By Neil Smith in Tokyo
The two teams were warming up at their respective ends of the pitch, far apart, but the two head coaches could be seen standing together at the halfway line engaged in a long, and clearly good-natured, discussion.
The Irish – on the turf and in the stands
My work as a member of the ground staff started with checking the turf after the Irish team finished their warm-up and I was not impressed at the 4~5 bits of chewing gum players had spat out onto the turf during or after their warm-up. It struck me as a sign of disrespect for the turf on which they would be attempting to break the Irish quarter-final jinx, and some part of me was hoping the ABs would teach them a lesson about respect.
You would not have realized from the television coverage just how loud the Irish fans’ singing during the haka was but at ground level, you could not hear the haka at all. There was no disrespect, just the fans accepting the challenge of the haka the best way they could. It was spine-tingling, goose bump-inducing, and suggested a contest for the ages.
Unstoppable All Black power and intensity
Kieran Read and his men had other ideas. We could feel the power and intensity of the All Blacks’ tackles, see close-up the pace at which the ABs were operating, sense how Ireland was struggling to come to terms with the ABs, and watch the body language of the Irish.
We were under strict instructions from World Rugby not to stand at any time unless we were about to enter the pitch to carry out running repairs and you can imagine how frustrating it was not to be able to leap up in joy at the play of the ABs.
The Irish fans broke out into song on a regular basis, hoping to inspire their team, but nothing could break the intense focus of the ABs tonight. We could see how the Irish forwards were catching the ball flat-footed, only to be smashed back time and time again, and we could feel the vigour gradually draining, not only from the fans’ singing but also from the players.
Whatever they attempted, there were 2-3 ABs there to stop them, and I finally understood why the opposition occasionally commented that there seemed to be more than 15 men in black out there.
A little Irish girl has the last word
Out on the pitch after the match finished as we started preparing the turf for the Japan vs South Africa quarter final the next day, I had the chance to have a quick chat to Peter O’Mahoney, the Irish blindside flanker.
He was naturally not looking very happy but I’ll give the last word to his daughter, a cute lass perched on his shoulders. I asked her how she was enjoying her trip to Japan.
“I’ve having a great holiday.”
(Neil Smith lives in Japan and has been a pioneer in getting local authorities and schools in his area to sow grass on sports grounds and in public spaces.)
Former naval man and Paraparaumu Beach identity, John Granville, will be speaking about the provision of Navy Rum and some of the rules and traditions related to it.
The skies are emptying out.
The analysis, published in the journal Science, is the most exhaustive and ambitious attempt yet to learn what is happening to avian populations. The results have shocked researchers and conservation organizations.
Common bird species are vital to ecosystems, controlling pests, pollinating flowers, spreading seeds and regenerating forests. When these birds disappear, their former habitats often are not the same.
It was expected to be a tight game and the Irish could look back to a 40-29 win over the All Blacks in 2016 and 16-9 two years later. This time they were never a threat, and the New Zealanders turned on an efficient and dominant performance to win 46-14. And only a bad refereeing decision gave the Irish a second try.
The Irish did score under the posts late in the game, and were awarded a second highly controversial penalty try. Matt Todd put his body between an Irish forward trying to touch the post with the ball. Todd’s action was quite legitimate, but referee Nigel Owens ruled he had entered the non-existent ruck by the side, sent him off and awarded a penalty try. However, the All Blacks roared back to get the last laugh, when Beauden Barrett set up brother Jordie away to score in the corner in the 80
The Irish couldn’t cope with the speed of the New Zealanders and the three Canterbury players who had never faced Ireland before – Richie Mohunga, George Bridge and Sevu Reece – were outstanding on attack. Aaron Smith provided the essential speedy service from scrums and rucks, and Beauden Barrett frequently injected pace in the backline as the extra man.
Back in 2009 the movie Van Diemen’s Land delved into Tasmania’s colonial past with a grim story based on actual events. A group of convicts escape from the remote Sarah’s Island settlement on the west coast and attempt the tough crossing back to Hobart. When they run out of food, they turned on each other and the inevitable cannibalism occurs.
It has created a stir on the Film Festival circuit, and director and scriptwriter Jennifer Kent, has earned high praise for not flinching from recounting an absorbing story about the cruelties and realities of Australia’s convict past. However, some cinema-goers have been appalled at the murders and rapes, and walked out. This violence is not easy viewing, but as much of it occurs in the first quarter it is worth enduring to get to the main element of the story — the tension of the hunters and the hunted trekking through the Van Diemens Land wilderness.
Clare is a young Irish convict woman who has been given permission by her “supervisor” — Lieutenant Hawkins — to marry and have a child. Early on she sings to a group of colonial soldiers and this gives the film its somewhat unlikely title. But Hawkins is a self-centred, arrogant and abusive master and with two of his soldiers commits shocking acts of violence against the family.
The Nightingale is a very impressive achievement and does not shy away from the brutality of the time. The acting is first rate and the two leads are excellent. Also Sam Claflin does superbly as the imperious, narcissistic and ruthless Howard – a man who has no redeeming features.
