Rugby is in a world of its own
Japan is now threatened by a rugby wilderness. Already jettisoned from Super Rugby next year – that was clever wasn’t it, Sanzaar? – they are in danger of having all this good work rapidly unravel.
And don’t hold out too much hope for Uruguay cashing in on their brave World Cup effort that included beating Fiji.
Rugby’s muddled thinking has already severely impacted this tournament in other ways.
The decision to hold the World Cup during Japan’s typhoon season has bitten it. Losing those last pool matches was an embarrassment to the game and hit the credibility of the tournament.
Just as ridiculous has been the premeditated move to clamp down on dangerous tackles.
Why would you choose your showpiece event to stamp down on basic rules, ruining contests by reducing teams through the flashing of an unprecedented eight red cards?
Surely this could have been sorted out during last year’s ‘‘autumn internationals’’ in Europe, a month when the two hemispheres collide in Europe.
Let’s hope the New Zealand v England and South Africa v Wales semifinals aren’t hit by a red mist that has already enveloped the tournament. The stakes are too high.
All Blacks and England fans have been on a starvation diet.
Perhaps that’s better than the gluttony All Blacks supporters have endured against the Springboks and Wallabies, two classic rivalries that have been diluted by playing too many games.
But that’s another story.