I was going to say as the day dawned, but that's not really the case when it's 0145, so I'll start again. As the alarm clock woke me from my reverie (for info, I was stood at 12 outside Jonny Wilkinson in 2003; he saw his drop would be blocked, shipped it to me and I slotted a glorious drop goal through the middle of the posts) I had a fleeting thought of why are you doing this? But no, I thought. Once every 4 years, downstairs you go. Armed with sleeping bag, extra cushions, teapot and empty biscuit barrel (oops) I propped myself up in front of the widescreen and settled in for the marathon.
I'm writing this before the Scotland game kicks off, and the eyes are struggling to open. A double ristretto from the Nespresso machine (slugged back while I waited for the kettle to boil) will no doubt kick in soon. My plan is to do a brief report on each game as it finishes and before the next one; to publish it to give you the benefit of my wit and wisdom and then to add to it as the day goes on. I'll be on Twitter too throughout the games, so follow me @theeggchaser for live (barely) thoughts.
Scotland vs Romania
Scotland won the battle of the anthems but Romania's kit evened things off with its retina-burning brightness. Scotland ran the ball from their 22 from the kick-off, earned 3 penalties, took the 3rd one from under the posts and had 3 on the board before Romania had touched the ball again. Ominous.
I always think a true rout follows the course of a point per minute. 8 points after 8 minutes and I feared the worst (Note candidate for worst kick at goal of RWC11 by Patterson - max of 1 foot of ground). Scottish discipline was awful though and Romania proved dogged up front to get on the board with 3. Danielli missed an 'open goal' on 18 when it looked easier to score than miss. Ansbro didn't though and wriggled over; Patterson adjusted sights. Indiscipline again though, another Romanian penalty 15-6 after 22. Romania proved anything but minnows in this first half, particularly in scrum, ruck and maul, and aided by a very high Scottish penalty count they stayed close, and with a better kicker than Dumbrava, would have been closer. As it was, 2 penalties were wasted and Patterson found the target once more. The Romanians though closed the half with a rolling maul try (again unconverted). Scotland were being out-muscled and were lucky to be ahead. HT Scotland 18 Romania 11
I mentioned earlier this week that Scotland were the last to arrive in New Zealand. At times in that first half, they looked like they were still on the plane. Notorious "hairdryer" Andy Robinson no doubt calmly rallied the troops at the half. If he did, it didn't show and someone from Planet Zog would have thought the yellows were the bigger Nation. The biggest compliment to Romania was Scotland still attempting penalties into the second half. Scotland camped on the line but wastefully coughed up possession. Catalogue of errors just about describes it. Patterson finally stretched the lead to 10 again as youth gave way to experience (Gray and Jackson off, Hines and Parks on). Immediate ill-discipline cost them again though as the wonderfully named Tiberius Ionut Dimofte kicked a penalty from under the posts. 21-14.
Romania continued to pressure though, as Hines' introduction clearly didn't give the Scots more beans. Another under the sticks penalty allowed them to close to 4. They couldn't... could they? Dan Parks slotted his second restart straight into touch - inexcusable. I would have been castigated as a 16 year old fly half at school for that. Romania used the wind magnificently and played the game in Scotland's 22. From a 5 metre scrum, Number 8 Carpo burrowed over to give the Romanians a remarkable lead, extended by the capable Dimofte. remarkably, Romania led 24-21. This seemed to stir the Scots into action though, an alarm call from their jet-lagged, almost comatose state. 10 minutes left, 3 points in it.
The Scots had to take 3 to get back on level terms, which Patterson duly did. A break from Max Evans, a rampage from Richie Vernon and a try that even Danielli couldn't miss. Romanian dreams shattered with 5 minutes to go, though a missed conversion meant it was only a 5 point game. Straight from the kick-off, some inspiration at last, and Danielli completed one of the least deserved International doubles I can remember, following more great hands from Vernon. The Scots in the crowd breathed a huge sigh of relief. 34-24 to Scotland and the Romanians had come up about 5 minutes short.
Full Time Scotland 34 Romania 24
Scotland used their get out of jail free card early on then, with a real scrap against the Romanians. The table will tell the tale that the Scots got a bonus point win, while the Romanians got nothing. It goes to show there are lies, damn lies and statistics. Hard to find any positives in that performance though for coach Robinson, who will have to merely take solace from the fact that, with 10 minutes left and behind, they rallied to take the points.
Friends and family had suggested I must be mad to get up to watch a one-sided encounter like this. Little did they know what Game 2 had in store.
Intermission Notes
A quick trawl of last night's results saw that Harlequins continued to make hay while the bigger clubs had players at the World Cup. A comfortable win against Northampton seeing them top the English table, while Sale pipped London Irish by a point in the other game.
In France, my adopted side Clermont took the lead at the Top with a bonus point win over Bordeaux Begles
Fiji vs Namibia
The Fijian stars had predicted a first RWC semi final, to better last time's Quarter Final appearance. Namibia would just be hoping to glean as many points as possible from their 4 games in the toughest of the pools.
An early monster of a penalty from Kotze, nearer his own ten metre line than the halfway line, was instantly followed by a try from a monster of a winger, Goneva, and converted by Bai. Bye-bye Namibia? No. In his second Test, Kotze added 2 quick drop goals to his penalty as an open game ebbed and flowed. Just 4 more to wipe out an Englishman's nightmare memory of Janie de Beer from the drop goal record books.... Ridiculously, after 14 minutes, he dropped a third, and Namibia's gameplan appeared to be take whatever points were on offer in the Fijian 22.
At the other end, an injudicious high shot gave Bai the chance to make it 12-10, which he duly took, and from the kick-off, a 2nd try as, from their own 22, in true 7s style, they went the length of the pitch. 29 points in the first 19 minutes; you couldn't make it up. Again from the kick-off, a 3rd try as, from their own 22, in true 7s style, they went the length of the pitch. 34 points in the first 21 minutes; you couldn't make it up. Starting to sound like a parrot there? I had to resort to cut and paste as the game was going so quickly. It was like 15-man 7s rugby, and Fiji now led 22-12. Bai then slotted a penalty before Kotze finally missed. At this point, if the scoring rate had continued, the game would have ended up 80-40 to Fiji.....
Both sides were keen to play open rugby and secured quick ball meaning an enjoyable game to watch. Namibia had most possession and territory, as they were the keener of the sides to play 'phase' rugby, while Fiji seemed to score whenever they got the ball. The pace quietened in the latter stages of the first half, as it had to, but Kotze kicked another penalty to keep Namibia in touch at 25-15. Fiji rounded the half off though with a hat-trick try for Goneva (and a bonus point try at that) to make it 32-15. A demonstration of incisive attacking from Fiji, with occasional flashes of promise from a game Namibian side. Half Time Fiji 32 Namibia 15
Namibia were done surely, but no. Van Wyk, Marais and Kotze were all involved and Heinz (can I use another Heinz pun so soon after the Hines beans one? O do have 57 varieties....) Koll bullocked over for the best try of the tournament so far. Kotze missed the extras, but Namibia had closed the gap to 12. You just had the feeling though, that hard though Namibia tried, there was a gulf in class, and when Fiji could be bothered, they would score again. The ubiquitous Goneva (not his first name, but given some of the names on show it wouldn't have surprised me if it was) picked up a loose ball in the Namibian 22 and strolled over for his 4th to kill off any African hope.
Namibia had a likeable naivety about them though, and it must be said that they do the basics very well at times. A good line-out, slick hands, great hands from Kotze on the run-around (still a schoolboy look to their backs moves) and the pass saw full Back Botha in in the corner to make it 39-25 after 56 minutes.
The great thing about games like these is the chance to see unsung players perform fantastically. This morning we had Goneva, Bai, Nakarawa, Kotze, Van Wyk, Van Zyl, Burger all showing their ability. The game became ever more open, but scrappiness crept in as the efforts of all started to tell. There was still the odd spark though, and Botha made a Fiji-esque break from his 22, which ended in Kotze knocking on in the Fiji 22. The game continued to ebb and flow, with Namibia offering slightly more, but Fiji took some of the sting out of the game, when Bai slotted a 74th minute penalty to make it 42-25. This heralded the death knoll for the Namibians, who all of a sudden looked dead on their feet and powerless in the impact zone. After kicking a penalty into the corner, Fiji re-grouped and former Clermont winger (Aller ASM) Nalaga finally got a touch on the left wing and battered his way over, a try confirmed by the TMO. Bai expertly converted to make it 49-25. With that the scoring ended, and both sides left to a standing ovation after a great game played in fantastic spirit.
Full Time Fiji 49 Namibia 25
8 tries, and some great rugby. Very different from the first offering of the day, but the game of the tournament so far for me. Can Fiji break into the last 4? It would surprise me if they did, but on that showing, and with a little tweaking, the Welsh and South Africans could certainly end up with a bit of a headache.
France vs Japan
Je m'excuse pour la manque d'accents. Mon clavier anglais ne les a pas. Si cela vous gene, merci d'apprendre l'Anglais.
France contre Japon, en bilingue, mes excuses aux Japonais, mon niveau n'etant pas assez fort pour le faire en trilingue. Une minute de jeu de pied, avant que la France perce et Estebanez, avec un surnombre d'au moins 7, fait un en avant faible qui laisse passer la premiere occasion. La melee sous pression, Yachvili donne a Dusautoir, mais celui-ci etant hors-jeu, une penalite japonaise suivait. La France etait chaude, et Pierre etait au bout d'une troisieme attaque rapide pour marquer les premiers points. Yachvili transforme, et ca promettait cote bleu (enfin cote blanc). Apres une penalite tres mal frappe cote japonais, Trinh-Duc s'echappe apres une interception et marque le deuxieme essai francais. Trop facile. Echange de penalites et apres 20 minutes, 17-3 pour la France, qui voulait visiblement laisser une impression pour les All Blacks. Yachvili prenait encore trois points, avant que Alridge marque un essai Japonais chanceux. Clerc repondait pour les tricolores apres du bon travail de Servat, Yachvili et Rougerie, avant que Alridge, lui encore, transforme une deuxieme penalite. La bonne volonte cote francais coutait presque cher dans les arrets-jeu de la premiere mi-temps, quand une passe osee de Rougerie a failli etre intercepte, mais M. Walsh arrete l'action et envoyait les equipes aux vestiaires avec le score 25-11 pour la France.
En debut de deuxieme mi-temps, et Harinordoquy, entoure de 20% du Japon, et Nallet, qui lui avait 33% du XV Japonais autour de lui, etaient tenus dans les en-buts japonais. Pas d'essai disait le TMO deux fois, et la pression n'etait pas transforme en points. Le Japon rebondait avec un deuxieme essai de leur part. Arlidge de nouveau traversant sous les poteaux et ramenant le Japon a 25-18. Ca me faisait penser d'un samedi a Rome en mars.... L'ancien entraineur de l'Italie avait bien prepare son equipe, et Alridge ajoutait trois points a son compte personnel, ramenant le Japon a quatre petits points. La France etait vraiment sous la pression, et avec le depart de Skrela blesse, ayant remplace Trinh-Duc, Parra etait oblige de jouer a 10. Une penalite betement donne a la France donnait l'occasion a Yachvili de calmer un peu les nerfs francais. Ces trois petits points semblaient transformer le match. La France prenait confiance, et le Japon commencait a transgresser de plus en plus souvent. Apres une touche, la France allait a droite, a gauche et a droite de nouveau, trouvant Nallet tout seul a 6 metres de la ligne, et quand on connait la taille de Nallet, cela veut dire essai. Yachvili transformait, et la France menait par 14. Apres 5 minutes passe dans leurs propres 22 metres, Parra commencait une attaque, Heymans et Clerc ajoutaient du piment, et Pascal Pape marquait le troisieme essai par un deuxieme ligne francais. Yachvili reussissait avec son 7eme coup de pied, et la France menait par 21 points. Rougerie, qui avait fait la plupart de son bon travail en defence, a libere dans les arrets de jeu Parra, qui marque le 6eme essai francais, et qui donnait une facilite au score que les francais ne meritaient pas.
Finalement pas convaincant, la France a fait le necessaire et la victoire etait assuree avec le bonus.
The first meaningful action of the second half saw Harinordoquy crash over the line with 20% of Japan wrapped around him. Unsurprisingly he couldn't ground it, but from the resulting scrum, Servat and Nallet both drove, and Nallet it was who just touched the ball down for the bonus point try, or so I thought, but the TMO refused the try again and the scrum was re-set. France paid the penalty for this early profligacy as Japan survived and went down the other end, where Arlidge, the New Zealand born, Nottingham-based, Japanese fly-half (whatever) scored a second try under the posts to close the gap to 7 points. France had lost the plot, and a penalty from Arlidge, who had scored all of Japan's points, dragged Japan to within 4 points. France were now rattled, and further weakened when replacement fly half Skrela left injured to be replaced by Parra, a number 9. A stupid penalty conceded by Japan under their own posts gave Yachvili the chance to calm the French nerves, which he did. The 3 extra points seem to help France weather the storm as Japan started conceding more and more penalties. Eventually, France got their hands on the ball, shipped it first one way, then another, for Nallet to amble over. Yachvili knocked the kick over once more, making the score 35-21. After 5 minutes sequestered in their own 22, Parra attacked from deep, and with the help of Heymans, Clerc and Marty, sent Pape over for the third try by a French second row. Yachvili's 7th successful kick made it 42-21. Parra rounded his impact performance off with a well-deserved try once set free by Rougerie. A final gloss on a match that France ran out healthy, if slightly unworthily so, winners.
Full Time: France 47 Japan 21
France mirrored the All Blacks then. A great start, but stuttering performance for much of the second half. The necessary was done and the bonus point is in the bag, but improvement is needed if they are to trouble any of the big Nations.
England vs Argentina
A great atmosphere under the roof in Dunedin, where the Pumas took on the new All Blacks.... A stand-off at the first scrum. A great touch find from Contepomi, pressure from the Pumas, a very long advantage played by Mr Lawrence, and 3-0 Argentina. England started by giving penalties away like they were Christmas cards, but a second penalty was and the score stayed at 3. 2 dangerous Puma tackles resulted in a Wilkinson penalty chance... need I say any more? 3-3.
Argentina started strongly up front, as we knew they would. Their first string pack is arguably as strong as any, but they wilt with their age the telling factor, and the lack of back-up should make them pay towards the end. At least that is what I was telling myself 15 minutes in as Argentina missed a kick from halfway. England's discipline at the breakdown has hurt them under Martin Johnson, and they teetered on the edge of a yellow card for much of the first half, but survived and with profligate kicking, were only 6-3 down when Wilkinson missed a relative sitter. Half an hour had flown by, with little if any penetration from either side. England seemed to have weathered the early storm, and with the Pumas losing Contepomi, looked to have a base to build on. But the foreseen problem came to bite them, and when Cole was sinbinned, it was expected really. So much indiscipline from England, so much bad allied with little good, it was only the Argentine generosity which was keeping them in the game (12 points missed with the boot).
An arduous half came to an end at halfway, with very little in the way of running rugby, little inspiration and much perspiration from both sides. Twas ever thus with England and Argentina. It comes to something when the vast majority of in-game text/twitter/facebook comments from neutrals (ie French, Aussie and New Zealanders) is praising a one-way refereeing performance.
Half Time Argentina 6 England 3
England weren't much better at the start of the second half. A Rodriguez penalty was just desserts for the Pumas, and a Wilkinson long-range penalty attempt which went right gave England's increasingly nervous fans more to think about. Another Wilkinson miss followed, and the feeling that this wasn't England's day just increased as the minutes ticked by. Wilkinson continued to miss kicks, and by a long way. England finally added pace though when Youngs replaced the ineffective Wigglesworth. Youngs it was who did what England needed, and burst round the side of a scrum, untouched to score under the posts. Wilkinson's kick took England 1 point clear.
The Argentinian scrum now started buckling, and with Sheridan and Thompson, who both played at an almost sedentary pace, replaced by Hartley and Stevens, there was forward momentum for the first time in the game. 2 penalties at scrums ensued, and when Wilkinson finally slotted a three pointer, England led by 4. Another penalty saw England put it in the corner: run the clock down, maybe roll over for another score, but Argentina defended like terriers, and having turned over the ball, started a break which had the already frayed nerves and bitten fingernails of England fans further damaged. But an excellent cover run and kick by Foden saw play clear to the half, and after 5 or 6 phases, Argentina held the ball on the ground allowing Wilkinson to clear to touch.
Full Time Argentina 9 England 13
A collective sigh of relief from England fans everywhere, and Scots will be gulping after the performance of Argentina today. 2 games for England to work on things now before they meet the Scots in Auckland. Plenty of work needs doing, but the positives to take are the performances of the subs, Hartley, Stevens and especially Youngs, who was my Man of the Match, even if his match was only 30 minutes long.
One final word. Phil Vickery... oh dear. ITV blunder again, with a monotone delivery and nothing to say. Legend on the pitch, far from it off the pitch.
Oh, one final final word....
And finally...
No and finally today, I'm blogged out and I'm off to get those NZDs and then for a siesta.
More tomorrow with Australia v Italy, Ireland v USA and South Africa v Wales
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