Fan diarist Harri Morgan is in Japan, but finding the World Cup challenging as he juggles travel, clothing choices, Irishmen, and Wales worries, while riding the bullet train to faraway Tokyo.
The air-conditioned train proves – yet again – to be an absolute sanctuary for a bloke who kicked off his World Cup tour by opting to complete his air travel decked out in international rugby social uniform; blue shirt, rugby tie and chinos – and has only continued to make ill thought out gear choices.
The old Cotton Traders classics are not the go-to in 30 degree heat, yet the man keeps reppin’ it. Not cool. Literally.
That bloke is, of course. me.
I am six days into a 14-day Japanese jaunt and heading north east from Kobe to Tokyo, having watched Lyn Jones’ Russia frustrate Ireland for large patches of last night’s bonus point win.
If the Irish didn’t dominate to the extent they wanted to on the pitch, they certainly took care of business off it – turning the local convenience store into a fully-fledged boozer for their post-match ‘come on you boys in Green’ session. As they do.
The match at Kobe’s Misaki Stadium was my second of the trip, having been fortunate enough to be on hand to witness live the uppers and the downers of Wales’ all-important Pool D clash against the Wallabies last Sunday.
Trance music, pints and Wi-Fi in Moscow airport. Nek stop Tokyo. @clwbrygbi representing. pic.twitter.com/jRNOhRI1SI
— Harri Morgan (@Gerald_of_Wales) September 27, 2019
After a hectic week, during which I produced a remarkable comeback of my own to stave off the threat of a vicious hangover following a heavy night in Kyoto, it is high time to reflect on what was a proper World Cup win.
When I say proper, I mean that Wales not only knew the importance of doing a job but supplemented this with a plan, and then the know-how, energy and desire to wrestle back momentum.
The Aussies had forced Warren Gatland’s men from the road, that, for the first 40 minutes was a cruise control jobby – even with the first choice driver having handed over the wheel.
The use of drop goals to not only close the Welsh ledger but also in opening it was an insight into how the management think they might achieve success in Japan.
Iawn @bootlegger1974 out with the boys in Japan @Ryuju2000 has had a tough day, but a big fan pic.twitter.com/4tLV4yCfqX
— Jamie Lewis (@jamielew15) October 2, 2019
Take the points whenever they are available, not just when you desperately need them. In doing so, force the opposition to chase scores and then just keep going to the well, defensively.
Oh, and amidst a mammoth team effort it would be rude not to drop a word or few on Gareth Davies’ score. It was a superb combination of pre-game planning, recognising the moment, and the type of acceleration that would require sock-over-thumb tekkers on a console pad. The Rhys Webb will he/won’t he saga was inherently dismissive of Davies. Consider us silenced.
But back to my own worries. I’ve checked Sky Scanner to price up a few days in Tokyo for the first weekend of November, but I’m not yet convinced that Wales will be in that particular tussle.
A champion team – and I’m sure you know who I’m referring to – would pride themselves on the fact they would have kicked on against the Wallabies. Or, as a bare minimum, they might have kept the opposition competing for nothing more than conciliation-flavoured meat pies.
Wales didn’t exercise that dominance.
Right, time to hop off the ‘Brett’ Shinkansen (bullet train) for today’s Group A match up between the team previously known as the Springboks and Italy.
Hoping that Italy can lift themselves and give everyone reason to resist the temptation to take part in a mass Mexican greeting.
