Failure to top pool would be all our fault

CJ STANDER claims Ireland can’t moan about not topping Pool A if they finish runners-up.

Hosts Japan are angry that they are being perceived as wanting their final pool clash with Scotland to be cancelled, thus providing them with the two points they need to head the standings and avoid the All Blacks in the last eight.

Head coach Jamie Joseph has insisted the Brave Blossoms want to play Scotland in Yokohama after winning their first three games.

And for Ireland No.8 Stander, he admits their loss to Japan means they can’t complain about what happens next.

The Munster man (above) said: “We let ourselves down against Japan and we dealt our own cards.

“Now it’s just about what we can do against Samoa to give ourselves a chance to get into that quarter-final and take another opportunity.

“We’ve learned some lessons and it was good that we learned them then.

“We can’t look at other stuff that’s out of control, like a typhoon or what’s coming up with the Japan game.

“The only thing we can do is what’s coming in this next game. What we get is what we’re going to concentrate on and that’s what we can control.”

Asked how he would have felt if he was the shoes of the Scotland players right now, who won’t know until Sunday morning if their crucial final pool game goes ahead, Stander responded: “It’s tough, especially when you work hard. But there’s safety around people and what needs to be done.” T Nanai-williams AS Tuala A Leiua H Taefu E Fidow UJ Seutini D Polataivao L Mulipola S Lam M Alaalatoa T Paulo K Le’aupepe C Vui

TJ Ioane J Lam (c)