RUGBY WORLD CUP: Gentlemen at play
JAPAN caused the biggest upset in Rugby World Cup history when they defeated the once mighty South African Springboks 34-32 on Saturday September 19.
“Rugby is a game for hooligans, played by gentlemen, football (soccer) is a game for gentlemen played by hooligans” is a saying based on the days when public boarding and grammar schools in the UK played “ rugger” and the rest played “ footer.”
The rules for both games originated in Britain.
Rugby fans, might have a problem sorting out the hooligans and gentlemen in the current World Cup where teams from south of the equator are favored to win the title.
They will have the opportunity to see many of the teams in action at the Blarney Stone Irish pub starting with the opening game on Friday, October 18.
The games that will be shown are shown below, The times are British Summer Time (BST), so you need to subtract 6 hours to get the local time. After October 25 subtract 5 hours
Sunday 20 September
Pool C: New Zealand v Argentina (4.45pm, Wembley)
Wednesday 23 September
Pool A: Australia v Fiji (4.45pm, Millennium Stadium)
Pool D: France v Romania (8pm, Olympic Stadium)
Thursday 24 September
Pool C: New Zealand v Namibia (8pm, Olympic Stadium)
Friday 25 September
Pool C: Argentina v Georgia (4.45pm, Gloucester)
Saturday 26 September
Pool B: South Africa v Samoa (4.45pm, Villa Park)
Pool A: England v Wales (8pm, Twickenham)
Sunday 27 September
Pool D: Ireland v Romania (4.45pm, Wembley)
Tuesday 29 September
Pool C: Tonga v Namibia (4.45pm, Exeter)
Thursday 1 October
Pool A: Wales v Fiji (4.45pm, Millennium Stadium)
Pool D: France v Canada (8pm, Milton Keynes)
Friday 2 October
Pool C: New Zealand v Georgia (8pm, Millennium Stadium)
Saturday 3 October
Pool B: South Africa v Scotland (4.45pm, St James’ Park)
Pool A: England v Australia (8pm, Twickenham)
Sunday 4 October
Pool C: Argentina v Tonga (2.30pm, Leicester)
Pool D: Ireland v Italy (4.45pm, Olympic Stadium)
Tuesday 6 October
Pool D: Canada v Romania (4.45pm, Leicester)
Pool A: Uruguay v Fiji (8pm, Milton Keynes)
Wednesday 7 October
Pool B: South Africa v United States (4.45pm, Olympic Stadium)
Pool C: Namibia v Georgia (8pm, Exeter)
Friday 9 October
Pool C: New Zealand v Tonga (8pm, St James’ Park)
Saturday 10 October
Pool B: Samoa v Scotland (2.30pm, St James’ Park)
Pool A: Australia v Wales (4.45pm, Twickenham)
Pool A: England v Uruguay (8pm, City of Manchester Stadium)
Sunday 11 October
Pool C: Argentina v Namibia (12pm, Leicester)
Pool D: Italy v Romania (2.30pm, Exeter)
Pool D: France v Ireland (4.45pm, Millennium Stadium)
Pool B: United States v Japan (8pm, Gloucester)
Quarter-finals
Saturday 17 October
Winner B v Runner-up A (4pm, Twickenham)
Winner C v Runner-up D (8pm, Millennium Stadium)
Sunday 18 October
Winner D v Runner-up C (1pm, Millennium Stadium)
Winner A v Runner-up B (4pm, Twickenham)
Semi-finals
Saturday 24 October
Winner QF1 v Winner QF2 (4pm, Twickenham)
Sunday 25 October (The day the clocks go back I hr in the UK)
Winner QF3 v Winner QF4 (4pm GMT, Twickenham)
Third place play-off
Friday 30 October (8pm GMT, Olympic Stadium)
FINAL
Saturday 31 October (4pm GMT, Twickenham)