Japan 2019 - Pool A Ireland Japan Russia Samoa Scotland

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Team	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	Tries	PF	PA	+/-	BP	Points
Japan	3	3	0	0	9	87	41	+46	2	14
Ireland	3	2	0	1	11	74	22	+52	3	11
Scotland	3	2	0	1	13	98	27	71	2	10
Samoa	3	1	0	2	7	53	81	-28	1	5
Russia	3	0	0	3	1	19	125	-106	0	0

Japan 30-10 Russia              
Ireland 27-3 Scotland  
Russia 9-34 Samoa                        
Japan 19-12 Ireland                          
Scotland 34-0 Samoa
Ireland 35-0 Russia
Japan 38-19 Samoa
Scotland 61-0 Russia  

                                       
                     
12 October 2019         Ireland v Samoa                         Fukuoka Hakatanomori Stadium, Fukuoka
13 October 2019         Japan v Scotland                         International Stadium Yokohama, Yokohama


Two games left. If Ireland get a TBP win on Saturday they qualify for the quarter finals irrespective of the result on Sunday. Any other result and they need to wait and see what happens between Japan and Scotland.
Any win for Japan and they will top the group (in fact a draw or losing with two bonus points will guarantee the same)
Most interesting scenario is if Ireland win without a bonus point - opening up a chance for Scotland to top the group if all 3 teams end up on 15pts and Scotland are able to keep their points difference ahead of Ireland.

I would like to think that Ireland will at least get a bonus point win. They need to put the loss to Japan behind them and play a lot better in both halves though.

I'm expecting a very dominant display from Ireland today

Well... a win....bonus point hopefully.....

Next, how?

I hope the relationship between Sexton and a different, smaller, more typically traditional 9 in Luke McGrath will show that there is a different method there for us. Of course the conclusion will be that whatever the result, it's Russia.

So not much Propaganda profit can come from today. But for a renewal of real confidence that allows adrenaline to go through a squad, Ireland need to show they are not going to fool around with Russia but go for the jugular and keep up ruthless mood throughout.

Collapse2005 wrote:Thanks, I really like Japan, so this was a great excuse to come back. First time in Osaka and Kobe though.

Plenty of Irish here, some English, Kiwis, Italians and Argentinians. There was a Kiwi school on a school tour in Osaka castle yesterday. Lucky kids. Masterson school.

Hope you enjoy the match tonight. Think Ireland will put some serious points on the Russians.

Osaka Castle is grand... those artefacts so beautifully presented. If you haven't already - go to Kyoto... only 42km/14 mins from Shin Osaka. Very ancient streets... those houses on the hills (east of the city) are a good place to escape the heat. I remember seeing huge fish swimming 'uphill' under a bridge on the way to some very pleasant temples and shrines..

Wet outside but hot and humid once again in the Kobe stadium, good luck Ireland.

Just think you are playing Wales.

Relax boys. There is tension in the air

Two forearm smashes from Aki already.

Just saying, Aus were hard done by.

Good try.

Luke McGrath needs to know how to run on shoulders

He is constantly ahead of the runner so can't be passed the ball

Munster Pack plus Ruddock

Commenter made good point that alot of the Russians have wrestling background so strong upper body and one on one tackle.

I'm sure the stadium announcer just said successful conversion by Rodney Sexton?

Relax boys! There is tension in the air.

I don't know if it's the opposition or us, but three games now, we're certainly playing ourselves into game fitness with the game we play.

Let's not make it easy.  

So people will argue how tough the opposition but we're certainly making the most of them in making the games more complicated than they need to be - some good cardio being done in high humidity.  Not sure I'm enjoying the cardios myself but you gotta take positives from these things.

SecretFly wrote:I don't know if it's the opposition or us, but three games now, we're certainly playing ourselves into game fitness with the game we play.

Let's not make it easy.  

So people will argue how tough the opposition but we're certainly making the most of them in making the games more complicated than they need to be - some good cardio being done in high humidity.  Not sure I'm enjoying the cardios myself but you gotta take positives from these things.

At least we don't have worry about the repeat of 07 and Georgia.

Are we still pretending to be tom-kite or have we actually now become just that?

I think good all on the card as he was sitting on the ground, maybe soft but Russian player went in hard.

The worst body language I've ever seen in an Ireland team as regards holding each other up, supporting each other, encouraging good play...etc. All loners. No brothers.

Such a tough scrap though with those Russian wrestlers... looks so energy sapping. It has to take a toll on all involved. A real test.
Ireland just haven't been allowed to show as much skill as they would have liked. Still a bonus point win so they'll be glad to have that in the bag.

Is it just me or are Ireland making really hard work of this?

Fair play to Russia though, they have left it all out there.

BigGee wrote:Is it just me or are Ireland making really hard work of this?

Fair play to Russia though, they have left it all out there.

They have played well, Irish rugby is like the soccer team, we just don't do good at trashing teams

Russia eventually running out of gas

Russia 14 - 42 Connacht
Russia 0 - 35 Ireland

The positive. We're working the players hard. QF (if we make it) might benefit from the sweat.

BigGee wrote:Russia eventually running out of gas

That's a western conspiracy to undermine Putin

Job done for Ireland, Russia did well and will be happy with their effort after making 9 changes.

Matt Dawson is not being very complimentary on BBC sport.

Fully expected Ireland to win with BP, but that wasn't a convincing performance...was it?

As Ireland will face All Blacks or SpringBoks in the qtrs, do you really think Ireland is in a good position to meet and beat one of those sides. 

Dont know why, but Ireland are looking under cooked IMO (or maybe overcooked and knackered).

BOD looks so disappointed on ITV.

You'd think Ireland RWC ambitions have been blown apart.

Russia are the first team to be mathematically eliminated from the Rugby World Cup.

Could see quite a few more knocked out in the next few days. Samoa, South Africa, Namibia, Canada, Argentina, Tonga, USA, Georgia and Uruguay could all be packing up by Monday.

TBP win, job done but Ireland still do not look balanced as a team.

Well every team so far has struggled in Kobe - the conditions there have certainly had a huge bearing on performances.

Anyone know if any knock out games are there?

No9 wrote:Fully expected Ireland to win with BP, but that wasn't a convincing performance...was it?

As Ireland will face All Blacks or SpringBoks in the qtrs, do you really think Ireland is in a good position to meet and beat one of those sides. 

Dont know why, but Ireland are looking under cooked IMO (or maybe overcooked and knackered).

Tense.  Tension is killing us.  But then again, it's a good drink to be taking before a game potentially against New Zealand or SA.

I have a little perception that Ireland are not going to suffer for the kind of games they've had to play - on the contrary for a side that seemed to be undercooked and off form for virtually the entire year so far, these games will certainly create a proper awakening.  And they have been games of awakening. Like we have scored tries and we have defended.  I mean as exercises in getting ready, we 've probably had the hardest tour of duty so far - maybe because we needed it.  Other sides have been in good form and cruising.  Wales had a little scare but did it really upset their rhythm?  They were just caught for a while by a very very good high quality attacking Tier 1 Nation.  They still feel good.  The don't feel stressed.  We're getting some good stress training.  And you could laugh but also, it could prove quite useful.

RDW wrote:Well every team so far has struggled in Kobe - the conditions there have certainly had a huge bearing on performances.

Anyone know if any knock out games are there?

I don't think there are. Quarters are definitely Tokyo and Oita

The silver lining is that we have been bad enough in the last two games that we may shock someone in the quarters. Humidity doesn't excuse the failure to execute a simple 2-on-1 on the opposition line (I think it was Scannell).

RDW wrote:Well every team so far has struggled in Kobe - the conditions there have certainly had a huge bearing on performances.

Anyone know if any knock out games are there?

I was there, it wasnt a hot day really. Very rainy outside but muggy and humid in the stadium. Felt like no air.

Collapse2005 wrote:

RDW wrote:Well every team so far has struggled in Kobe - the conditions there have certainly had a huge bearing on performances.

Anyone know if any knock out games are there?

I was there, it wasnt a hot day really. Very rainy outside but muggy and humid in the stadium. Felt like no air.

Can't remember who, but someone was giving the organisers and absolute raging for having an indoor stadium with no air con on the list of locations.

So I heard.  

Reasonable weather outside, bit of a sauna inside.  Commentators questioning why the roof simply isn't opened.  Then answering their own question by saying that's a no-can-do as all competitors must meet the same conditions.

So be it, if that's the logic used, but I think it silly as the two teams in any given game always face the same conditions.  That you attempt to mimic 'same conditions' for teams across pools is just too much like attempted over-control of the product.  After all, teams get different refs and TMOs.

Not that I personally would be against the roof closed.  The more torture the better really.  Players should benefit from the hard slogs in heat (if after-care science looks after them and aids recovery rates).  After all, they chase such experience down in training before the WC itself. Acclimatising.

What we don't know is how the coaches are managing their players. Ireland needed to be on the ball for Scotland, but even with the upset to Japan they are fairly assured of qualification without having to try too hard.

I would expect Schmidt, like everyone else, to have one eye on the knockout rounds. I have been saying for a while that Eddie will have been targeting England to be ready for the Argentina and France games, and it seems likely that Schmidt may have stepped up the training after Scotland with a view to tapering for the QFs.

I doubt we have seen the best of any of the top tier teams yet, except perhaps Scotland, who are now playing for their survival.

SecretFly wrote:So I heard.  

Reasonable weather outside, bit of a sauna inside.  Commentators questioning why the roof simply isn't opened.  Then answering their own question by saying that's a no-can-do as all competitors must meet the same conditions.

So be it, if that's the logic used, but I think it silly as the two teams in any given game always face the same conditions.  That you attempt to mimic 'same conditions' for teams across pools is just too much like attempted over-control of the product.  After all, teams get different refs and TMOs.

Not that I personally would be against the roof closed.  The more torture the better really.  Players should benefit from the hard slogs in heat (if after-care science looks after them and aids recovery rates).  After all, they chase such experience down in training before the WC itself.  Acclimatising.

They play in different stadiums too. What about the teams that play in a stadium without a roof.

Silly question, but is it possible to partially open the roof - open enough to give the air somewhere to go, but closed enough to protect a bit against the weather?

Collapse2005 wrote:

RDW wrote:Well every team so far has struggled in Kobe - the conditions there have certainly had a huge bearing on performances.

Anyone know if any knock out games are there?

I was there, it wasnt a hot day really. Very rainy outside but muggy and humid in the stadium. Felt like no air.

I was there for Scotland v Samoa and it was almost unbearably hot and humid. So much so I had to get off the beer and switch to drinking my own bodyweight in the deceptively potent lemon chuhai, got blind drunk and can’t remember the last 10 minutes of the match. True story.

..the Samoans got blind drunk and they can't remember the last 10 minutes of the game either, so you missed nothing.

Ireland were garbage against Russia. Is Andrew Porter now the top illegal advisor in Ireland? Because everything he does in the scrum is illegal. I can't see Ireland making past the quarters, again.

Thanks Mikey. WOL's Elite Performance Assessor Analyst Advisor.

Fan A and fan B - different supporting styles entirely

Sit down Guns!

Ha I saw that guy, think he was Japanese

Last 2 games Ireland have been static and error prone

For all his qualities Murray has ruined the Ireland team: poor kicking, lethargic passing to forwards who are rumbling like Ireland of old. You cant win games giving the ball away with kicks hoping the opposition drop it or forwards with no inertia as they hit the opposition. Our play is all too well known these days and we don’t seem capable of changing

Then there’s the errors. This wasn’t happening a year ago. How many times did BAki spoil some real momentum with a knock on?

Ireland needs to seriously look at themselves. Start to swagger again and stop playing safe defensive ball. Play with freedom

We may escape our group, heck we may even win it. However it’s false potential unless we change our ways.

I hope Japan win the group as IMO only team of the 3 contenders that would get past Boks at the moment

Blanko wrote:Last 2 games Ireland have been static and error prone

For all his qualities Murray has ruined the Ireland team: poor kicking, lethargic passing to forwards who are rumbling like Ireland of old. You cant win games giving the ball away with kicks hoping the opposition drop it or forwards with no inertia as they hit the opposition. Our play is all too well known these days and we don’t seem capable of changing

Then there’s the errors. This wasn’t happening a year ago. How many times did BAki spoil some real momentum with a knock on?

Ireland needs to seriously look at themselves. Start to swagger again and stop playing safe defensive ball. Play with freedom

We may escape our group, heck we may even win it. However it’s false potential unless we change our ways.  

Broken record warning. I have been saying for some time that Aki is simply not good enough to play international rugby. He has the worst handling of any international centre I have ever seen, he is constantly out of position defensively and I thought he was very lucky that they did not review his clear-out of the Russian player.

Murray for me is an excellent 9 but Ireland need to have a 9 that can distribute far quicker than he can. I am still bemused as to why Cooney was not selected, he ticks all the box's.

Surely Murray is doing what the coaches are asking him to do?

Ireland, like it or loathe it, play a game style where they give their opponents the ball and wait for them to make a mistake. Against Japan this didn’t work as they played simple, error free rugby, sticking to the basics and not over-reaching themselves when Ireland put on pressure. Against Scotland though this worked marvellously.

Pie wrote:I hope Japan win the group as IMO only team of the 3 contenders that would get past Boks at the moment

If Japan keep being a contender in their last two games, then neither Ireland nor Scotland will meet the Boks.

So? Kind of a worthless point IF Japan remains the best side through the Pool.