Please feel free to post comments about the tournament and matches. Make predictions on who will make it through to the knock out stages, and who you think will lift the trophy at the beginning of November. It will be a fascinating competition and I hope the standard of rugby matches that of 2015 when the brilliant All Blacks survived a second half on-slaught by the Aussies to win the trophy for the 3rd time. Since its inception, only one Norhtern Hemisphere has won it. Will the SH continue their dominance or will one of Wales, Ireland or England manage to make a decent challenge.?
Will be in Japan for a couple of weeks during the World Cup. No tickets for games, but looking forward to soaking up any atmosphere in the fan parks and bars.
And I'm gonna be cheering for Japan just as loud as England. They are an excellent rugby nation, and have a real culture of it there. We've got three or four Japanese lads on my local rugby team and they are the nicest guys. Real Yoshi-types. Some of their after-game drinking antics surpass anything I've ever seen before. They have one drinking 'game' called 'Speed Skater', wherein the man of the match, stands on a chair, with a bottle of vodka taped to one hand, and a bottle of rum to the other. He has to then crouch forward and pump his arms up and down like a speed skater, each time taking a swig from the bottles (literally every second switching from left to right and so on), whilst all his teammates sing some weird Japanese song. I've seen men go from stonecold sober to lying comatose on the floor in less than ten minutes playing this. Absolutely mental.
Reminds of another speed skating game I knew, but that involved a willing young lady and a very trustworthy mate..... And lights out!
One of NZ, Oz or SA for me ..... I think England might make the semis if they play really well and don’t have the usual abysmal 10 minutes in games, but I don’t hold out much hope for the other 6 Nations teams, though France are always dark horses! I’m going to just sit back and enjoy the games! Well done japan for the first win (and bonus point) and well done to Russia for the first try of the RWC and for giving it a go .....
I've been having a bit of a Japanese moment myself lately, due mostly to discovering 14th - 19th century Japanese art and poetry, but also partly due to Yoshi.
My heart wants NZ to win but your attitude is muh better. Sit back and enjoy. And at the end of the day whoever wins will have deserved. So expect an Oz v Saffa final.
Up early, even after a late night, and watching a cracking game between Oz and Fiji. Despite the early Fiji lead, I think the Aussies will slow it down and control it in the second half, but I’d be well pleased to be proven wrong! (Saying that - Fiji now 21-12 up!) Nice to see the Fijians playing so well, though I agree with the halftime pundits that they got away with one in the first half!!
As expected, the Wallabies stopped trying to play the way Fiji wanted, tightened up and scored the tries to win the game. Nice effort Fiji - so close but super entertaining!
All the comments from Aussies during the cricket about overseas-born players in the England team. Turns out their 31-man squad for the RWC has 12 overseas-born. Double that of England.