Rugby World Cup

Subject: Wales v France /  Japan v South Africa

I wonder what the nation of Japan thinks of all this as the nations line up to sing their national anthems prior to bruising game of rugby.
A nation know for its isolationism has been the host of a marvellous festival of rugby football.
A game we don't associate with Japan, they have not only put on a great tournament but have fielded their own side who are taking the scalps of more mature rugby playing nations.
Apart from the typhoon which rocked parts of the island everything has gone to plan. The stadiums full of cheering spectators, fans in their national colours, wild with enthusiasm, men and women having travelled halfway around the world to one of the most expensive places to find a hotel they have come in their thousands.
The inscrutable faces of the locals have been writhed in smiles. The white headbands reminiscent of the white scarves of the kamikaze pilots tied around their foreheads as they committed themselves to the cause of nationalism in the War, is today worn as a sign of peaceful intent an emblem of their future not their past. 
In today’s first game Wales v France, France were rampant, playing that fleet footed game they are feared for as the their forwards provide them with the platform for their backs to run and jig their way to the line. The Welsh look shell shocked as they  regrouped trying to work out a game plan to nullify the magic. It’s a lonely place when the French turn up and turn it on. So often these days the French  heart doesn’t seem in it but I suppose a World Cup Quarter Final is a place to wake up and wake up they have. 
The game is a game of incidents and in some cases, of plain stupidity by players. The swinging arm of the French players indiscipline resulting in him being sent off, changed the complexion  of the game. Wales eventually won by a point but they were for much of the game, lethargic in their win against 14 players and will go into their game against South Africa having to bring out their other game, the game which made them champions of the 6 nations competition this year.
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The game Japan against South Africa is on a different level as the drums pound out the beat and the players run out onto the pitch. The Japanese national anthems, a sound that had things gone the other way might have resounded across the globe for the wrong reasons, the South African anthem composed in two parts, one African the other the last remnant of Afrikaans pride. The stadium full to capacity, the moment has come and as the Japanese spectators sing Nikolai Sikelel having been given the song sheet, a matter of respect, to sing their opponents anthem.
The speed of recycling from loose play, the speed of the pass, the speed of the legs as Japanese launch wave upon wave, it was all mesmeric and so creative.
Wane Barns the English referee was on the whole very decisive and didn’t ask for the TMO which has been a feature of other  referees  and their handling of decisions in previous games. Right on half time the Springbok were denied a try when the ref said the Bok scorer had been held in a tackle when in fact he wasn’t. Also soon after the game had resumed in the second half, there was a high tackle by the Japanese player when Barns said no but the TMO would have called it a dangerous foul.
In some ways it’s refreshing to see the referee, taking responsibility and keeping the game mobile instead of the stop - start which has been the the feature of other games. Slow motion replays always seems to make the offence seem so much worse but if fouls are committed they should be ruled upon.
A game of two halves. The Japanese dominated the first half, the South Africans the second and ran out winners.

The Japanese lost the game but gained the respect of the millions watching across the globe