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)