JAPAN: A COACHING MASTERCLASS

Anyone who has coached rugby at any level was simply in awe of the Japanese team yesterday against the Scots. Their ability to create space and get the ball at lightning speed to that space was awesome. Their footwork before contact, resulting in arm not shoulder tackles, allowing them to get over the gainline was awesome. Their running lines at space and support on the shoulder to receive offloads was awesome.

Japanese attacking space not the face

Their ability to frequently create the tightest of overlaps out wide and exploit them was awesome. The speed of ball and constant retention to build pressure was awesome. Their tackling was awesome, especially in the second half, offensive, with shoulders not arms, and sometimes in pairs, legally, one resulting in a try from a rip. Their hand catch, accuracy and fitness in the humid conditions was awesome. The subs off the bench were awesome, etc, etc

They look well coached, but not overcoached and are certainly capable of playing what's in front of them, and in Fukoka, they had the man of the match, and probably one of the players of the tournament so far, even though he has only played a couple of games. Fukoka is certainly the quickest player, along with Kolbe of SA, and his pace contributed to three of the tries yesterday. And apparently he is set to retire after the RWC to become a doctor!

Fukoka - set to retire to become a doctor

A DAY TO REMEMBER

Well done to World Rugby and the people of Japan who helped make the Scotland game happen today - it was a very special occasion, both for Japan, who were stunning in attack and defence, and also, for the game itself. Hopefully some of the 60m who watched it will get involved in the sport. Credit to Scotland for scoring three tries and for contributing to a marvellous contest, but not even a team of superheroes would have denied the hosts today. South Africa await in the QF, quite a prospect.

JAPAN WE SALUTE YOU

This post does not involve talking about the weather (hurrah) or even me bleating on about a conspiracy to deny Scotland a QF place at the expense of the hosts. It simply celebrates the amazing people of Japan, who have welcomed fans of all nationalities with open arms.

OATH is fortunate to have a roving reporter in Alan "Doylie" Doyle out in Tokyo, Shizuoka and Yokohama (at his expense) to experience the hospitality first hand.

He are his thoughts:

"The Japanese people are illuminating this tournament. Today's memories include an amazing high school swing band in the fan park who reduced 1000 steaming Scots to mesmerised respectful silence through sheer quality of performance and great use of humour, the fans who turn up in the full kit of their adopted team with anthem pre memorised (Flower Of Scotland has only been heard louder at Murrayfield), the dozens of people who shyly stopped us for photographs in our kilts, the multiple people who went out of their way to congratulate us on our win when we were out in Hamamatsu celebrating and finally the group of salarymen who latched onto our celebration, bought us dinner and drinks and paid for our taxi home! As Father Ted would have put it "The Japanese. A grand bunch of lads"

THE SMUG, THE ARROGANT AND THE UPSET

The fallout from Typhoon 19 continues, and it has not even arrived yet. First, let me put it out there, rugby is unimportant compared to public safety, so yes games at risk should not be played. Second, may I also point out that, as there was the risk of typhoons affecting matches, surely World Rugby should have made some contingency plans, even agreeing to play games behind closed doors. Those in business will know that the boss always likes solutions better than just problems.

Everyone looks at impact of events like this through a different lens, and, also, at times of crisis, people reveal their true colours. Eddie Jones, England's pompous coach, is full of the joys of spring, as having won the group (by default), not only do his team now face Australia not Wales (the stronger team in ranking and form), he also gets to return the England squad back to the Japanese "Isle of Wight", where he almost bought a house, for over a week's worth of rest & recuperation, allowing some of his best players (Billy, Owen, Jack) to get fit for the QF. Not content with this turn of a friendly card, SMUG Eddie, feels he needs to make the observation that Scotland and Italy should have played better, and accumulated more points by this stage, so then wouldn't need to win their last game. And that every team should have been prepared for typhoons - well, I wish he had told World Rugby that before the tournament. But of course, looking at it through the England lens, Eddie would say that, despite the fact that they have huffed and puffed their way passed Tonga, USA and 14 man Argentina, whereas Scotland and Italy have had to play Top 4 teams in Ireland and South Africa respectively.

Is that Scotch mist I can feel?

Steve Hansen, the most miserable man on the planet, also waded into the debate, and (through the Kiwi lens) pointed out that cancelling their game was such an easy decision that even Trump would have made it. He hardly spared a thought for the Italians (Tier 2 nation) who could have still qualified for the QF at NZ's expense, had they beaten them without conceding a losing point. But of course ARROGANT Steve never even considered that a possibility, despite the fact that NZ conceded over 50 points to an average Australian team a few months ago. So you have to admire Sergio Parisse, the Italian legend (who being high on emotion having missed out on his RWC farewell) declared that if the shoe was on the other foot, and cancelling the game resulted in NZ being knocked out before the QF's then a different decision might have been made.

Something we will not see again this RWC

And also spare a thought for VERY UPSET Italy hooker Leonardo Ghiraldini, who broke down in tears after learning he would not be playing in what would have been a farewell match for his country. He has spent six months rehabbing after injuring himself in the last game of the Six Nations, and spent months and time away from his family doing so. He just missed out on selection for the game against Canada and South Africa, but was set to play this weekend - not the way to end a 14 year career.

Anyway, we await the decision on Japan v Scotland, which, due to the England and New Zealand cancelled match precedents cannot be postponed and replayed. My gut tells me that weather will prevail and Scotland will suffer the same fate as Italy, and I will not get the chance to wear my kilt one last time at RWC 2019.

RED CARDS WILL HAVE AN IMPACT IN QUARTER FINALS

So far, the only red cards issued in RWC 2019 have been issued to Tier 2 nations, plus Argentina, who sit outside Top 10 world rankings. No Tier 1 nation has yet suffered this fate, but if refs are consistent (yeah right), then a red card for a high, late or illegal tackle will be issued to a team in the Quarter Finals, which, more than likely, will impact the outcome of the game.

Can you imagine a Kiwi receiving a red card in their QF, resulting in an historic Japan victory? Can you imagine Owen Farrell being red carded for yet another illegal shoulder charge on that poor Aussie (that he previously floored in Autumn 2018), resulting in an English exit?

Owen Farrell prevents an Oz try with illegal no arms tackle

How will RWC cope with the inevitable onslaught of criticism against the referee? How will English, Kiwi or South African commentators like Matt Dawson react, who have previously applauded such refereeing decisions, if the decision (probably not clear cut) results in their team heading home?

It will be fascinating...

TYPHOON HAGIBIS WREAKS HAVOC BEFORE ITS ARRIVAL

England v France and New Zealand v Italy both cancelled this weekend due to predicted arrival of Hagibis. Safety obviously comes first, but you do feel sorry for fans of Italy, who will not see their team compete against the mighty AB's, and especially France, who, had they beaten England, could still have topped the group and avoided battle hardened Wales in the QF's. Plus, you also have to feel for all those fans from the affected nations who may have splashed out four figures for a £100 ticket, and will only receive a face value refund.

Let's hope Hagibis is through by Sunday, inflicting little damage, so Japan v Scotland game is played. If Ireland win with a bonus point v Samoa on Saturday, and Japan game is cancelled, then as everyone knows by now, Scotland will not qualify for QF's with Japan going through to play their first ever QF (against NZ). Four more years of bitterness and conspiracy theories for the poor Scots, who still feel aggrieved at being cheated out of a RWC 2015 semi final by the Saffa ref. However, if Ireland lose to Samoa, and fail to pick up a losing bonus point, and the other game is cancelled, then the Irish will head home. Phew, exhausting stuff...

RWC 2019: WEEKEND #2 REVIEW

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.

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.

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.