Japan 2019 - Pool B Canada Italy Namibia New Zealand South Africa

Team	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	Tries	PF	PA	+/-	BP	Points
Italy	2	2	0	0	14	95	29	66	2	10
New Zealand	1	1	0	0	2	23	13	10	0	4
South Africa	1	0	0	1	13	23	-10	1	0	0
Namibia	1	0	0	1	3	22	47	-25	0	0
Canada	1	0	0	1	1	7	48	-41	0	0

New Zealand 23 South Africa 10
Italy 47 Namibia 22
Italy 48 Canada 7                       

28 September 2019     South Africa v Namibia                   City of Toyota Stadium, Toyota
2 October 2019           New Zealand v Canada                   Oita Stadium, Ōita
4 October 2019           South Africa v Italy                        Shizuoka Stadium Ecopa, Fukuroi
6 October 2019           New Zealand v Namibia                  Tokyo Stadium, Chōfu
8 October 2019           South Africa v Canada                    Kobe Misaki Stadium, Kobe
12 October 2019         New Zealand v Italy                        City of Toyota Stadium, Toyota
13 October 2019         Namibia v Canada                           Kamaishi Recovery Memorial Stadium, Kamaishi

Go Canada
Hopefully they can beat Namibia and Italy

Canada might beat Namibia, but will be thrashed by Italy.

Luke Jacobson drops out of th NZ squad due to concussion and is replaced by Shannon Frizzell.

I posted this elsewhere but thought I'd discuss it here too. I saw some clips yesterday of South Africa training in Japan. Something like 6000 fans turned out to watch them train! Also, it was great to see the South African players bowing to the crowd and to individual Japanese people they met, e.g. when getting off the bus. So respectful of Japanese culture and something I hope all of the teams embrace.

PdV says he is unable to support SA in this competition due to SARU inaction over Etzebeth allegations. 

https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/international/eben-etzebeth-south-africa-pieter-de-villiers-rugby-world-cup-2019-racism-allegations-a9103466.html

Still a controversial figure, seeking the limelight.

What is he going to say when it is all done and dusted and Etzebeth are cleared of all charges I wonder.

If he is.

Old Man wrote:Still a controversial figure, seeking the limelight.

What is he going to say when it is all done and dusted and Etzebeth are cleared of all charges I wonder.

Probably that he can then support him, which is his point. That while under investigation he shouldn’t be playing.

Taylorman wrote:

Old Man wrote:Still a controversial figure, seeking the limelight.

What is he going to say when it is all done and dusted and Etzebeth are cleared of all charges I wonder.

Probably that he can then support him, which is his point. That while under investigation he shouldn’t be playing.

So you are suggesting whether a false accusation or not his career must be put on hold?

He has willingly gone to the human rights commission, he says there are multiple witnesses that can vouch he wasn’t involved.

Whether he did or not, this type of accusations are often used to target prominent people, then turns out to be false.

If Pieter de Villiers wants to climb onto the political band wagon hoping for whatever his agenda is this time, good luck to him.

I would rather wait for the outcome before making statements.

So would I, I was just answering your question. You have your views, and he has his. Neither of you know what actually happened, but it’s clear you both are aligned with opposite ends of the outcome.

SA would have been better off ditching Ezebeth, not worth the hassle.

We’d take him in a minute.

His great grandmother was an O'Leary from Kimmage.

Just saying...... ie, hands off!

Well NZ do have short stocks at lock, Barrett dicipline issues, Retallick past it, It all rests on Whilelocks shoulders now.

Maybe Hanson should have taken a punt on Pari Pari Robinson and Quinton Strange instead.

Nah we’ll probably throw Tuipulotu at Ireland, a bit like beaver, scapegoat in hong kong vs oz, brought in to kick the winning goal vs France in 2011, Tuipulotu got some flak for Chicago, gets to redeem this time around. Be fitting that he plays a blinder.

Fair enough, he might make Jean Kleyn look like a good player.

He probably already is being from SA.

South Africa team is up, full strength as you'd expect!

South Africa: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (c), 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Steven Kitshoff

Replacements: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Tendai Mtawarira, 18 Trevor Nyakane, 19 RG Snyman, 20 Francois Louw, 21 Herschel Jantjies, 22 Frans Steyn, 23 Jesse Kriel

New Zealand: 15 Beauden Barrett, 14 Sevu Reece, 13 Anton Lienert-Brown, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 George Bridge, 10 Richie Mo’unga, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Kieran Read (c), 7 Sam Cane, 6 Ardie Savea, 5 Scott Barrett, 4 Sam Whitelock, 3 Nepo Laulala, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Joe Moody
Replacements: 16 Codie Taylor, 17 Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 18 Angus Ta’avao, 19 Patrick Tuipulotu, 20 Shannon Frizell, 21 TJ Perenara, 22 Sonny Bill Williams, 23 Ben Smith

This game is massive, this is a potential Final match up as one of the first games. It is almost a split between pundits on who are favoured to lift the trophy between the Bok and the ABs.

Schalk Britz starting at 8 v Namibia. Wierd.

Shocking pitch, surely thats not safe to play on?

I thought Canada would be up for this and be smashing into the tackles! All Italy so far and they look good.

Oh Canada

Oh Canada again

That is dire handling, under 8s stuff. 2 v 1

He should have passed earlier... the delay put him in two minds for a fumble. Schoolboy error still.

So frustrating to watch, the Canadians are causing problems for Italy, so many errors.

Nigel dropped the ball there, clear try to Canada.

TMO was useless once again so can you pin that on Nigel?

They look alright, those Italians. We should get them in the 6 Nations

Have you money on Canada, Tight?

The Oracle wrote:They look alright, those Italians.  We should get them in the 6 Nations

I was going to say that these Italians look like best Six Nations side out in Japan right now.

Just a rugby fan who like to see the underdog do well.

Nice of you to turn up, wondered where all the rugby fans were this morning?

Created so many chances, finally they get one. Wonder if Nigel will chalk off this one?

SecretFly wrote:

The Oracle wrote:They look alright, those Italians.  We should get them in the 6 Nations

I was going to say that these Italians look like best Six Nations side out in Japan right now.

We are often hard on Italy because we only seem to see them when they play the better teams. They are well above all the T2 sides except Fiji and Japan who are their equals.

They always finish 3rd in their WC group and have never lost to Georgia.

Italy getting a work out without much threat. Hmmm, I know it's Canada, but Italy need some wins to gain in confidence to make their game more fluid and make things work. It's tough in the 6N to get that kinda rhythm going.

So....hmmm....maybe they're an upset side in this pool? SA?

QF Japan v Italy?

TightHEAD wrote:Just a rugby fan who like to see the underdog do well.

Nice of you to turn up, wondered where all the rugby fans were this morning?

Probably at work

BamBam wrote:

TightHEAD wrote:Just a rugby fan who like to see the underdog do well.

Nice of you to turn up, wondered where all the rugby fans were this morning?

Probably at work

In the hospital now at work - which means I can post

Can Italy shock South Africa?

If SA are certain that Italy can't then Italy might. It's possible more than probable but confidence makes things work. Right now, Italy are confident. If SA don't deflate that quick when they meet, then we might have an interesting game.

Rassie isn’t going to take chances, he wants to win the next six matches.

LondonTiger wrote:Can Italy shock South Africa?

They would need things to go their way but they have done it this WC cycle.  There is no pressure on them as they picked up the 10 pts they wanted from the first two games.  Anything after this is a bonus.  If they started well you never know.  A wet day leading at half time

I am probably going to that game. Obviously hoping for an Italy win.

Can Sergio get back in the team?

That back row looked good.

Say it quietly, but I always get the feeling Italy play better without Sergio. Too demanding a personality. Players I sense feel constrained by his directions and need to be involved in everything.

SecretFly wrote:Say it quietly, but I always get the feeling Italy play better without Sergio.  Too demanding a personality.  Players I sense feel constrained by his directions and need to be involved in everything.

If the game is close at the end for Italy he is usually not great to have on. It's his way always. With him not there the 9&10 manage the game better. He is also old and the players who replace him are good players in their own right

Steyn is a better 8 nowadays than Parisse, Polledri a better 7 than Steyn. I agree Italy are stronger without Parisse.