RWC Opposition Watch

[hugh_woatmeigh]

I can't support Samoa even if it knocks us out in the process. Japan are impossible to dislike.

Given the size of Samoa and their resources I find it quite easy to root for them. They'll pretty much always be underdogs.

This is shaping up as a fun game though

True - the Samoans have better individuals playing at higher levels though (maybe not in this game due to bans but throughout the squad fur sure). The japs play like a cohesive, well-oiled team who know exactly what their fellow player is going to do. That's the main difference imo.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

Game over for Samoa surely. That's a yellow bare minimum.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

WTF are the Samoan coaching team protesting about? That's a clear yellow.

[switchskier]

Maitland is going to have his hands full with Matushima. Do you think we need the 13 to rush up and cut off the pass or slide and trust one of our better defenders?

[hugh_woatmeigh]

If Nanai-Williams fails that HIA 10 mins after the actual event happened that is not going to look good...

[General Zod]

Just to check if I have my maths right...

If Samoa win, they go into the Ireland game knowing that a win almost certainly sees them through?

[Chunks Baws]

If this Japan shows up v us I'll be happy. You can bet your house that the team that beat Ireland is the one that shows up though.

[switchskier]

Just to check if I have my maths right...

If Samoa win, they go into the Ireland game knowing that a win almost certainly sees them through?

I think so. They'd have two wins (this game and Russia), Ireland would have two (us and Russia), Japan would have two (Ireland and Russia) and we may have two (Samoa and Russia). So if Samoa win this (still a big ask) and then beat Ireland the result of us against Japan wouldn't make a difference to them. Right?

[hugh_woatmeigh]

Samoa have absolutely nothing to concern Ireland with anyway.

[switchskier]

Samoa have absolutely nothing to concern Ireland with anyway.

They don't look at all like scoring today and Ireland win this sort of game handily.

Try time. Just need Samoa to hold out now for the final 25 minutes.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

Complete waste of dominance in the 22 from Samoa there.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

The sort of thing we'd do.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

Brainless play from Samoa. Why does Fidow just run in a straight line along the touch line into 3 Japanese defenders? It's not even a percentage play, the correct option 100% of the time is to cut back inside.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

Any chance of Samoa holding out and denying them the TBP?

[General Zod]

This is a fix.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

Oh boy.

[ARM]

Thanks Samoa. Scrum 5....

[hugh_woatmeigh]

We'll see how we look against Russia but if we limp past them it's not looking good. Japan are hitting their straps now.

[General Zod]

Time to poop the party.

That’s probably a Japanese game show.

[Chunks Baws]

Samoan decision making makes our lot look like a team of Einstein's. Not just the scrum, they make dumb as fuck decisions right through the game. Anyway, this is playing out exactly as we all thought after the Ireland game.

[General Zod]

So, we need

1 - 5 point win v Russia, and
2 - A 4-try win against Japan, and
3 - Stop Japan from picking up 2 bonus points by finishing within 7 of us and getting 4 tries themselves.

There are other combinations involving Ireland and Samoa, but I’m pretty sure that’s it.

[laribold]

So, we need

1 - 5 point win v Russia, and
2 - A 4-try win against Japan, and
3 - Stop Japan from picking up 2 bonus points by finishing within 7 of us and getting 4 tries themselves.

There are other combinations involving Ireland and Samoa, but I’m pretty sure that’s it.

Pretty sure we 'just' need to beat Russia with a TBP and then beat Japan without them getting a BP.
If they get a BP, we need one for 4 tries. If they get 2 BPs we're out whatever happens.

If teams are level on points, then whoever wins the head to head goes through as the first tie-breaker.

[General Zod]

So, we need

1 - 5 point win v Russia, and
2 - A 4-try win against Japan, and
3 - Stop Japan from picking up 2 bonus points by finishing within 7 of us and getting 4 tries themselves.

There are other combinations involving Ireland and Samoa, but I’m pretty sure that’s it.

Pretty sure we 'just' need to beat Russia with a TBP and then beat Japan without them getting a BP.
If they get a BP, we need one for 4 tries. If they get 2 BPs we're out whatever happens.

If teams are level on points, then whoever wins the head to head goes through as the first tie-breaker.

Oh yeah, that too. I wasn’t very polite to the samoans when I was watching. Accusing them of match-fixing.

Japanese got away with a couple of high-looking tackles there - we’re just going to have to accept that and see where we get to. Japan v South Africa would be great for world rugby’s marketing team.

[no sleep]

Samoan decisions weren't great, but can't fault them for wanting to play on - that's their world cup over. But penalising a crooked feed ffs, is Jaco Peyper from the past?