Wow, just wow, even a few days on, the events and impact of the second weekend of RWC 2019 has not dissipated. Japan, the hosts, turning over the no.2 team in the world, Ireland, and then, Wales sneaking past Australia, in a game played at the intensity of a QF. There were also wins for Tier 1 nations, Argentina, South Africa and Scotland, over Tier 2 counterparts, with the Scots only securing that valuable bonus point in last five minutes of their match with Samoa. Georgia also edged Uruguay, who could not replicate the passion and accuracy they demonstrated previously over Fiji.
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| Kerevi was penalised for using ball to fend a defender |
Australia complained about persistent Welsh offside, and did concede (yet another) Gareth Davies intercept try, but Will Genia (like Ben Youngs) does take an age to distribute the ball at 9 once he has picked it up off the floor. They were also penalised for leading with the arm, when Samu Kerevi used ball/arm to fend off a wrap tackle from Rhys Patchell, who the Aussies complained was guilty of poor tackle technique. This one will run and run. I have sympathy with Australia, as the tackler has been ordered by World Rugby to go lower, but defences are reluctant to do so, risking injury to minimise the chance of an offload and easy yards over the gainline.
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| Japan show Brighton was no fluke |
Japan confounded their critics by demonstrating that for 75+ minutes they could be consistently accurate and resilient against a Tier 1 nation. Their intensity in the second half was staggering, as was their level of fitness in the humid, hot conditions. Scotland are capable of beating them, but will struggle to score four tries in the process, so will need to deny Japan a losing bonus point to squeeze through to QF by nature of winning the head to head contest. Whatever the mathematical permutation, it will be a cup final for the home nation.
