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October 20, 2019 | Empowerment

Where the hosts continue to reestablish, it has been a different week in the Rugby World Cup and cards attained record levels. Three matches, three wins for England. However, is there a danger of these heading into a World Cup quarter-final undercooked? After beating Tonga and the United States, England would have anticipated their first significant test when they took on Argentina, only for the Pumas to implode as Tomas Lavaninis reckless attack on Owen Farrell left them down to 14 men with over an hour . England took full advantage as they coasted securing a spot in the last-eight using a match as he builds towards the knockout phases, however, Eddie Jones might have liked a challenge. France have done little so far to indicate they could test England at the last game of Pool C, although their opponents Australia that was probable head to the quarters primed after outings against Wales and Fiji. After three landslide wins, Jones might settle for a victory over Les Bleus. No problems for Japan, that are one win away from attaining the. The first Rugby World Cup has been held outside the traditional heartlands had a solid performance and the Brave Blossoms are playing their part. Japan backed up their deserved triumph together with Kotaro Matsushima scoring everything would prove to be a crucial bonus point with all the clock red by beating Samoa, over Ireland. With Scotland anticipated to take maximum points from Russia, it sets up a crunch meeting between Gregor Townsends guys and Japan on October 13. Pool A is currently going to the wire. Irelands Rugby World Cup effort looks like plotting a familiar route – advancement to the quarter-finals, immediately followed by a trip home. Rory Best admitted the shock loss has dented their confidence to Japan and also a patchy 35-0 victory over Russia did little to raise spirits. Ireland laboured their way into a bonus-point victory against a side full of amateurs who played for 20 minutes. Joe Schmidt was fooling nobody when he declared himselfvery happy with this win. He explained carrying off Johnny Sexton in half-time was the strategy, but that doesnt sound when the fly-half spends the next half with a ice pack on his thigh as convincing. Irelands injury problems are also mounting. Back-up fly-half Joey Carbery has performed just 20 minutes because of an ankle injury which required surgery pre-tournament, Jack Conan is already gone home, Jordi Murphys World Cup may be over after only 26 minutes, and Robbie Henshaw has yet to attribute in any way. A nine-day break between matches will undoubtedly be welcomed by Schmidt and his medical group but a final pool game against a bodily, indisciplined Samoa side could stretch the squad even further. Ireland have appreciated unheralded victory under Schmidt but theyre a shadow of the Grand Slam-winning, All Blacks-conquering side of 2018. Given their existing form, leading them into a World Cup semi-finals promised land would position as Schmidt achievement as Ireland coach. Ireland may have fought to flex their muscles against poorer resistance but the Springboks did precisely what they needed to do in order to sweep aside Italy in Shizuoka and all-but guarantee their place at the quarter-finals. A jolt reduction to Canada is currently the only real way Rassie Erasmus facet would fail to make it from their team for the very first time in a World Cup. The success on the Azzurri was made by the forwards, but the magnitude was mostly dictated by a red card shown on Andrea Lovotti for what can only be described as a moment of insanity in which Duane Vermeulen was thrown on his mind early in the second half. It was a case of work done for the Boks, who will face the best team from Pool A – . Even the Bok forwards shone at the set-piece but had been particularly brutal at the breakdown, where their typically-physical presence lent the Italians no solution to the match. The only concern for Erasmus was that the way Cheslin Kolbe hobbled around the pitch in the end of the match, but also the Bok boss allayed fears his superstar winger – who scored twice against Italy at a man-of-the-match functionality – would be outside for any amount of time. Cheslins ankle is somewhat rigid, however, he could probably play Tuesday at a push, Erasmus said. If hes match Canada, it is unlikely Kolbe is going to be risked ahead of the quarter-finals in two weeks time as the Springboks go in search of their next World Cup title. We are only into the tournaments third week and there has become a World Cup-record five red cards dished out – and it is highly likely that figure will be improved upon. Andrea Lovotti and Tomas Lavanini can possibly have no complaints with their dismissals, equally players guilty of reckless challenges, and the reality is that we might already be in double figures for red cards. Even Italy coach Conor OShea expected Nicola Quaglio to be sent off along with Lovotti after the pair combined to Nicola handle Duane Vermeulen head-first into the turf. Both have been banned for three months and miss Italys rest pool match against New Zealand on October 12. Having been on the receiving end of stinging criticism from World Rugby, referees are currently cracking down on any challenges to the head. Red cards may spoil suits, South Africa and England coasting to victory following the above two dismissals, and its likely that at least knockout match will be determined by a dismissal. Player security has to come first and it is up to coaches players. If they dont they have nobody to blame but themselves. Read more: http://midriks.com/sky-live-dublin-vs-kerry-in-the-all-ireland-final-replay/

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