part of the ongoing development of the Japanese game. For a few World Cups there have been nine teams battling for eight QF spots. I think that might be up to ten for this tournament and the next few.Is there anyway they could find room in the schedules to add Japan to the Four Nations?Japan and the us are joining the championship (former tri-nations).Edit - looks like it's japan and then either the us or fiji. There was some debate about making it 2 6 tier leagues and adding all the pacific island teams, namibia, uruguay and canada but i think that idea is dead.Is that confirmed that Japan are joining, Paul? Just I haven't seen any confirmation of that, yet. Not here in Japan, anyway.
Quote from: Axl Rose on September 28, 2019, 01:22:34 PMQuote from: paul_e on September 28, 2019, 12:55:51 PMQuote from: cdbullyweefan on September 28, 2019, 11:25:45 AMI'd say it's bigger because it feels less like a one-off shock and more like part of the ongoing development of the Japanese game. For a few World Cups there have been nine teams battling for eight QF spots. I think that might be up to ten for this tournament and the next few.Is there anyway they could find room in the schedules to add Japan to the Four Nations?Japan and the us are joining the championship (former tri-nations).Edit - looks like it's japan and then either the us or fiji. There was some debate about making it 2 6 tier leagues and adding all the pacific island teams, namibia, uruguay and canada but i think that idea is dead.Is that confirmed that Japan are joining, Paul? Just I haven't seen any confirmation of that, yet. Not here in Japan, anyway.It was a few years ago, and then they started trying to push the silly world league thing. Now that's dead the conversation is starting up again and I think the result today, along with the popularity of the tournmament so far, make it a case of when not if. The real change is that Fiji are now considered a better option than the US by many, largely because the latter are struggling to turn improvements in the 7 into improvements in the 15man game.