Hard News by Russell Brown

John Campbell previews the match for the Sunday Star Times, in his inimitable style:

Tomorrow will not be easy. There is the occasion, there is the weight of history and expectation, and there are the (Springbok-beating) Argentinians themselves. As all rugby followers know, the Argentinian team is built on the front eight's grunt and muscle. And, as all rugby followers know, the All Blacks hate being pushed about in scrums. This alone should make the contest the equivalent of a rogue episode of Thomas the Tank Engine, in which Henry and Gordon get pissed, run into each other on a disused siding, and smash together until the Fat Controller does his nut.

With that scoreline, does that mean Japan got a bonus point too?

They needed four tries, but SANZAR gets bonus points.

With that scoreline, does that mean Japan got a bonus point too?

SA got one bonus point for scoring four tries, and another for being within seven points at the end. Japan scored three tries and just get four points for the win.

But what a fucking fantastic win it was! The Japanese played like fifteen little energiser bunnies throughout the game, their tackling was superb, they won all of their own scrums, most of their lineouts and they even managed to monster the Springboks with their rolling maul. That rates as one of the best games of rugby I've seen. Ever!

It'll be interesting to see how both of these teams fare against Scotland.

The Eng v Fiji game was slowed down and pretty much ruined by Peyper & the TMO over-refereeing and a few bad calls. You're right about the truck & trailer Russell... that gifted England a penalty try AND a yellow card for Fiji. By contrast this morning's game was controlled perfectly by Jerome Garces.

Ahh... sublime rugby. And not a politician in sight.

The Japanese played like fifteen little energiser bunnies throughout the game, their tackling was superb, they won all of their own scrums, most of their lineouts and they even managed to monster the Springboks with their rolling maul.

Their second try was one of the best set-move scores I've ever seen. Just perfect. Take a bow, Eddie Jones, take a bow.

That rates as one of the best games of rugby I've seen. Ever!

Yes. Even knowing the score when I watched the replay this morning didn't spoil it for me.

Ahh... sublime rugby. And not a politician in sight.

Quite.

A nice piece by Nigel Yalden in the Herald. Another reminder that being a working sports journalist is less "the best seat in the house", more the flustered projectionist who misses most of the show.

To answer his question: I was asleep. In years to come I won't have been, obviously, the re-inventing starts now. One of the most extraordinary results you could ever see in sport - so I saw it live, oh yes.

Memo to the TV news people: this is news. Mumbling inoffensive nothings at a press conference isn't. If you're going to lead with the rugby (and let's face it, you are) then lead with the rugby - which is about more than the All Blacks.

As one writer put it:

Well played, sir.

The Japanese players and supporters celebrate. Everyone's crying.

If anyone's mystified by the "truck and trailer" terminology, England's first try is in these highlights. The England No.2 has the ball and a couple of times completely unbinds from the maul –– meaning he has a bunch of players ahead of him (and therefore offside) running interference.

It should have been a penalty against England, but instead Fiji copped a penalty try and a sin-binning.

It was superlative rugby. Loved the crying man the camera kept returning to.

The Chiefs need to get Michael Leitch back, He ought to be considered for the ABs too. One hell of a good player.

Lest we forget, Fumi Tanaka is an integral part of the Highlanders team. Appearing live here with Joe Wheeler. ;-)

A sudden, swift and well planned surprise attack on a complacent major power. Not like Japan at all....

Irish fans in Cardiff go mental over the Japanese win. Bless.

Have you considered a job at the Sun?

And in real news, West Ham, with their vanquishing of Manchester City, have now knocked over three of the Premier League's big boys, after already seeing off Arsenal and Liverpool.

But youse jokers carry on with the other code!

That truck and trailer stuff still has me hornswoggled, but please don''t try to explain it- some things should remain in the "Life's Ineffable Mysteries" box. Meantime, cut back to RNZ Nine to Noon this morning where Anton Oliver did a superb piece about the RWC. He was superbly well informed (as one would expect), spoke well and in clear language, and in a fit of revolutionary communication informed me and many others well.

Chance exponents…
Now we all discover that John Key’s national hero (and close txting buddy), Richie McCaw, really is a sneaky cheat.
Whatever happened to role models?
…and who corrupted who the most!

I sympathise with Richie, For 43 years I played hockey and got temporarily suspended 5 times. My rate is shit loads less that his. Yet, I was always being reminded and spoken of as a bloke who was forever in the sin bin.

Such are the loads that good, nay, great players have to bear…….sigh.

Have you considered a job at the Sun?

Funnily enough, one of my best friends works for the Sun.

But actually, the line came from my flatmate, a man who hates rugby and South Africans with an equal and indiscriminate passion.

the game's a foot...

Such are the loads that good, nay, great players have to bear…….sigh.

Unsporting cad that I am, I admit to a certain delight in watching the slow-motion preplay of a possible legacy-defining flag-fail-own-goal for Mr Key...
(albeit an expensive piece of comeuppance for us all to bear...)