The best happening for rugby world cups is

UPSETS...very good for rugby

What is interesting about rugby world cups is that there is always the possibility of an upset.

Upsets are generally rare but they do happen.

Georgia could have beaten Ireland in 2007, so could have Tonga against the Springboks that same year.

But the biggest upset actually happened in 2015 when SA lost to Japan.

It poses a mystery to those who really don’t quite understand the game and it’s components.

Factors are quite different namely:

How good the opponents are, ie tier 2 teams that are good but lack the exposure

How hungry is the national pride

How actually good they can be with incentive

The minnows got nothing to lose by throwing everything to what pundits rate as a foregone conclusion

Tier 1 teams (second choices or B selections) against fired up tier 2 teams that have hidden abilities that the general rugby public knows very little about.Possible upsets this year are :-

Japan/Scotland, maybe even Ireland if complacent.

Wales/Georgia…there was a game last year where Georgia could have won.

Another possibility that one of the favourites England (apart from NZ) could see their tails again in their pool, certainly not impossible.

Georgia have monstrous power up front. If they can get any kind of ascendency up front they'll be a potential banana skin. These "minnows" have a common a long way this decade. In fact, Georgia almost beat Ireland in 2007, one of the big favourites leading into that World Cup.

The lower tier sides with the power packs pose the greatest threat. As we have seen in the past, they can completely stall the more fancied side's game and make things very edgy. Then there are sides like Japan, who have historically been very skilled and organised in the backs. A team that has scored over 30 points against both Australia and New Zealand. The threat of strike power against tier 1 nations is proven.

I anticipate a very interesting World Cup, with the minnows making their presence know. Pre-tournament expectations have a nasty habit of going right out the window once the competition kicks off.

Japan playing in Japan in a world cup is very likely a different animal...I draw a similar comparison to the Soccer World Cup...the game between underdogs Russia  the hosts playing one of the favourites Spain and sending them home.

However in RWC 2015 the hosts England slipped on a banana peel but this could have come from complacency and under estimating opponents.

We have seen NZ slip twice in world cups against France from over confidence and under estimating their opponents...and ofcourse SA/Japan.

The lesson often is not learnt and I've got a feeling we could see one or 2 shocks in September.

A really good side that's properly drilled must never give any quarter...it's important not to under estimate any opposition on the biggest stage in sport.

As I said in my thread on minnow upsets, Japan are fiercely patriotic. If you can gain parity up front, you have a chance. It takes the better attacking sides out of their game and brings them within striking distance on the scoreboard. Some of these more physical sides are very good at shutting the door once they have a lead. This is how Scotland used to be before they learned to use the ball. It could be 6-3, but they could defend that small lead like a stubborn clam. Japan in 2015, against the Boks, were well drilled for that game for two months. The Boks didn't impose set piece dominance, or force the Cherry Blossoms into a territorial game which would have exposed their weak points. They took them on at their own game, a game they have excelled at for a few decades. 

Let's not forget that Japan isn't too Japanese these days. In their starting lineup against the USA on 10 August I count only 6 native Japanese. The rest is a mix of mostly South Sea Islanders and other foreigners.

Not really Pakie...take the players used in Pacific Tournament (42) which will be trimmed to 31 for WC.

I count 7 (out of 42) not including the Islanders which is expected (NZ has a few as well).

France ,England and Wales too have more than their fair share of dark skinned people (which is fine) but it is unfair to taint Japan because Peter (Lappies) Labuschagne, Michael Leitch and a couple of others are in their squad.

I heard others say this as well but it is not entirely correct...I just think there could be a little jealousy or maybe fear for another growing rugby nation...Eddie Jones saw it and started the ball rolling, NZ'ers have done quite a lot to boost rugby growth in Japan (and so has SA to a lesser degree).

Japan Pacific Nations Cup Squad

Keita Inagaki, Yusuke Kizu, Jiwon Koo, Isileli Nakajima, Masataka Mikami, Hiroshi Yamashita, Koki Yamamoto, Asaeli Ai Valu, Takuya Kitade, Atsushi Sakate, Shota Horie, Kosuke Horikoshi, Samuel Anise, Luke Thompson, Grant Hattingh, Wimpie van der Walt, Uwe Helu, James Moore, Hendrik Tui, Yoshitaka Tokunaga, Shunsuke Nunomaki, Michael Leitch (c), Pieter Labuschagne, Kazuki Himeno, Rahboni Warren-Vosayaco, Amanaki Lelei Mafi, Kaito Shigeno, Fumiaki Tanaka, Yutaka Nagare, Yu Tamura, Rikiya Matsuda, Kenki Fukuoka, Ataata Moeakiola, Lomano Lava Lemeki, Yusuke Kajimura, William Tupou, Ryoto Nakamura, Timothy Lafaele, Kotaro Matsushima, Jamie Henry, Ryuji Noguchi, Ryohei Yamanaka.

Japan are a highly skilled side that make previous Bok sides look very unpolished.

Pride does come before a fall and gaps are narrowing. Probably why Rassie has tried so hard to develop two test standard sides as very obviously you can keep playing your best players.

Well , my take to rugby is to let it grow and progress,,,I have so much respect for the stalwarts of rugby, Rassie, Eddie Jones, Gatland, Milton Haig, Jamie Joseph and Plum and a few more who are putting in coaching that will start changing positions...these guys are furlongs ahead of the mundane coaching programs.

I back the challenges of rugby...not the patting of backs of monopoly countries, the rugby game must breath without inter ference from rugby's bureaucracy.

This is a very unsophisticated Bok side Sitzsack. Best hope they never meet the Cherry Blossoms this year! 

I've been punting Japanese rugby for some time now and have ignored all the snide remarks...it was a mistake of kicking Sunwolves out.

Also a sneaking suspicion that SA Japan warm up game was just a recce and maybe a red herring...Japan is far better than what the coventional rugby opinion is about.

Go Japan...you can even win quarters.