RWC: Canada vs Japan and Italy vs USA Match thread

chupacabra · 27-09-2011 1:17am #1

Canada vs Japan could very well be the game of the pool stages of this world cup. Both sides playing a fast paced, technical style of rugby and both sides in some good form. The strength of the canadian pack will be just a little too much for the Japanese I think but if they can get the ball out wide then they could cause Canada all sorts of problems. Both sides will have been targeting this game from the start of the tournament so I expect them both to go at full pelt against one another. I reckon a 3 point win for Canada in a fast open game.

Italy vs USA is not a foregone conclusion in my opinion. I think the USA have really played out of their skin at this world cup and have really come a long way from a very poor Churchill cup in the summer. Im expecting Italy to win but not by the drubbing that most people are expecting. A couple of lucky tries and an indisciplined Italian side and who knows? They could just prevent Italy from getting the bonus point. Itally by 10.

As always if you are an eircom customer then you will be able to watch both of these games live at http://eircomsports.eircom.net/Setanta/
Kickoff for the first game is at 5am and the second at 7:30am

circos · 27-09-2011 1:32am

On a night shift and looking forward to both games!

Hope USA give Italy a good go!

sickpuppy · 27-09-2011 1:36am

Againest Tonga Japan turned over loads of ball in there own 22 with bad passing handling when kicking would have been wiser but seems thats the way they play with lots of passion and spirit.
Not seen much of canada so cant say who will win but they are slight favourites.

Italy should have too much up front and especially at scrum time againest the usa
id love to see Nqwenya get some good clean ball in space too show what he can do but many of the usa players are still amatuers so i think the spread of 20 pts is about right.

circos · 27-09-2011 4:03am

COME ON CANADA!!

circos · 27-09-2011 4:07am

best tap tackle ever!

chupacabra · 27-09-2011 4:07am

wow... the pace on van der Merwe... unreal

circos · 27-09-2011 4:12am

Yeah some serious speed. Great tap tackle and defence to stop him getting over the line. Still got over eventually though!

circos · 27-09-2011 4:14am

Gonna be some game! back and forth!

sickpuppy · 27-09-2011 4:15am

stupid attempted offload from canadian 7 leads to japanese try

chupacabra · 27-09-2011 4:30am

Really evenly matched so far. Japan are playing some beautiful rugby.

chupacabra · 27-09-2011 4:34am

SMASHING kick from Arlidge

chupacabra · 27-09-2011 4:57am

Japan 17 - 7 Canada at half time. Really good game of rugby. Japans last try was a beautiful training ground move. I still think Canada have what it takes to win this game but with the way the Japs are playing... im not so sure.

circos · 27-09-2011 4:58am

I'm hoping Canada pull it back, id say the Japanese are wrecked! They were playing the game at some pace!

chupacabra · 27-09-2011 5:33am

The breakdown is all over the place for Canada. Letting japan get easy turnovers and penalties.

chupacabra · 27-09-2011 5:38am

sublime by canada. This is some game

circos · 27-09-2011 5:38am

gonna be a busy last 5!

circos · 27-09-2011 5:40am

fluffed the conversion...draw on the cards?

chupacabra · 27-09-2011 5:42am

Yup. 20 - 23 now and canada have the penalty. Could very well be ANOTHER draw.

circos · 27-09-2011 5:42am

My canada by 15 prediction was a bit off then...

chupacabra · 27-09-2011 5:46am

23 - 23 final score

great great game of rugby. I feel Japan marginally deserved to win in the end but well done to both sides.

circos · 27-09-2011 5:46am

Very good game. Probably deserving of a draw. Both played well, Japan will be disappointed the lost the lead.

circos · 27-09-2011 5:46am

Just me a you up this early anyway

matthew8 · 27-09-2011 5:47am

Brilliant game of rugby, great tries, good tackling, good set piece, glad I got up for it. Hopefully Japan and Canada can further improve for the next world cup and hopefully they are competitive (to reach quarters) for Japan 2019.

chupacabra · 27-09-2011 5:48am

circos wrote: »

Just me a you up this early anyway

Yup. Im all out of booze though so staying up through the Italy game will be hard going.

circos · 27-09-2011 5:48am

great sign for both nations. Some great play

chupacabra · 27-09-2011 5:50am

lol Pat Riordan with his slight Connemara accent. Must be a Newfoundland boy.

Tristram · 27-09-2011 5:51am

Disappointed Japan didn't manage to close that out. Really thought they had it. FML.

circos · 27-09-2011 5:51am

chupacabra wrote: »

lol Pat Riordan with his slight Connemara accent. Must be a Newfoundland boy.

Was just gonna say the newfoundland accent is so close to the irish accent ya have to wonder.

matthew8 · 27-09-2011 5:53am

circos wrote: »

great sign for both nations. Some great play

The problem is taking the next step. For Japan the only direction is up if their player numbers are any indication. For Canada a win and a draw from 2 winnable games is great and they stuck it to the French and hopefully don't lose too badly to New Zealand. DTH VDM and McKenzie look like they have a lot of talent and for Japan Arlidge and Leitch look like stars.

Tristram · 27-09-2011 5:53am

circos wrote: »

Was just gonna say the newfoundland accent is so close to the irish accent ya have to wonder.

Lots of Canadians have Irish sounding accents. I think it's New Foundland that has quite a strong midland accent.

circos · 27-09-2011 5:54am

Hopefully some of these players get a chance to play at a higher level in club rugby. Some serious pace and power on some of them

chupacabra · 27-09-2011 5:56am

matthew8 wrote: »

The problem is taking the next step. For Japan the only direction is up if their player numbers are any indication. For Canada a win and a draw from 2 winnable games is great and they stuck it to the French and hopefully don't lose too badly to New Zealand. DTH VDM and McKenzie look like they have a lot of talent and for Japan Arlidge and Leitch look like stars.

Definitely. The semi-pro japanese league will definitely be fully professional in 4 years time with a lot of experienced players heading over there to see out the end of their careers. That can only help develop the young players that are there and It wouldnt surprise me if Japan cause a massive upset at the next world cup. As for Canada.. they are in the same boat as Japan. I think a Canadian/American professional league will be established by the next world cup and we could well see them flourish as a result.

chupacabra · 27-09-2011 5:57am

circos wrote: »

Hopefully some of these players get a chance to play at a higher level in club rugby. Some serious pace and power on some of them

Kleeberger will definitely be signed by a european team after this world cup. If just on the merit of his MAGNIFICENT beard :pac:

matthew8 · 27-09-2011 6:10am

chupacabra wrote: »

Kleeberger will definitely be signed by a european team after this world cup. If just on the merit of his MAGNIFICENT beard :pac:

The japanese teams are known to pay players big money to play and they may get him on some first-hand evidence of his ability.

chupacabra wrote: »

Definitely. The semi-pro japanese league will definitely be fully professional in 4 years time with a lot of experienced players heading over there to see out the end of their careers. That can only help develop the young players that are there and It wouldnt surprise me if Japan cause a massive upset at the next world cup. As for Canada.. they are in the same boat as Japan. I think a Canadian/American professional league will be established by the next world cup and we could well see them flourish as a result.

I think in North America they go along with the whole idea of rugby with all its similarities to American football, but they're too busy with American football to bother with it. Personally, I think in America rugby has to be played when the NFL isn't being played, so February to August, and I think it can be really successful as a sort of offseason alternative.

circos · 27-09-2011 6:13am

chupacabra wrote: »

Kleeberger will definitely be signed by a european team after this world cup. If just on the merit of his MAGNIFICENT beard :pac:

I know which one id prefer to see rushing at me ball in hand...

duckysauce · 27-09-2011 6:43am

italy looking v good 7-0 so far

thomond2006 · 27-09-2011 6:46am

C'mon US, get the score (tries!) down...

circos · 27-09-2011 6:47am

USA doing well since the try

circos · 27-09-2011 6:53am

GET IN! USA USA USA!

duckysauce · 27-09-2011 6:53am

go team usa

chupacabra · 27-09-2011 6:54am

nice USA try. THey have played well so far

Judgement Day · 27-09-2011 7:03am

10-10 USA are playing a blinder except for the scrums.

duckysauce · 27-09-2011 7:04am

its a bit odd clancy is reffing in this group

castie · 27-09-2011 7:11am

Another try to USA?

Sky Sports says USA, RTE says Italy??

KERSPLAT! · 27-09-2011 7:15am

USA 10- 15 Italy

Italy in again, No try

edit: important but, 2 trys Italy

duckysauce · 27-09-2011 7:15am

10 usa 15 italy

castie · 27-09-2011 7:16am

Guess RTE is right then. Cant stream in work

duckysauce · 27-09-2011 7:20am

try on ht for italy usa unlucky 20-10, italy have no kicker

KERSPLAT! · 27-09-2011 7:25am

USA 10-20 Italy, 3 trys Italy

Judgement Day · 27-09-2011 7:32am

Good news is that Bergamasco is off form with the boot.

castie · 27-09-2011 7:33am

Judgement Day wrote: »

Good news is that Bergamasco is off form with the boot.

Was he ever on form???

Come to think of it this probably is him on form hes got 2 in one half!!

RWC: Canada vs Japan and Italy vs USA Match thread

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