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So from the knock-out stages onwards we're opening up the stadium for the fan zone. For all their mishaps and injuries, from their failings in attack against Australia to their hammer-blow list of injuries, Wales have retained their spirit and self-belief, burnished but also buoyed by events in New Zealand at the last World Cup. The appeals panel is similarly dominated. Without that, there wasn't much in that game. Looking at the footage, it was hard to determine any intent.

The coaches will have watched the players closely all week and they have chose to leave Iain Henderson in the second-row in order to get a bit more speed in the back-row. It was reported that Jaco Peyper, who refereed the Scotland-Samoa game, told the judge that he saw nothing wrong in the incident for which they were cited, but his evidence was discounted because the trial was interested in facts, not opinion.

And so it has gone on.

The Tier 2 nations' time in the limelight is now over, but it certainly not to be forgotten.

"I don't really have any thoughts on that", said George.

But if a few gullible idiot from the plantations pleads his innocence, they throw the book at him.

At previous World Cups, Japan had a combined record of one win, two draws and 21 losses.

I suppose the whole bitterness between the sides stemmed from 1999 when they beat us in the play-off for the quarter-final, which then put so much value on the game four years later then. It has been not just the group of death, but the group of hell, basically, for all of us.

We're bringing the inflatable equipment up, we're going to have the skills games, we've going to have food and drink options, we're going to be showing the games on the big screens, and we're even going to have an open training session with the players on Sunday to try and get people engaged and back into the World Cup despite England's early exit.

"It's just the way I am". I don't know why we introduced them. Since World Rugby rankings began Japan have never been below twenty, so they would grace any tournament on merit. I think everyone agrees that they are the most impressive team so far and I think he is the reason why.

It's time for the real business. It really takes its toll, it's knockout and it's pressure and you need a full squad of healthy players which Wales do not have.

The World Cup needs to shift from its current six weeks to seven. Australia always plays well when they are in the northern hemisphere.

South Africa vs Wales: This should be straight forward, as South Africa are by far the better team.

They grimly kept their line intact with two men in the sin-bin during the second half. An extra week in which to accommodate the pool games will give these guys an even break.

All this technology and they still balls it up.

We, of course, are aggrieved by the suspensions meted out to Ross Ford and Jonny Gray. But it doesn't work and it never has. Perhaps we're due it. You can't win a World Cup being underdogs in every game. Ireland has the stadiums and it has the world's best fans.

The festive mood has been deep-rooted and genuine, not a contrived PR exercise, good news for those embattled souls at the RFU as they ponder legacy plans undermined by England's woes. Hopefully they've enjoyed the experience and want to come back, so we want to help them with that journey and try and get them down to Kingsholm to support the cherry and whites on a more regular basis.

World Rugby (WR) claims credit for making the game more competitive. The World Cup is worth millions to the All Blacks brand and it was dishonest to measure it purely by direct revenue received.

Despite local Sale Sharks recently being crowned Kings of the North, as well as George Ford and Owen Farrell both hailing from these parts, there is a tangible difference between rugby in the North West and the rest of the country. Like the Pacific rivals, Samoa and Fiji, they will have to qualify for the next World Cup in 2019. In 2007, the French came out on top in this exact match, at the same stage, and they always seem to step it up in the big games.

"If my performances go well with Saracens then hopefully I'll remain involved in the England set-up, and obviously that's something I'm aiming to do".

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