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2019 Ireland Hoping To Overcome The All

16th,

October Blacks In The Quarterfinals

| By Barry Coughlan
EXAMINER Tbeen the emergence of
he bright light of this
Rugby World Cup has

IRISH Japan into the echelons of a
Tier One Nation.
They’ve
beaten
Ireland
and
Scotland, Samoa and Russia to con-
solidate their position as a threat to
anyone in this competition. When
they beat Scotland in the last game,
the Japan coach coach Jamie Joseph
merely shrugged his shoulders and
said “I told you so.”
When they beat Ireland in round
two, Joseph made the point that this
was planning over a two year peri-
od, while Ireland were going from
week to week.
Then they went on to slaughter
Scotland, even if there wasn’t much
between the sides in the end.
Let’s be fair, Japan fully deserved
to be top of Pool 1; they gave
Ireland a grueling time, they won all stage. Ireland’s certainly did not. against New Zealand this weekend.
four matches and they’re a bloody So, when all the predictions were But let’s not digress; Japan have The Kiwis don’t like being beaten by
good side playing bloody good made at the beginning of this World been great hosts, but Japan have also anyone and have maintained a Top 1
rugby. Possibly better rugby than Cup, Ireland was supposed to finish played, arguably, the best rugby of rugby ranking for almost an unbro-
any other side in the competition top of the pool, play South Africa the tournament; they’ve beaten two ken 10 year period. Ireland overtook
has shown to date; at least not given who was supposed to be second in a quality teams and two more under- them, beat them a couple of times at
the physical limitations that limit, to Pool involving New Zealand. That neath their rankings that gave them home and abroad and New Zealand
an extent, Japan on the international group worked out as expected; a pathway to the quarter finals for don’t like to be beaten, ever.
the first time. We will have to wait and see how
Sean Downes South Africa? Watch out! they react to Ireland matching them
physically and taking them on. We
And Ireland? It was much better
last weekend against Samoa with will have to wait and see how a long
Attorney at Law only 14 men for a long period of the lay-off – their last pool game was
cancelled, and we will have to wait
match.
67 Wall Street, Suite 2401 You felt for Bundee Aki for being and see how Ireland respond after
New York, New York 10005-3101 red-carded with a high tackle. But it finally producing a decent bit of
Telephone: (212) 248-3232 Fax (212) 248-2848 was, what it was, a high tackle, unin- form following the opening win
Representing those injured in: tentional for sure but careless at over Scotland, to see how exactly
SCAFFOLDING ACCIDENTS CONSTRUCTION ACCIDENTS least. His World Cup is over by all whether they can string two decent
MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENTS MEDICAL MALPRACTICE accounts. performances together.
AND ALL OTHER ACCIDENT CASES
And so, it’s onwards or upwards Watch this space! C

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