SCRUM’S THE WORD

WORLD CUP DIARY

A MINIATURE moat formed around the edge of the pitch before England’s captain’s run in Yokohama yesterday. Heavy rainfall in the morning turned the pitch into a bog. England coach Scott Wisemantel took the chance to have a water fight with one of the backroom staff. The rain is expected to ease before today’s game and organisers are confident in the stadium’s drainage systems.

NOT even Warren Gatland could hold his poker face when asked about goings on back in his hometown of Hamilton, New Zealand. A reporter from the area asked: ‘Warren, we’re used to seeing you back home walking around Hamilton, watching the cricket. How much more enjoyable would that be with the World Cup?’ Gatland laughed, before saying: ‘I’m not sure the WRU would let me take the World Cup back to New Zealand.’

THE Japan Rugby Football Union have opened talks with head coach Jamie Joseph about a new contract. Joseph’s team inspired the nation with their run to the quarterfinals and the coach has been linked with a return to New Zealand. JRFU president Shigetaka Mori said: ‘The selection committee has decided to ask him to continue as head coach.’ IF WALES lose to South Africa tomorrow, their CEO Martyn Phillips will not hang around for the third-place play-off on Friday. Phillips — who came to Japan in light of the Rob Howley departure, then went home only to return to Japan two weeks later — will fly home once again. He’ll be doing well for air miles.

DESPITE only arriving home from the World Cup last week, Scotland star Stuart Hogg made his Exeter debut in a 13-10 premiership defeat at Bath last night. The full back (left) had been on the verge of tears after defeat by the Brave Blossoms, but there was little sympathy from Hogg’s Chiefs team-mates, who had jokingly surrounded his place in the Sandy park changing room with Japanese flags.