That’s your lot from Michael Aylwin:
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Salsiccia asks:
I heard one fact this weekend that shocked me - that this was the first time SA had ever met Japan. Assuming that is correct, shouldn’t World Rugby be mandating that the top teams play tier 2/tier 3 teams every once in a while? They have to do more to increase the depth in World rugby and that would help, surely.
Guardian staff That surprised me too. I was interested to see what this win does for Japan's ranking. According to my calculations, they get a maximum four ranking points (which is double the usual max because it's a RWC), which takes them into the top 10. But not for the first time - they were no 9 for a bit in 2014. SA lose four points, which takes them down to sixth, 0.03 of a point ahead of France, who gain nothing for beating Italy. I think. World Rugby to confirm later, no doubt
jonathanlaredo asks:
is there any chance that TMOs can be limited? Whilst getting the right decision is important, getting a flow to a game is as important and that seems to be getting lost.
Guardian staff I think the roar from all quarters about the TMO this weekend will surely be heeded. They are becoming too interventionist. I mean, OK, so some poor bloke has to sit in a van for the entire match with no one to talk to and nothing to do - only the most emotionally balanced of us could endure that without some sort of cry for help. World Rugby needs to make sure, therefore, that only the most emotionally balanced of us are ever allowed to become TMOs. And I really don't like this business of reacting on the back of the TV replays on the big screen. I suppose if a ref sees something up there he's honour bound to act, but it strikes me as too much at the whim of the TV director, especially when it comes to foul play. If you've missed foul play, leave it to the citing officers to clear up later. And there should be some sort of double-jeopardy law. The French had that first 'try' referred once and it was OK. If you referred it and still missed the fact that the try scorer dropped it, then tough. In fact, how can you refer it and miss something as obvious as that?
Tergre asks:
To me the rolling mall from a lineout to score a try is a blight on the game. Your thoughts?
Guardian staff No, I love it. There is a feeling sometimes - as in the Japan game, actually - where it seems ridiculous that both sides can shove the other backward when they have the ball, thus prompting the suggestion that it might be a duck shoot for the team in possession. But it can be defended, and along with the scrum it's exhausting for the forwards, which can pay dividends elsewhere. Also, a good one is a think of beauty. Rugby is nothing if not a game of variety. To lose the rolling maul would be to lose a dimension to it
KRG1900 asks:
When Sam Burgess came on against Fiji, he immediately missed a tackle that should easily have been made, yet everyone is raving about his performance. I know he is a RL legend but why are the press so uncritical?
Guardian staff I haven't had a chance to scour the press from the weekend yet. Are we all raving about it? I think he came on and made an impact, but nothing is ever straightforward, particularly when it comes to England's midfield. Personally, I wouldn't want to be starting him against the very best. Not yet, anyway. If it's just a bosh-fest against Roberts, fine, but Roberts can run angles, and against the All Blacks or Ireland, who really know how to weave patterns in midfield, I think he'd be in trouble.
Thomas 13 asks:
Do you think the number of Welsh injuries raises a question about their preparation? It seems we’ve gone past the point of bad luck. Is there an argument that in an effort to get the fittest squad in the competition have they over trained and left players susceptible injury?
Guardian staff As I said in reply to another question, it always raises the question, but it could just be down to bad luck. If it keeps happening over time there should be an inquest. All countries have had bad injury runs. England are getting away with it scot free at the moment, but they have had a horrible time of it in recent years. Swings and roundabouts
JohnnyCashback asks:
Saw a number of pens given over the w/e against the attacking side clearing out a ruck “dangerously”. Surely you’re allowed to use a shoulder without getting pinged - or should proper binding be enforced?
Guardian staff No one likes to see the torpedo clear out of a player croching legitimately over the ball. That is what rugby is worried about here, but you're right, it's an area they are becoming too scared of. That TMO referral for the Fiji guy charging into the ruck was ridiculous
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RaceOfStalwarts asks:
Defensive Captain Brad Barritt was slightly underwhelming this week so I expect a lot of game time for a certain little known rugby league convert. If Sam Burgess and Jamie Roberts do collide will I feel it from here in Edinburgh?
Guardian staff It won't be Roberts - it'll be you, once you've alerted Gatland to your availability.
I think Barritt will play. It was an awkward game for all the England team, and they came through it. And, although I had a few beers in me, I don't remember Barritt having too bad a match. I remember Joseph's dazzling hands in the build-up to Brown's first try, but that was made possible by Barritt's pass, which was in exactly the right place, perfect weight. He's an underrated player
jagerluvinliamo asks:
If it gets to the stage where minnow teams keep improving to the point that there is no such thing as an easy pool game , is the RWC actually sustainable as a tournament? I mean there would be no coasting through the pool stage far less resting of players for main contenders and for the finalists 7 tough match weeks in a row with the inevitable pile of injuries. More parity throughout the pool stages could more detrimental to the product on the field for the knockout stages
Guardian staff Ah, we can but dream. The big eight unions have had it easy for the first few RWCs. They're terrified of change. Let's hope it's coming. We seem to be moving in the right direction at last
chimpo2k asks:
What was your prediction before this weekend for the winner and has it changed since?
Guardian staff Well, they made us make predictions on her last week, but it was gun against the head time. Under duress I went for the All Blacks, and I'll stick with that. But I do think it is by far the most up for grabs RWC we've ever had. No side wants to be looking good just yet, and God knows none of the obvious contenders is, which is great for the tournament.
Long way to go
am37300 asks:
Steve Hansen criticised the crowd yesterday for booing Richie McCaw. Whilst i don’t want many elements of football crowds to creep into rugby, in my mind they were well within their rights to do so after what was a cynical and dirty piece of foul play. What are you thoughts?
Guardian staff It was cynical, but, let's face it, there wouldn't have been that crowd reaction for anyone else. I was there with my son (8), who is somehow a big Richie and All Blacks fan (hadn't quite realised how much till yesterday), and he was distraught at the booing. It was tough to try to explain to him. To me, it's all part of the pantomime fun. McCaw can take it
BarackOsama asks:
With all of the injuries suffered by Wales prior to and now during the World cup, is it perhaps worth considering whether their preparation is in some way to blame?
Guardian staff Interesting question. It's like with Leicester. If there's one thing you can guarantee any season, there'll be an injury crisis at Leicester at some point, usually in the autumn. Cockers won't ever admit it, of course, but Leicester's training sessions are legendary for their intensity. While the injuries might not all be picked up there, if you're putting your players through it during the week it surely renders them more vulnerable generally. Maybe these Welsh injuries are a reflection of an intense preseason on the physical contact front, maybe it's just sheer bad luck. Probably the latter. If you're always being unlucky like Leicester are then you can start to wonder. Wales still have grace on that front
Rich 753 asks:
Hi Michael, Good to have you here. Been trying to understand what the IRB thinking is wrt the scrum. Couple of years ago they made an effort to reintroduce hooking the ball, putting the ball in straight that kind of thing. Apart from Japan this initiative seems to have failed - any insight into their thinking?
Guardian staff Sorry, above should have been in reply to previous question. It's confusing down here.
I think the whole hooking thing is about to be given up as a lost cause. They will keep up pretences wrt to putting it in straight (ie not chucking into 2nd row), but it is becoming accepted that the sheer weight coming through the front rows makes hooking dangerous. That said, yes, Japan's solution to being out-gunned in the front row was brilliant and old school. I've never seen the ball hooked back so fast, being an observer of rugby for a mere 30 years. My father played hooker for Richmond in the 60s and had a trial for England, and his job was simply to hook and nick put-ins against the head. On Saturday, Dan Cole told us that in Richard Cockerill's day, in the 90s, there was an unspoken agreement among hookers that you didn't go for the ball on the other's put in. So the 'hook' had seemingly died even by then
Droptheclaw asks:
Michael, it’s been a fantastic start to the RWC, and I think we’re all hoping for more of the same excitement, but what a lot of us fans really want to know is your favourite biscuit? 2 years ago, under the heavy influence of your growing kids, you plumped for a raisin oat number, but I think it’s safe to say we all want to know, has this changed?
Guardian staff Yeah, their mother's less bothered about nutrition these days, so it's brownies all the way. Doc says I have raised cholesterol, though, so I'm cutting back. I did say in an even earlier q+a that I was a cheese and onion Real McCoy's man. I'll take an early death any day over giving up those bad boys
DEW81 asks:
Should the worst happen - and a weakened Wales contrive to finish fourth in their pool, behind England, Australia, and Fiji - according to the rules, they would not be an automatic qualifier for the RWC2019. What would happen next? Second-string participation in the European Nations Cup, juggling with other international commitments, or a rather craven bye for a foundation union?
Guardian staff Good question. Didn't Ireland have to qualify for 2003? There wouldn't have been a Nations Cup in those days. But let's cross that bridge, etc. Mind you, they do have to face Fiji five days after they play England (see question above)
DEW81 asks:
Why can’t the tournament be organized on a weekend-only basis (Fri-Mon) to offer all sides sufficient recovery time? I notice that England, as host country, have at least seven days between each fixture, which is not a luxury afforded to any of the other teams in the “group of death”. I also fear that Japan’s sensational victory on Saturday will be marred by having to face a fresh Scottish team only four days later.
Guardian staff Yes, England have enjoyed a member's bounce on the fixture list front. TV obviously, is the short answer. But at least now most of the big boys have to suffer a quick turnaround. It is fairer than it was. I'm glad for midweek games, just to keep the momentum going, but it does mean tight turnarounds. Japan's heroics will highlight that particular turnaround more than it would have been otherwise. That's life, I'd say
tukeyshoot asks:
How many more Welsh players need to get injuries before agent orange gets called up?
Guardian staff Well they could do with someone who covers 10, centre and 15...
I'd say that particular ship has sailed, though, more's the pity
Michael Aylwin is online and ready to answer your questions.
Guardian staff Afternoon all, we're under way. Safe to say that was the most memorable opening weekend of a RWC, surpassing Argentine heroics in Paris 07. I was at three games, lucky me - explaining the rules to the wife at Eng-Fiji, recovering from Japan-SA by attending France-Italy and trying to keep my children's focus on the All Blacks-Argentina while explaining why Richie was getting booed so much...
Michael Aylwin will be online from 12.30pm BST to answer your questions on the opening weekend of the Rugby World Cup.
Japan’s victory over South Africa is the ultimate triumph of the underdog
The Rugby World Cup always comes with a vague promise that something surprising will happen, but nobody ever thought that the great surprise, the shock of all shocks, would be delivered on day one proper of the eighth version of the tournament. Brighton is now enshrined in Japanese rugby folklore – a sentence never knowingly rehearsed as a selling point of the old south-coast resort. South Africa 32 Japan 34. The Cherry Blossoms, as they are rather sweetly called, had previously won only a single game at the World Cup, a 52-8 victory over Zimbabwe in 1991. They drew 12-12 with Canada in 2007, but in 24 games this was their record: won 1, drawn 1, lost 22.
England need lashings of spirit shown by Mike Brown
In the final minutes against Fiji Mike Brown, after his second try, took the ball deep in his own half, made a 30-yard burst and broke through three exhausted opponents. If nothing else, this England team have extraordinary reserves of heart and spirit. They will need every last bit of it from here on in.
Pumas’ roar drowns out New Zealand supporters
They sang it with the gusto of true believers and they pogoed up and down in their thousands. “Y ya lo ve /y ya lo ve/El que no salta / es un ingles!” – “Now you see, now you see! He who doesn’t jump is an Englishman!” But while it was one thing for Argentinian football’s favourite terrace chant to ring boisterously around Wembley, it was quite another to hear a meaty chunk of neutrals in the 89,019 crowd roaring on the Pumas, particularly in the first half when New Zealand appeared dazed and flustered.
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Right, there's a plumbing crisis in the Aylwin household, which requires an imminent visit from our bathroom man. SA hopes would not be going down the toilet if they were based in my house. Thanks for the questions. Hope to speak/type again soon