Fans set for a tense day of international sport
IRELAND fans are gearing up for a day of sporting showdowns, with key rugby and football clashes taking place.
Mick McCarthy’s soccer team will take on Georgia in a European qualifier today, while in Japan, Joe Schmidt’s side needs a bonus-point win over Samoa to secure their place in the knockout stage of the Rugby World Cup.
However, there were some concerns yesterday about the pitch on which the Irish rugby team will face the Samoans in Fukuoka.
A video emerged showing Irish centre Chris Farrell pulling up the surface of the pitch, which was recently re-laid due to heavy rain, and jokingly putting a ball under it during training.
It is the latest incident in a tournament plagued by problems, after a massive typhoon, set to hit the Tokyo area this weekend, resulted in the cancellation of two games.
On Thursday, World Cup officials called off the New Zealand v Italy and England v France ties because of safety concerns around impending Typhoon Hagibis.
There is also uncertainty around whether the other game in Ireland’s pool, between Japan and Scotland, will go ahead on Sunday in Yokohama.
The storm, which is the size of Japan and is forecast to bring winds of up to 257kph, has caused match cancellations for the first time in the event’s 32-year history.
It means that Ireland’s is the only pool still to be decided in the final weekend of group-stage action.
If the Japan v Scotland match is played, there is a good chance the Scots could beat the hosts and deny them a quarter-final place or draw and hope Ireland get no points. If it is cancelled, Scotland are out unless Ireland get no points.
Japan would then top the pool on head-to-head record and face South Africa in the knockouts, while Ireland would play the All Blacks.
However, a bonus-point victory over Samoa will guarantee Ireland’s place in the knockout stages, regardless of the outcome of the Japan v Scotland game.
Schmidt has named an experienced side, with 11 changes to the team that beat Russia last week.
Ireland won convincingly in their opening match against Scotland, but then lost to Japan.
Meanwhile, in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi, the Republic of Ireland team are looking for a win against their hosts to further cement their place at the top of their Euro 2020 qualifying group.
In a bizarre episode yesterday, the Georgian manager Vladimir Weiss said he was taking the Irish side very seriously as they play ‘with phenomenal energy, just like Michael Flatley dances. There are good dancers in Georgia too, but he is very special.’ Mick McCarthy said it was a ‘huge compliment’.
The rugby kicks off at 11.45am and is being shown on RTÉ2, Eir Sport and ITV, while the football will be aired on RTÉ2 from 2pm.