RWC matches without individual threads.

[J Dory]

World Rugby reply to Scotland threat of legal action....

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/a ... d=12275796

However, World Rugby have now issued a statement of clarification taking the SRU boss to task for what they described as disappointing comments.

"It is disappointing that the Scottish Rugby Union should make such comments at a time when we are doing everything we can to enable all Sunday's matches to take place as scheduled, and when there is a real and significant threat to public safety owing to what is predicted to be one of the largest and most destructive typhoons to hit Japan since 1958," read the World Rugby statement.

"Along with the 19 other teams, the Scottish Rugby Union signed the Rugby World Cup 2019 terms of participation, which clearly state in Section 5.3: 'Where a pool match cannot be commenced on the day in which it is scheduled, it shall not be postponed to the following day, and shall be considered as cancelled. In such situations, the result shall be declared a draw and teams will be allocated two match points each and no score registered.'

"As outlined during Thursday's media conference in Tokyo, the core principle that could enable us to explore a departure from the terms of participation, is a fair and consistent application of the rescheduling for all teams in a safe environment for teams, fans and essential match services.

"The sheer predicted scale and impact of the typhoon, and the complexity of team movements for eight matches, meant that an even-handed application was just not possible without putting safety at risk. Therefore, it was the fair and correct decision for all teams to maintain the position outlined in the terms of participation.

"It would be inappropriate to make further comment at a time when we are fully focused on the safety of everyone and this weekend's matches."

[Puja]

Found this amusing: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/a ... t_readmore

NZ Herald getting exercised about the risk that, if a typhoon hits an England vs NZ semi-final and the game can't be rescheduled, England would go through on having more pool points. Yes, that would be a terrible way to win/lose a semi-final, but I'm tickled by the outrage that, if they had played Italy, they would've level with us on pool points and then outscored us (assuming we didn't score 4 against France) on points scored. That would put us out in the case of a cancelled game, which would then be completely acceptable!

Puja

[J Dory]

Found this amusing: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/a ... t_readmore

NZ Herald getting exercised about the risk that, if a typhoon hits an England vs NZ semi-final and the game can't be rescheduled, England would go through on having more pool points. Yes, that would be a terrible way to win/lose a semi-final, but I'm tickled by the outrage that, if they had played Italy, they would've level with us on pool points and then outscored us (assuming we didn't score 4 against France) on points scored. That would put us out in the case of a cancelled game, which would then be completely acceptable!

Puja

Where does it say that?

[Digby]

Days afterwards?

[Puja]

Found this amusing: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/a ... t_readmore

NZ Herald getting exercised about the risk that, if a typhoon hits an England vs NZ semi-final and the game can't be rescheduled, England would go through on having more pool points. Yes, that would be a terrible way to win/lose a semi-final, but I'm tickled by the outrage that, if they had played Italy, they would've level with us on pool points and then outscored us (assuming we didn't score 4 against France) on points scored. That would put us out in the case of a cancelled game, which would then be completely acceptable!

Puja

Where does it say that?

I was taking the implication from NZ fans being "enraged" if NZ went out because the Italy game was cancelled, denying them the opportunity to get a bonus point and thus put England out under the same circumstances.

However, on reread, you're right, it's not as amusingly biased as I thought.

Puja

[Digby]

What is the world coming to if the NZ Herald isn't amusingly biased?

[Son of Mathonwy]

Imagine, just for a moment, if this was not Italy or Scotland but England going out because their matches with Tonga and USA were cancelled. Just try to picture that and how it would make you feel.

I don't need to imagine, I know what it feels like to go out in the group stages when not putting a performance in. It's tough, get over it.

That's going out for playing badly. That's completely different; don't you see that?

[Son of Mathonwy]

I'm struggling to understand the other concerns, particularly if the match were to be played to an empty stadium.

You'd still need security/police involvement and we don't know just what the impact of the typhoon might be. And then there are commercial concerns around shifting the schedule to get TV coverage, for instance in the UK there's a decent chance Coronation Street is a good deal more important than the rugby, given I've not seen an episdode of Corrie this century (and so far as I recall only one last century) for all I know that's a valid point, and there would be concerns about games being played in empty stadiums and what sponsors and TV companies would make of that, and many other concerns beyond

Police/security needs would be much, much smaller for an empty stadium, especially if the stadium was a small one.

There is no coverage for the cancelled matches - the sponsors and TV companies would obviously prefer a rescheduled event to no event at all.

I do get you prioritise the playing of the match, but whether you don't accept other concerns or simply rank them far lower in importance isn't the be all. That said I'm not wedded to either side of the argument, I wouldn't be kicking up a fuss if they did move the games around geographically, but for myself I'd be unhappy if they started moving England games forwards or backwards, but I'm accepting too there are competing forces and I don't have all the facts in front of me, and might be ill placed to consider a response even if I had the all the inputs

So you'd prefer a game to be cancelled than to be played on a different day?

[Digby]

Imagine, just for a moment, if this was not Italy or Scotland but England going out because their matches with Tonga and USA were cancelled. Just try to picture that and how it would make you feel.

I don't need to imagine, I know what it feels like to go out in the group stages when not putting a performance in. It's tough, get over it.

That's going out for playing badly. That's completely different; don't you see that?

I did see Scotland vs Ireland, that would be a team going out for playing badly.

[Digby]

I'm struggling to understand the other concerns, particularly if the match were to be played to an empty stadium.

You'd still need security/police involvement and we don't know just what the impact of the typhoon might be. And then there are commercial concerns around shifting the schedule to get TV coverage, for instance in the UK there's a decent chance Coronation Street is a good deal more important than the rugby, given I've not seen an episdode of Corrie this century (and so far as I recall only one last century) for all I know that's a valid point, and there would be concerns about games being played in empty stadiums and what sponsors and TV companies would make of that, and many other concerns beyond

Police/security needs would be much, much smaller for an empty stadium, especially if the stadium was a small one.

There is no coverage for the cancelled matches - the sponsors and TV companies would obviously prefer a rescheduled event to no event at all.

I do get you prioritise the playing of the match, but whether you don't accept other concerns or simply rank them far lower in importance isn't the be all. That said I'm not wedded to either side of the argument, I wouldn't be kicking up a fuss if they did move the games around geographically, but for myself I'd be unhappy if they started moving England games forwards or backwards, but I'm accepting too there are competing forces and I don't have all the facts in front of me, and might be ill placed to consider a response even if I had the all the inputs

So you'd prefer a game to be cancelled than to be played on a different day?

I don't want to comment on what the security requirements would be other than to say I don't know what they might be. And I'm happy to defer in the first instance to the organisers, and I'm also happy in the first instance to disregard people saying it's easy to just move a game.

And as regards moving a game I don't want the schedule moved that in any way compromises England's chances, though I accept the tournament rules are different in the knock-out stages

[Mikey Brown]

I don't need to imagine, I know what it feels like to go out in the group stages when not putting a performance in. It's tough, get over it.

That's going out for playing badly. That's completely different; don't you see that?

I did see Scotland vs Ireland, that would be a team going out for playing badly.

Are you actually being serious here or is this a wind-up? It's a very effective one if so.

[Son of Mathonwy]

I don't need to imagine, I know what it feels like to go out in the group stages when not putting a performance in. It's tough, get over it.

That's going out for playing badly. That's completely different; don't you see that?

I did see Scotland vs Ireland, that would be a team going out for playing badly.

So you're equating the consequences of a typhoon-cancelled match with punishment for poor play? I guess I'll just have to disagree.

[Mellsblue]

Ignore the WUM.

[Digby]

That's going out for playing badly. That's completely different; don't you see that?

I did see Scotland vs Ireland, that would be a team going out for playing badly.

So you're equating the consequences of a typhoon-cancelled match with punishment for poor play? I guess I'll just have to disagree.

The tournament rules were set out in advance, it's unfortunate there has been a natural disaster, but it is what it is. Hopefully the game goes ahead, but if not Scotland did have a chance to post more points before now. Trying to empathise beyond that strays into trying to empathise with snowflakes, I could of course be wrong in all this, hardly a first, but that's the extent of my sympathy

[Digby]

That's going out for playing badly. That's completely different; don't you see that?

I did see Scotland vs Ireland, that would be a team going out for playing badly.

Are you actually being serious here or is this a wind-up? It's a very effective one if so.

Serious, if I was trying to laugh at the situation (and I'm not) I'd comment on the Hogg comments that the game is as big as it gets, when fecking clearly trimming my fingernails is of more importance.

[Son of Mathonwy]

I don't want to comment on what the security requirements would be other than to say I don't know what they might be. And I'm happy to defer in the first instance to the organisers, and I'm also happy in the first instance to disregard people saying it's easy to just move a game

Okay, neither of us is a security expert but I understand enough to know that an empty stadium requires negligible security compared with one holding 70000 people.
I see two possibilities:
1) it's too difficult to arrange security for a rugby match in an empty stadium
and
2) World Rugby are making excuses for their own incompetence.
For me, 2) is more plausible.

And as regards moving a game I don't want the schedule moved that in any way compromises England's chances, though I accept the tournament rules are different in the knock-out stages

Throughout a tournament where (necessarily) every team has different preparation times from other teams between their matches, you find it particularly objectionable that England should have to play a match a day or two late? I can only say that I'm surprised at your priorities.

[Son of Mathonwy]

I did see Scotland vs Ireland, that would be a team going out for playing badly.

So you're equating the consequences of a typhoon-cancelled match with punishment for poor play? I guess I'll just have to disagree.

The tournament rules were set out in advance, it's unfortunate there has been a natural disaster, but it is what it is. Hopefully the game goes ahead, but if not Scotland did have a chance to post more points before now. Trying to empathise beyond that strays into trying to empathise with snowflakes, I could of course be wrong in all this, hardly a first, but that's the extent of my sympathy

Aha: snowflakes. You should have said this at the start and saved me some time.

[Digby]

I don't want to comment on what the security requirements would be other than to say I don't know what they might be. And I'm happy to defer in the first instance to the organisers, and I'm also happy in the first instance to disregard people saying it's easy to just move a game

Okay, neither of us is a security expert but I understand enough to know that an empty stadium requires negligible security compared with one holding 70000 people.
I see two possibilities:
1) it's too difficult to arrange security for a rugby match in an empty stadium
and
2) World Rugby are making excuses for their own incompetence.
For me, 2) is more plausible.

And as regards moving a game I don't want the schedule moved that in any way compromises England's chances, though I accept the tournament rules are different in the knock-out stages

Throughout a tournament where (necessarily) every team has different preparation times from other teams between their matches, you find it particularly objectionable that England should have to play a match a day or two late? I can only say that I'm surprised at your priorities.

Seemingly the matches didn't get played at another time because that exact concern was cited by NZ. It's entirely understandable NZ and others don't want to change up the scheduling and proceed instead under tournament rules. My preference is some accommodation had been made, providing England didn't lose out (and I'd have accepted other sides seeing a similar compression on the schedule) but that sides have raised objections and wanted to stick with the rules doesn't surprise or perturb me

Mind if England and NZ proceed to the semi-final and that match gets cancelled I suspect we'll hear a lot of whinging from whichever side goes out, would that be based on points scored to date in the tournament? And in future if the sides who were not of a mind to help now get screwed over down the line because of it that's fine too

[Digby]

So you're equating the consequences of a typhoon-cancelled match with punishment for poor play? I guess I'll just have to disagree.

The tournament rules were set out in advance, it's unfortunate there has been a natural disaster, but it is what it is. Hopefully the game goes ahead, but if not Scotland did have a chance to post more points before now. Trying to empathise beyond that strays into trying to empathise with snowflakes, I could of course be wrong in all this, hardly a first, but that's the extent of my sympathy

Aha: snowflakes. You should have said this at the start and saved me some time.

I was trying to be polite, but the whining just carried on.

[Mikey Brown]

I did see Scotland vs Ireland, that would be a team going out for playing badly.

Are you actually being serious here or is this a wind-up? It's a very effective one if so.

Serious, if I was trying to laugh at the situation (and I'm not) I'd comment on the Hogg comments that the game is as big as it gets, when fecking clearly trimming my fingernails is of more importance.

I see.

Odd.

[Digby]

Scotland match to go ahead, which is good news

[canta_brian]

Scotland match to go ahead, which is good news

But what about poor old Sergio Parisse? Italy were still denied their almost inevitable march to glory by smashing the all blacks in a bonus point win.

[Mellsblue]

It was the one that needed to go ahead. Very good news.

[p/d]

The typhoon might have cancelled a few games, but for the love of God the 2 commentating are killing the USA v Tonga game

[Eugene Wrayburn]

The typhoon might have cancelled a few games, but for the love of God the 2 commentating are killing the USA v Tonga game

No one, but no one is as bad as Ugo Monye.