Brunzy: If Japan got two bonus points wouldn’t they top the by virtue of beating Ireland?
As I see it 2 scenarios out of 3 see Ireland being 2nd in the group.
Best they only get one bonus point 😎

Yes, you are correct. 

Japan is the most entertaining team of the competition. They attack like the ABs - something Australia tries to copy but never could.

This going to be a very exciting 3 weekends to come.

Including the World Rugby lottery - which could well hit jackpot in one or more of these next 7 matches.

In that first half, I would imagine most teams may have struggled against Japan. The Japanese team was rampant. All throughout they played smart attacking rugby and their defence was really good.  They look very NZ Team like, strangely enough with two Kiwi coaches. 

Scotland played right into their hands, it's going to be interesting to see how the quarters play out. We have a tough road to the final. I suspect South Africa will simply just suffocate Japan. It won't be pretty.

Comparatively, perhaps they are holding back, but Wales looked very average. They should have been carded for their illegal defensive efforts not long after Uraguay was carded for the same thing, though the ref was very lenient on Uraguay in the first half. They could have been carded at least once, probably twice. 

@handle9 How are you feeling about our chances against Ireland? I am quietly confident. I expect Ireland to come out with bluster from the first whistle, so we if get a slow start it's going to be painful to chase the scoreboard. 

Ireland have beat us twice. The first time with 6 players out of position and many of our first choice out by injury, and the second when the AB's were really struggling with getting their new structures in place. (I am not saying Ireland didn't deserve to win).

I think we are better placed in both those areas this meeting. 

networkn:

 

In that first half, I would imagine most teams may have struggled against Japan. The Japanese team was rampant. All throughout they played smart attacking rugby and their defence was really good.  They look very NZ Team like, strangely enough with two Kiwi coaches. 

 

Scotland played right into their hands, it's going to be interesting to see how the quarters play out. We have a tough road to the final. I suspect South Africa will simply just suffocate Japan. It won't be pretty.

 

Comparatively, perhaps they are holding back, but Wales looked very average. They should have been carded for their illegal defensive efforts not long after Uraguay was carded for the same thing, though the ref was very lenient on Uraguay in the first half. They could have been carded at least once, probably twice. 

 

Wales have been average the whole tournament, one good half against a very very poor Australia. Sure they could still have a good day, can see them struggling past France, but that's as far as they'll get. 

I think Japan will get a huge dose of reality against SA, this isn't the same SA from 4 years ago.

throbb:

 

networkn:

 

In that first half, I would imagine most teams may have struggled against Japan. The Japanese team was rampant. All throughout they played smart attacking rugby and their defence was really good.  They look very NZ Team like, strangely enough with two Kiwi coaches. 

 

Scotland played right into their hands, it's going to be interesting to see how the quarters play out. We have a tough road to the final. I suspect South Africa will simply just suffocate Japan. It won't be pretty.

 

Comparatively, perhaps they are holding back, but Wales looked very average. They should have been carded for their illegal defensive efforts not long after Uraguay was carded for the same thing, though the ref was very lenient on Uraguay in the first half. They could have been carded at least once, probably twice. 

 

 

 

 

Wales have been average the whole tournament, one good half against a very very poor Australia. Sure they could still have a good day, can see them struggling past France, but that's as far as they'll get. 

 

 

 

I think Japan will get a huge dose of reality against SA, this isn't the same SA from 4 years ago.

 

They were given a lesson during the last meeting prior to the tournament, but both teams will have been holding back. Less on the line and trying to avoid serious injuries. It was more a friendly, but I'd back SA to win that.

They beat Ireland, but Ireland took their win for granted. It would be interesting to see a rematch. 

One thing I wanted to highlight was after the cancellation of the Namibia Canada game, the Canadian team, management and support staff went to help with the typhoon cleanup instead. Classy and so typically Canadian. Awesome. 

networkn:

One thing I wanted to highlight was after the cancellation of the Namibia Canada game, the Canadian team, management and support staff went to help with the typhoon cleanup instead. Classy and so typically Canadian. Awesome. 

 

networkn:

 

@handle9 How are you feeling about our chances against Ireland? I am quietly confident. I expect Ireland to come out with bluster from the first whistle, so we if get a slow start it's going to be painful to chase the scoreboard. 

 

Ireland have beat us twice. The first time with 6 players out of position and many of our first choice out by injury, and the second when the AB's were really struggling with getting their new structures in place. (I am not saying Ireland didn't deserve to win).

 

I think we are better placed in both those areas this meeting. 

 

The difference between Ireland and most other sides is that they know they can beat us. Most other sides hope they can beat us. They also play a style which doesn't really suit us. Schmidt has had them play a super vanilla style, without their strike moves, in the cup so far. They will pull these out this week and Schmidt designs the set best moves of anyone in world rugby.

I would be looking to bash the stuffing out of Murray and Sexton by targeting them with Retalick, Coles and Savea coming off inside balls. I'd really challenge them physically and try and get Sexton to lose his rag. He's a total pork chop who tends to drift high when he's under pressure and you can get to him. 

I am not particularly confident, either of this week or winning the cup. We have got by far the most difficult path to win the cup of all the major sides. We have to climb the mountain three times, likely against Ireland, England and either South Africa or Wales. This is by far the most difficult path to the cup we have ever had.

We can do it but I wouldn't say I'm particularly confident.

Handle9:

networkn:

@handle9 How are you feeling about our chances against Ireland? I am quietly confident. I expect Ireland to come out with bluster from the first whistle, so we if get a slow start it's going to be painful to chase the scoreboard. 

Ireland have beat us twice. The first time with 6 players out of position and many of our first choice out by injury, and the second when the AB's were really struggling with getting their new structures in place. (I am not saying Ireland didn't deserve to win).

I think we are better placed in both those areas this meeting. 

The difference between Ireland and most other sides is that they know they can beat us. Most other sides hope they can beat us. They also play a style which doesn't really suit us. Schmidt has had them play a super vanilla style, without their strike moves, in the cup so far. They will pull these out this week and Schmidt designs the set best moves of anyone in world rugby.

I would be looking to bash the stuffing out of Murray and Sexton by targeting them with Retalick, Coles and Savea coming off inside balls. I'd really challenge them physically and try and get Sexton to lose his rag. He's a total pork chop who tends to drift high when he's under pressure and you can get to him. 

I am not particularly confident, either of this week or winning the cup. We have got by far the most difficult path to win the cup of all the major sides. We have to climb the mountain three times, likely against Ireland, England and either South Africa or Wales. This is by far the most difficult path to the cup we have ever had.

We can do it but I wouldn't say I'm particularly confident.