MichaelRobartes

I've a feeling it's going to be the longest evening of my life...

Good call, Tone. Didn't see that coming after how poor Argentina were in their group.

Agreed. NZ could easily turn us over. People say that sport has no memory, but we've never been past a QF and this may not be the best NZ team ever but they've more than enough if we're off it. I'd never write SA off either. I think we were the better side against them but they could've beaten us at the end. I think England and Wales should be alright but you never know.

That was one of the best games of the pool stage. World Rugby need to start taking their responsibilities seriously and start giving the tier 2 sides proper funding and meaningful matches. The game has been ringfenced for too long.

Australia are out. Fiji only needed one point.

Amazing. So good. Get Portugal funding and regular competition now.

Great couple of days for some of the smaller nations. The likes of Portugal and Chile have been great to watch.

Really good game. Unbelievable first try for Japan. Second rows shouldn't be doing that.

Wash your mouth out with soap, young man. (Pete is Cork)

Satisfying. Pete calling Finn a gowl was my highlight of the game.

And England away in the warmups...

Bravo Samoa. Wonderful performance. England haunted to win that.

Was it clear and obvious? I'm not so sure.

It will probably take him a while to get up to speed having not played for a year but he's a super player at his best. Really hope it works out and injury/illness hasn't taken too much from him.

Really good player. Key player in a top Racing team, 31 caps for France, got overtaken but Danty (no shame in that) but an odd signing given that he was banned from playing in the Top14 (on medical grounds) and retired last year. I see Bristol say he's had a re-evaluation and is free to play but a strange situation: https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/2022/09/06/virimi-vakatawa-heart-condition-france-rugby/

Agreed. A great advert for the game and one in the eye for the "game's gone" mob. It was brutal as you said. Monstrous shots going in and pretty much nothing high. I think there was one no-arms chop tackle from James Ryan in the second half which O'Keefe missed but I didn't see a replay to be fair. We got lucky with some of the scrums. Ox is a nightmare for most tall tightheads like Furlong. The maul at the end was pretty suspect and I'm fairly sure Tadhg Beirne changed his bind but I suppose you have to roll the dice on the last play. If we can sort our lineout, we'll be in good shape. NZ are more than capable of beating us but I'd much rather play them than France. Ireland mustn't look beyond Scotland though. They're more than good enough to catch us out. Should've beaten us in the 6N.

Munster and West Cork's finest. A lot can happen and I'm biased but he looks a really special player. ROG wanted to get him down to La Rochelle when he was just out of the Munster academy. You can see why.

This is monstrous strength from Lowe on Etzebeth.

I fancy us against this NZ team but you never know. We also have to beat Scotland first. Really pleasing to beat SA with a malfunctioning lineout and a mess of a scrum. Ox and Kleyn monstered Furlong. Manie and Faf's missed kicks were also crucial. You'd think Pollard will be back for the QF.

Haunted to win that. This team has some guts mind.

Have to get Murray on. JGP on one of his days.

I'll take that half as we'd no lineout for most of it. SA blowing when we go through the phases. If we can handle their bench, there could be something here for us.

We are spooked. Ryan shrinking calling the lineout.

Great game as well. One of the best of the tournament so far.

It's a disaster for the tournament. Hopefully it's less serious than feared but I think his goose is cooked as far as the tournament goes.