LEAVE FARRELL BE

Poor Farrell Junior, all he did was get selected by Coach Lancaster to do a job against the old enemy tonight in the BIGGEST game so far of RWC 2015. His biggest weakness is not that he stands too deep, or is occasionally hot headed, but that he is not George Ford. If he puts England in the right areas this evening, kicks his goals and releases the Burgess battering ram into space, then England will win and Farrell bashing will become a thing of the past. Rugby is a team game, and whilst fly half is a key position, if the scrum half is under pressure at the base and cannot release quick ball out wide because the fat forwards haven't done their job properly, etc This game will be won up front, so where is Dylan Hartley, why not bash him for being absent...

NO FUN ALLOWED

To compound the news that no bagpipes are to be allowed into RWC 2015 stadia, the RFU has now announced that no fancy dress is to be allowed into the London Sevens at the end of the season. What, no middle age men dressed as dwarves, milkmaids or super heroes? What the Nanny State fails to appreciate is that it is not being dressed as a chicken that makes rugby fans drink all day at a rugby event and fall in someone's garden, so upsetting local residents. It is more to do with the fact that booze is available from supermarkets at next to nothing from 0800hrs in the morning, so pre-loading is prevalent amongst the young (they can't afford to buy beer at pub prices all day), and the fact that there are inadequate toilet facilities outside the ground, so a garden bush is the best alternative.

The RFU on a teambuilding day

The RFU also claim they want to make the sport and the London Sevens more family friendly, well I have fathered (at least) two teenage boys, and when they were 6-11 years old, the prospect of watching rugby with Mum & Dad all day was far more appealing if they were allowed to dress up as Batman, Snow White or a Minion. Also, seeing Dad joining in the fun, dressed as a woman is part of a child's development...so shame on you RWC 2015 and RFU for restricting the dress code, plus reducing match day drinking hours, and not allowing fans to drink in Twickenham town centre after 2230hrs  And as for bagpipes...give us a break, most pipes are played by young laddies trying to fund their journey home. But then old gits who run the sport we love don't appreciate that ... enough, rant over!

ENGLAND SQUAD ANNOUNCED FOR WALES GAME

Joseph injured so replaced by Burgess, with Barritt moving to 13, and, as predicted, Farrell replaces Ford at fly half. Can England get the ball out wide and put their back three in space?

Team: Mike Brown; Anthony Watson, Brad Barritt, Sam Burgess, Jonny May, Owen Farrell, Ben Youngs; Joe Marler, Tom Youngs, Dan Cole, Geoff Parling, Courtney Lawes, Tom Wood, Chris Robshaw, Billy Vunipola.

Replacements: Rob Webber, Mako Vunipola, Kieran Brookes, Joe Launchbury, James Haskell, Richard Wigglesworth, George Ford, Alex Goode.

RUGBY WAS THE WINNER

I had the privilege of travelling to the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff yesterday to watch the Australia v Fiji game with very good friends. A marvellous pre-match lunch and bottle of Nuit St George in Le Monde was only spoilt by having to watch the Scotland v Japan game courtesy of a giant screen 10 feet away. I have to say the Japanese (like all the minor teams) looked very well coached, very fit and very motivated. At half time, with the score at 12-10, I was sweating like a gypsy with a mortgage, but all credit to the Scots who were ruthlessly professional in the second half running in five tries to lead the group.

The Australia v Fiji game was another tight affair in the first half, with Fiji, once again competing up front, and at the breakdown, despite the efforts of "Pooper" (Pocock & Hooper) who were superb. In the second half, everyone assumed the floodgates would open and Oz would win by 50 points, as fatigue set in, but Fiji's intensity and workload shifted up a gear, and they dominated possession, but lacked accuracy in the opposition 22. All credit to them, like against England, they had a real go, and played without fear, and they will run Wales close, mark my words.

Last but not least, I have to say that Cardiff did not let us down regards post match festivities. With the queue for the train starting almost at the stadium exit, we headed into a nearby hostelry and engaged a group of charming young medics from London at the bar - only at rugby matches can opposing fans, young and old, talk rubbish over a beer, and leave best of friends. Monty asked me to give Hastings & Bexhill RFC a plug, so I have, but will counter it by saying Cranbrook RFC is better.

The best fly half Hastings & Bexhill RFC has ever had...

The rugby bonhomie continued onto the train back home, where Mrs B and I met quite possibly the two nicest Australian Kates ever - good meeting you ladies, you are welcome to Marlow anytime and hope that free lunch invite to the Fat Duck in Bray still stands. What a day, some team won, some team lost but rugby definitely was the winner!

Kate and Kate from Melbourne

ROVING REPORT: JAPAN V SCOTLAND

Roving OATH Reporter: Don "Wrestler" Edwards

Gloucester Docks was buzzing before the match with a good mix of kilts and kimonos. The Japan coach, Eddie Jones, had predicted that Scotland would struggle in the last quarter – oh how the Scots made him eat those words.  At half-time, Scotland were a little lucky to be leading 12-7, with 4 penalties from the excellent Greig Laidlaw. Amanaki Mafi, Japan's stand out player, scored the only try of the first half. The Scottish fans were more nervous at that stage than a pack of small nuns at a penguin-shooting party. After the break, however, the Bravehearts put the Brave Blossoms to the (Samurai) sword, with some incisive running and clinical finishing. They scored 5 tries from John Hardie, Mark Bennett (2), Tommy Seymour and Finn Russell. Stuart Hogg caused the Japanese all sorts of problems in attack with his raw pace and a few cheeky wee shimmies, and deserved his standing ovation when he left the pitch. Scotland now top Group B, a point ahead of Samoa and Japan, with South Africa (yes, South Africa) a further two behind. The possibility of avoiding England at Twickenham awaits the Group winners.

WILL JAPANESE LIGHTENING STRIKE TWICE?

Can Japan build on their amazing victory against SA, just four days later against Scotland, a team who have not played a fixture yet in RWC 2015, and who have been criticised for being mentally weak in tough games? Will Cotter and the Scots choke like the South Africans did? I don't think so, like Japan, Scotland have strengthened the core of their team with "imports", with only 10 Scots in the starting line up today being born north of the border (for Japan it is only 8). And the Jocks have a secret weapon on the bench in Josh McStrauss, who qualified for his country just last week, and, having won the South African Premiership with Southern Kings, has proven he is an awesome player, leader, competitor and beard wearer!

FARRELL IN FOR FORD, JOSEPH INJURED

Rumours are circulating that George Ford will be dropped for Saturday's game with Wales, to be replaced by Owen Farrell. Also that JJ is injured so Brad Barritt will move to 13 and Slammin Sam will make his debit at 12. Stuart Lancaster has made no secret that he sees OF as his first pick 10, despite that the evidence that Ford is a better player, but due to indifferent performances from GF against France and Fiji, this has given SL the opportunity to bring Owen Farrell back in at fly half. This will mean less creativity and flair in this key position, with OF just obeying the coach's instructions, and making England easier to defend against. Sam Burgess against Jamie Roberts should be a brutal contest, and they may well nullify each other, leaving little ball in space out wide for talented back threes on both teams to exploit (North, Williams, Watson, Brown, etc). Assuming Farrell doesn't have a mare at the weekend, I expect him to be first pick England 10 from now on...

ROVING REPORT: NZ v ARGENTINA

Roving OATH reporter: Peter "The Ref" Sones

For all their efforts, Argentina was robust but predictable in attack and organised but ultimately undone in defence. Streetwise Kiwis (some were uttering the “C” word – for cheating) had enough to stop the Pumas, although it wasn’t until the final 10 minutes that the outcome was certain. Aaron Smith was man of the match, but some of the other All Blacks need to look at themselves in the mirror and raise their game if the 2015 AB’s are going to come close to being the first team to defend the RWC. 

JAPAN JOY: REVIEW 18TH - 21ST SEPTEMBER

Wow what a weekend of RWC 2015....England securing a much needed bonus point with their fourth try in the 82nd minute, Japan scoring the winning try, again in stoppage time against SA, Wales crushing Uruguay as expected but suffering more injuries and NZ doing enough to beat an impressive Argentinian outfit, but having the legend that is Richie McCaw, yellow carded, for what is only the third time in his international career.

First to England v Fiji on Friday night, where the hosts avoided the proverbial banana skin by beating Fiji reasonably comfortably, scoring four tries in the process, but being beaten up in the front five and breakdown area later in the game, when the pressure was on. Fiji will definitely have a say in the outcome of the Group of Death, whether they can beat an injury hit Wales remains to be seen, but you have to applaud their manic desire to keep the ball alive at every opportunity (they must be a nightmare to coach).

Next Super Saturday, where Georgia surprisingly overcame Tonga, in the most physical contest so far in RWC 2015, and celebrated down at Kingsholm like they had won the group. This achievement was only superceded by the magnificent Japanese, whose last minute victory over the South Africans, was definitely the biggest shock rugby result ever (Fiji Wales eight years ago was great, but nothing like this). Pictures beamed around the world of crying Japanese supporters will hopefully motivate those thinking of trying the game to take that next step.

This was no fluke, as, whilst South Africa played poorly, they still scored four tries and should have won the game, but Japan's never say die spirit, and accuracy and intensity under pressure in the closing stages was formidable. Whether Japan can now build on this foundation and qualify for the knockout stages, to possibly play England or Australia, remains to be seen. Scotland and Samoa lie in wait and will be better prepared than SA. There was another game, where predictably Ireland crushed Canadia (sic) by 50+ points, with Sexton running the show (let's hope they can keep him fit). According to my roving reporter, Big John, the poor FGW train service home from Cardiff was the most dramatic part of the game.

Finally Sunday, where the highlight was a very strong NZ team overcoming a creative but inaccurate Argentinian outfit, who have improved greatly as a result of being allowed into the Championship. Every other team in the competition must have been shaking their head, when NZ emptied their bench and Nonu was replaced by Sonny Bill Williams. Such strength in depth (like England's) will play an important role in any team's progress come the latter stages and inevitable injuries knock out key players.

So only three days in, and already rugby fans have big smiles on their faces...and with Costa's behaviour on the football pitch over the weekend, hopefully rugby made its mark and attracted some new recruits into its community.