Tokyo Calling - Rugby 2019

[longeared]

Well at least it wasn't Paloma Faith this time.

[Ray de Galles]

Right, here we go. The opening game, Japan v Russia, starts in 15 minutes. Then there is the massive meeting of the All Blacks and Springboks at 10:45am UK time tomorrow, preceded by Australia v Fiji and France v Argentina.

I fly out tomorrow afternoon for a week or so to see Wales v Georgia, Russia v Samoa, Japan v Ireland and Australia v Wales.

Can't wait. Come the fuck on, Wales!

[Rogin the Armchair fan]

Make sure in charging around Japan shouting about Wales they don't mistake you for a greenpeace activist...

[Rogin the Armchair fan]

Are they going to welcome the teams on with the big synchro drumming thing at every game or is just because it's the opener? I hope it is at all games, it's very impressive.

[Ray de Galles]

Bloody hell, Russia score the opening try after a few incidents of terrible judgement of kicks by Japan.

[Ray de Galles]

Filthy out the back pass from the Japanese outside centre sets up their try in response.

Then they blow claiming another high ball, I fear for them against Ireland if they can't field a kick cleanly.

[Etienne]

Surely the World Cup merits a thread of its own.

[Duncan Gardner]

Have a great one M de Galles

I really enjoyed the 2002 World Cup, largely because of the early morning kick-offs in Western Europe. Early morning insomnia.

My brother went and phoned from Sapporo

Him: Hello, we're in a bar enjoying a few sakis with the locals

Me: I'm having a drink too,after late shift at work. It's 10pm here, have you been on the piss all night?

[Ray de Galles]

Surely the World Cup merits a thread of its own.

We've always rolled them in as the spine of the relevant annual threads before.

[Ray de Galles]

A tight but correct call on control of the ball denies Japan a second try. They're finding it tougher than people imagined, Lyn Jones has Russia going well so far.

[tee rex]

I've never seen the ball bounce so much in a major (ish) rugby international. It transforms the game. Looks like something I remember from school.

[Ray de Galles]

Japan pulling away now, 20-7 after Labushagne (not that one) strips the ball and waltzes in for a try.

[Rogin the Armchair fan]

After the last World Cup I imagine Japan want the bonus point here. Although of course they'd still (probably) have to beat Ireland or Scotland.

[Ray de Galles]

They really have to get the bonus point, their fitness should secure it given the effort Russia have had to put in to the match so far.

[Ray de Galles]

...and there we go. A knackered Russia throw (or kick, to be precise) the fourth try to Japan.

[ursus arctos]

This is interesting.

Staten Island is not a particular hotbed of rugby here, but parts of it are very accessible from Manhattan (which is) and land there is exponentially cheaper. The local authorities are also very interested in supporting projects that can draw visitors to the borough, which is very much not the case in the more central parts of the city.

https://twitter.com/MartinPengelly/status/1175030595090558976

[Hot Pepsi]

I don't think it's that bad. If the WC were in England and Japan's team did a thing as the knights of the round table, or if it were in the US and they did a cowboy thing, nobody would be too upset. A bit cheezy, I suppose.

The military imagery is annoying. Why do sports always have to be hyped up with that?

[Vicarious Thrillseeker]

Fiji-Aus. Fiji doing what Fiji do, and they are 14-12 up at half time. It's intense, brutal and fast, but Australia are still in this .

[pebblethefish]

I have very little confidence that Fiji will keep this up, although I hope I'm wrong.

[Vicarious Thrillseeker]

Australia have started controlling the ball and are now leading 25-21 after 65. You can't play loose against Fiji, they'll murder you.

[Rogin the Armchair fan]

The last twenty minutes were a totally different game to the first sixty. Often seems to be the case in games like this, where a top ten side play a second tier nation. I'd be interested in the odds on Tonga similarly leading at half time tomorrow before getting steamrollered.

[Vicarious Thrillseeker]

Full time. Australia win 39-21

[Sporting]

Game of three quarters and 25%.

[Janik]

England lose a staff member on eve of competition. The last para of that report about NDAs being strictly enforced is loaded, isn't it?

[Ray de Galles]

That first match was a jolting one to watch pre-dawn. Both Australia and Fiji worried me immensely from a Welsh perspective, especially given our tendency to get sucked in to playing the latter at their own game. Also worrying was that Fiji apparently have "Flying Fijians" on their badge.

France v Australia right now is certainly a lush kit match up.