First Shock - RWC Day 6

After a couple of days off the World Cup pool stages and my blog are back to look at today’s action.

Today we had out first upset at the World Cup as Canada overcame Tonga with two tries in the last 10 minutes of the game. That is the problem with the Pacific Island nations, sometimes they lose games they shouldn't; whether is be down to tiredness, which I don't think is the case today, or simply taking there eye of the ball. Special mention to Adam Kleeberger, what a beard! If you haven't seen it just google him. Unfortunately after the World Cup the beard will be shaved off, a good a reason as any to make Canada your second team, keep the beard alive!!

Samoa did the business against Namibia with Tiger's own Alesana Tuilagi scoring a hat-trick. Tuilagi's second try shows what he is all about, receiving the ball 10 metres out and just running straight through people to finish. Gareth Edwards mentioned on tonight’s ITV hi-lights programme that he was wary of Samoa, he was stating the obvious, but it does show that just because Wales had a good 80 mins against SA that an upset is still a definite possibility, certainly worth getting up at 4:30am on Sunday morning that’s for sure.

Boring Boring Scotland? No, Scotland did exactly what they needed to today. The score does show that Scotland were trying to play the free-flowing Rugby that the media seem absolutely desperate for. (On this point if you want to see 10 tries a game go and watch Rugby League and stop complaining about Union, it is what it is. ) The Lamont brothers were excellent today, multiple times coming in off the wing and in from full back looking for the ball and always going over the gain line. Scotland just could not keep hold of the ball after the initial breaks had been made. Being able to get to the breakdown quickly and recycle the ball after quick breaks will be key against Argentina, fail to do so and everyone knows what Argentina will do to you; just ask England. I was also a little surprised how well Scotland dealt with the scrum and this should mean that England can pick off Georgia easier that I thought they might; Georgia are a very forward orientated team.

Apart from the games the past couple of days have seen the first few injury’s ruin World Cups for some of the home nation men. Andrew Sheridan and Jerry Flannery will be both be on planes soon and maybe considering whether to hang up their boots completely. A lot of people criticised Johnno for taking 5 props and therefore sacrificing a back, probably Flutey, but with Sheri's injury record it was a risk work taking and Johnno has called it spot on. Look for Corbisiero to start against Georgia. Commiserations also to Skrela, the World Cup will be worse for the lose of these players.

As for Lawes being banned, this is quite simply a joke. Lawes was putting his body of the line when he hit Ledesma nothing more than that; it was purely accidental. The IRB are looking to be tough on dangerous play at this World Cup and have made Lawes a scapegoat.

Tomorrow sees the USA play Russia, if you fancy a bet I would go for USA by 10. Thanks for reading and see you tomorrow.