mea culpa. I am in the states and we put the home team last when they flash scores, there are American uni football games on so they are all flashing scores of other sports, and Tottenham vs Watford in the states would mean Watford is the home team here. Reversed with you lot.

Anyway, still 2 points lost.

...oh, and I'm visiting my brother watching tv and he sees me on here posting on my pc and says 'Tell them I said hello' so I said "I'll post it" so I am.

Hello brother

We were there first

First, doesn't always mean the best.

Joking of course, these days "we" are closer the bottom than the top.

He (as well as my other brothers) are Arsenal fans by extension. They won't watch it but wish us well. Which is a surprise since one of them coaches a youth side. Spends his free time watching American football. That's a bit of a head scratcher but is the norm for a lot of 'soccer dads'.

My obsession was once a worry now its accepted.

Spend a lot of time in rural Devon

Around the time of the referendum there were UKIP signs all over the place demanding us leave.

I mean, every person down there is white mostly over 50s living largely in comfort.

Where is the immigration problem ?

It’s mental illness or racism. Probably the latter

Things must be dire in the old country when I didn't even get any messages on the forum about the rugby results - nothing unexpected from my viewpoint. First I heard of it was when I watched the news this morning. Still, are people so engrossed in the Brexit debacle that they failed to note a sports result against Australia or have we sunk so low in rugby that people knew it would happen.

Glass houses?
The Boere supporters are unusually keeping quiet and necks reeled lest they come a cropper against Japan.

It's simply amazing that Szczesny made a career at the old lady. I'm happy for him.
http://dailycannon.com/2019/10/juventus ... -contract/
Juventus are reportedly getting ready to offer Wojciech Szczesny a new contract at the club.

With me it’s solely a total lack of interest in the rugby World Cup. It’s being televised in the UK. Off hand I’m not sure of the channel and the only action I’ve seen is when I channel hop to see what’s on. When I see it’s the rugby I go to the next channel immediately. As a result I’ve probably seen a few seconds, even adding up all the times it’s been on when channel hopping before turning to the next channel.

I have Talksport on in my car and they obviously discuss what’s happening it the rugby World Cup. While I don’t turn it off I don’t pay any attention to what they’re saying about it. I had no idea Australia lost until I read the post by Gaz. I didn’t know South Africa were still in it until I saw the reply from Decaf. I don’t know what stage it’s up to either, but it’s been going on for what seems so long I assume we must be nearing the final. Yet I have no idea when the final is, or the semi or quarter finals if they haven’t yet been played. Though I couldn’t tell you who those games are or might be between.

My guess is England must still be in it as I imagine I wouldn’t have been able to avoid all the coverage had they been knocked out, with all the fuss likely to be made obvious via headlines in papers, television news slots, or Talksport.

EDIT: One thing I have picked up from Talksport is that it’s being held in Japan.

If only Germany had qualified, eh Bern.

Come to mention it, Mertesacker would be awesome in the line-outs. He might finally have found the game for him.

I wouldn’t mind seeing Martinelli start wide left v sheff Utd. Saka hasn’t done anything wrong but we have to protect such young players and after starting multiple prem games in a row he might need a break.

Just to keep you updated Bern, the Taffs are currently losing to the Frogs, but the latter have just had someone sent off for an elbow to the face. All to play for, exciting game. To save you having to search out the channel it's on ITV.

Many thanks. I know the Frogs will be France. Who are the Taffs though? Wales? I’m aware that New Zealand have a strong reputation for rugby. Thought they were the All Blacks because of their kit, not Taffs.

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I thought Saka had his poorest game in the last match so I agree it may be time to give him a break. I remain to be convinced Martinelli’s best position is on the left though.

What are line-outs?

He was awesome at football too.

Morning Bernard. Yes the Taffs are Wales, though strictly speaking a Taff is a resident of the Cardiff area due to the river Taff running through it.
They won 19-18 by the way.

Thanks. Must have heard taffs before as Wales came into my mind. The all important thing is England losing, whenever they play and whoever they play.

That predictive typing is a pain, Bernard, you obviously were trying to type "awful" and it has replaced it with "awesome". I would have a word with Warrior about it.

To clear up any misunderstanding, I’ll say ‘brilliant’ instead.

Rugby update Bernard- the Boks dominant in the second half against the cherry blossoms.

The Boks are definitely South Africa, as in Springboks. Cherry blossoms? Got me stumped there, which is more than Mr Bairstow would be able to do.

Which country has a famous 'cherry blossom festival'? The cherry trees blossom in the south first and gradually up through the islands.

No idea. Is Bournemouth’s nickname the cherries? Bournemouth is in England, so England perhaps?

EDIT: There again you mention islands. New Zealand is different islands but they’re called the All Blacks. Who else is in it? Scotland has some islands but don’t see the link to cherry blossom for them. Ireland is an island. Argentina isn’t. No, Mr Bairstow must be dropped for you.

My interest in the rugby is pretty much confined to enjoying it when SA lose. SA rugby supporters are a bunch of dodos. I like the game, but the boneheaded mentality that surrounds the game here puts me right off.

South Africa being absolutely mauled by India in the cricket yet again. Abject.

Hmm I don't think you're taking this very seriously Bernard.
No it's not England.

I gave you a few clues - cherry blossoms start in the south so it's a northern hemisphere nation. Secondly it's a group of islands. Arsenal have had a few players from here, with little success for the two I can think of off the top of my head.

Northern hemisphere country that Arsenal has had two unsuccessful players from? With a link to cherry blossom? Are Russia in it? Arshavin wasn’t that good. Was there anyone else from Russia? But Russia isn’t a group of islands.

You'd make an excellent Dr Watson if you ever tried your hand at acting, Bernard.

In comparison with the amount of success the two players I'm thinking of had at Arsenal, Arshavin's career with us resembles a combination of Henry, Bergkamp and Eddie Hapgood only better.
So no - not Russia
This country produces a rather tasty but fairly lethal rice wine.

An Oriental country then. Are Japan still in it? I knew they hosted it but thought they’d be rubbish and knock out early. I remember Ryo but who else was there?

Oh I forgot about him. Inamoto and Asano I was thinking of.
Yes, the cherry blossoms are Japan. Much better than they used to be at rugby, beat both Ireland and Scotland getting to the quarter finals.

Ireland were dismal. It's some fall-off in performance. 12 months ago we were Grand Slam Champions and then went and beat New Zealand. Since then we've been walloped by England, Wales and New Zealand and lost to Japan.

I forgot your two. Indeed, even after seeing his name I still don’t remember Asano. Didn’t realise Japan had improved enough to beat those sides. I always perceive the Japanese as quite small people and I had the impression the normal rugby player was physically imposing.

C'mon Man Utd. Hope I'm not jinxing them.

Asano signed, went straight out on loan and was sold in the summer having never played for us.
The Japanese rugby team have a few 'naturalised' players in their team and a few big Japanese guys, but they got overpowered physically by the giant South Africans earlier today. They played some fast, brave, skilful rugby during the tournament though.

More VAR nonsense at Old Trafford

Looked a clear foul in the build up to United's goal.

I'm not a jinx any longer but a good luck charm. I got Man Utd a goal after my post and a goal disallowed.