Rugby Union World Cup 26-EVERYTHING

[Aji No Moto]

Tomure 0–26 Aji No Moto
TRIES: Itagaki (7'), Hirota (34', 64'), Fukunaka (71')
CONS: Etsuko (7', 34', 71')
PENS: none
DROPS: none

The reign of Emperor Hirohito has raised many eyebrows in the Ajian landscape. His knack for sporting excellency has caused his constituents, supporters, and detractors alike, to call him a psychopath? Why on earth?

The Emperor is known to field many teams either named after him, or just being dubbed, "The Emperor's Team", locally known as Tennou no Chiimu. He expects his players to win all their matches in their respective leagues. Should the team lose even a single match, he would call all the sportsmen and women of the Empire, to take witness to a public execution, which lasts around an hour or two. There, Emperor Hirohito himself draws the samurai, and cut off the head of the captain of the team, be it male, female, or even underaged captains.

The rest of them are given choices on how they'll be executed. First, being hogtied to a pole, and receiving ten to fifteen slashes to death, or, being given a drink filled with cyanide, a very powerful poison, and forced to drink it in front of the emperor.

The last time the Empire witnessed this is when the Tennou no Chiimu for handball lost to a group of farmers, a close match nonetheless. After the match, Hirohito's forces raided the arena, arrested the entire playing team, with their coaching staff also captured, and the very next day in the Aji no moto Stadium, the execution took place. It lasted fourty five minutes, quicker than the customary one hour.

It is not known if national teams sent by the Empire also suffer from the same fate as the ones who fall to the sword of the Emperor.

[Nova Anglicana]

Nova Anglicana Rugby Union World Cup 26 Roster

Nickname: Lions
Head Coach: Errol Anderson

Starting XV

1. Kristopher Beard, loosehead prop, 33
2. Dan Broadway, 28, hooker
3. Guy Dupont, 24, tighthead prop
4. Ken O'Connor, 25, lock
5. Marcel Lebrun, 27, lock
6. Demetrius Scarborough, 28, blindside flanker
7. Damien Clemens, openside flanker, 35, captain
8. Atticus Joiner, eight-man, 29
9. Cole Fair, scrum half, 31
10. Quentin Foray, fly half, 34
11. Jean-Marc Aubert, weak-side (left) wing, 33
12. Alec Alba, inside centre, 32
13. Bruce Gooding, 26, centre
14. Nate Jefferson, strong-side (right) wing, 31
15. Graham King, fullback, 32

Subs

16. Tim Haynes, 23, wing
17. Brendan McKinney, half, 24
18. Bobby Manning, 24, centre
19. Roland Brady, fullback, 30
20. Samson Abasi, tighthead prop, 34
21. Cal Kennedy, 23, second row
22. Bobby O'Shea, 26, second row
23. Kelly Schmidt, 28, front row

Kit (thanks to Fair Republic for link):

Schedule (Group D)

Alpine Union (17) vs. Nova Anglicana (7)
Nova Anglicana vs Copper Cuprum (UR)
Quantilia (UR) vs Nova Anglicana
Nova Anglicana vs Northwest Kalactin (UR)

Should my opponent RPs first, he/she may do the following:
Choose my scorers: Y
Godmod scoring events: N
RP injuries to my players: Y, nothing serious
Godmod injuries to my players: N
Hand out yellow cards to my players: Y
Hand out red cards to my players: Y, only if you also give a red to one of your players
Godmod other events: N

[Barunia]

It was the Monty O’Shea show at Kalenda Stadium as Barunia downed Velstrania 20-3. The veteran fly-half scored all of Barunia’s points, although it was a solid team effort all around.

The Barunian scrum pack was absolutely solid, and forced Velstrania into making mistakes, including giving up an early penalty. O’Shea, Barunia’s second choice kicker behind Mike Rogers, took the penalty goal to give Barunia an early three point lead. With Alice Bay looming as the major threat in the group, coach Jack Strutton had rested several key players, including Rogers, Findlay Martin, and Andrew Mortlock. With Mortlock not playing, Lachlan Stirling took on the role of captain for the first time. Also rested was George Moore, the right wing. With the other right winger, Tim Groundman, out through injury, that paved the way for youngster Emmanuel Ngobe to make his debut. At eighteen years old, Ngobe is the youngest player ever for the Waves. Despite missing some of their big names, the Barunians showed that they have depth in their roster, expanded for this world cup, with another dominant display.

That dominance was on full display in the first half, as Barunia denied Velstrania any forward momentum. On the other side, the Waves were constantly pushing the game deep into Velstranian territory and threatening to score again, but a desperate defence was keeping them at bay. The defence could not contain the speed of O’Shea though, who found enough room to run, spread the defence, and then offload to Joel Murray, before the centre flicked it back to O’Shea to ground for Barunia’s first try of the match. He then added two more with the conversion.

Both teams conceded penalties early on in the second half, Velstrania getting on the board after an errant tackle by Kane Romilly, and O’Shea adding to his, and Barunia’s, total. To cap off his night, O’Shea scored with less than four minutes on the clock, after the Barunians set up an excellent passing sequence. The final pass came from Ngobe, who cut back inside Babcocke, ploughed into the Velstranian fullback on the try line, and flicked the ball back into the hands of O’Shea. The dive was unnecessary but spectacular, the kick good, and Barunia had 20 points to Velstrania’s 3.

The next step for the Waves is Alice Bay, realistically the only other serious contender in group F. While debutant nations sometimes provide a surprise, none of the three unranked nations in Barunia’s group have looked menacing at all. Alice bay are a different breed. They’ve been in many a world cup, and that and their access to the Lisanderian market means that their players have huge amounts of experience. The Barunians, while hugely successful in past tournaments, actually have very little experience of top level rugby. This is only their third world cup, they missed the most recent 7s tour, and the National Rugby Championship has yet to see its fiftieth game. Because of this, unlike the Irises of Lisander, the Waves cannot claim to be one of the multiverses rugby giants yet. That will take time, and more success. Certainly a good performance in this world cup would give them that success, and inspire the next generation of Barunians to ensure the longevity of the sport in Barunia.

[New Doltania]

New Doltanian fans might have stayed at pubs and clubs a bit too long last night after their team's 14-27 victory over Xasnep. The team from India took up second position in Group J after a high scoring night in Jonho. Meanwhile, Banija stayed bottom and Neu Engollon ran away from the pack in first in New Doltania's group, Group J.

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[Union of Socialist Alpine Republics]

The Alpine Union starts the Rugby World Cup with two losses

Scott City, Darmen - (NAP) The Alpine Union lost 7-0 against Nova Anglicana on matchday 1 before losing again 11-5 against Copper Cuprum on the next matchday. At the 19th minute of the game against Nova Anglicana, Krzysztof Szerszenowicz was penalized for entering a ruck from the side but Quentin Foray missed the penalty kick. Guy Dupont, from Nova Anglicana, was penalised at the 33rd minute for headbutting an opponent but Philipp Schweinsteiger missed the penalty kick and the score was 0-0 at the halftime. At the 51st minute Nova Anglicana had the ball and Alec Alba finds a breach in the Bisons defense and escaped for a try in the middle of the field. Quentin Foray's conversion was good and the Lions were leading 7-0. This is the final score.

On the next matchday, the Bisons played against Copper Cuprum who sacrificed a living chicken on the field before the game and it was shown live on TV in the Alpine Union. We recieved a press release from the AAPEAS (Alpine Association for the Protection of Endanged Animals and Species) asking the Copperites to stop sacrificing living chickens and asking everyone in the Alpine Union to boycott every product from Abanhfleft and Copper Cuprum. The release says Pridnestrovia will be exempt from the boycott because they're a good communist nation.

At the 14th minute, Nicola Lazzaroni was penalised for deliberately collapsing a scrum. Namupo Ozorkow succesfully made the penalty kick and the Copperites were leading 3-0. 3 minutes later the Reprezentacja Alpejski was penalized for the same reason and Namupo Ozorkow made another penalty kick. 6-0 Copper Cuprum. At the 37th minute the Bisons finally scored their first points in the tournament when Fiona Nic Leoid (it shows Mac Leoid on our roster but she's not married so her name should be Nic Leoid) scored a try in the corner of the field but Philipp Schweinsteiger missed the conversion. The Copperites were ahead 6-5 at the halftime. Banunu Honele scored a try at the 65th minute but the Copperites missed the conversion and led 11-5. This is the final score.

The Alpines next game is against Quantilia, a team who lost 3-0 against Northwest Kalactin. The Bisons better not drop this game against an unranked opponent after losing against Copper Cuprum, also unranked.

[Kopyk]

Kopyk Men Disappoint in Rugby World Cup Debut

Kopyk Men's Rugby Coach Alexander Seifursson.

Rogerton. Head coach Alexander Seifursson was visibly disappointed with his team following their second loss of the tournament. Last week's 25-0 loss against No. 8 ranked Barunia was hardly unexpected, but Seifursson was not pleased with his team's inability to put points on the board.

"The team has traditionally played a defensive game," Seifursson said on Wednesday, "But after our first matchup, the boys have seen the kind of competition they are up against on the world stage. Not only are we going to have to drastically improve our defence in order to compete, but we cannot let our offence slide. We need to work on playing better under pressure. We have to see the pitch better when we are in the opposing 22. We cannot let any more silly handling errors cost us points." Seifursson was likely referring to the unfortunate knock-on by outside centre Benedikt Meldgaard during last week's game.

It was clear that Meldgaard's mistake may have been the final straw for Seifursson. The 33 year-old from Eldháls, Þorsvígi, had been fighting for a position on the starting 15 throughout training camp. He had beaten out the up-and-coming Dagnýr Gunnarsson, with Seifursson choosing to go for experience rather than youth. Now, it seems as though Seifursson has changed his mind. The starting 15 for today's game against New South Munster looked mostly the same, save for one player. Meldgaard was, predictably, replaced with the 21 year-old Gunnarsson at outside centre.

The game opened with New South Munster receiving. The Kopyki side was much faster off of the kick-off than they had been during the second half of last week's game. Adolf Pederssen, still carrying a yellow card, was the first to make a hit, in what would be the first of many solid tackles from the Kopyki side. Defence was the name of the game at Kalenda Stadium today. Both teams appeared to be cautious in their offensive play, but aggressive with their tackles.

The game was fairly uneventful until the 31st minute, when New South Munster winger Paul Earley received the ball deep in the New South Munster end, breaking through the Kopyki defence and sprinting up the wing. It looked as though he was going to get an easy try, when rookie Hrafnkell Arnísson came through with a clutch tackle, forcing Earley out of bounds. Unfortunately for the Kopyki side, Arnísson landed awkwardly on his head during the tackle, and was helped to the Kopyki bench. It is unclear if he will be back in time for the team's next match. Arnísson was replaced by fellow rookie Karl Mánisson, in his first international appearance.

The next highlight of the match came late in the 44th minute, after a knock-on in the Kopyki end from New South Munster 11 Stephen Wootton caused a Kopyki scrum. Somehow, the Kopyki side managed to lose their own scrum, and New South Munster scrum half John Sherry made a beautiful pass to winger Niall Sweetnam, who blew past a bewildered Kopyki defence for the first try of the game. Flyhalf Joseph Egan just barely missed the conversion, bringing New South Munster up 5-0 to end the first half.

The second half began much like the first. Defence was once again the focus of both teams. The Kopyki side would slowly bring the ball into the opposing 22, only for it to be turned over, and then New South Munster would do the same. In the 67th minute, Kopyki 13 Dagnýr Gunnarsson found an opening in the New South Munster defence, and headed towards the try line, with only fullback Brian Keatley in his way. Winger Magnús Leifursson was wide open on Gunnarsson's left, but the younger player chose to keep the ball for himself. It did not work out for him, as he was swiftly taken down by Keatly, who, in his rush to recover the ball, failed to get to his feet quick enough, and was called for playing the ball on the ground. The Kopyki side was awarded a penalty, and chose to take a drop goal. While Leifursson set up to kick, Kopyki captain Mikhail Wolfe could be seen reprimanding Gunnarsson, presumably for his selfish play. Leifursson made the kick, bringing the score to 5-3 with twenty minutes left to play.

Those twenty minutes passed by too quickly for the Kopyki side, who were too focused on defending to get another good scoring chance. When the final whistle blew, the Kopyki side was visibly disappointed at losing to such a close score.

Now with a record of 0-2-0, it looks nearly impossible for the boys to continue to the next round of the tournament. They will now have a day off to rest and prepare for their next game against Velstrania._LFK

[The Kiaser Colonies]

7

POST GAME REACTION 1

7

EXT. PITCH SIDE CITY STADIUM - NIGHT

Reporter interviews George Beale after the win against Kejri Islands.

REPORTER:
George, congratulations to you and your team on such a great result today.
How does it feel to have made such a start to the competition?

BEALE:
Aw, yeah it's a pretty good feeling right now. Always good to start right and
full credit to the boys on the display. Really went up the guts and into 'em
for the full eighty, that'll make the coaches happy.

REPORTER:
And for yourself, you must be pretty chuffed with your own performance.
Two tries and a total of 24 points for the match, is it fair to say this was a
stand out for your team?

BEALE:
I mean, it's always nice to bag a meat pie or two, but you never really do it
all on you own you know? It's all down to the other 14 guys on the pitch.
You've got the whole eight up front winning scrums and players like Bam'
busting the line so the rest of us can get over. I'm just in the right place to
support.

REPORTER:
The next game for you is the big one against Darmen. What did you make of
their win against Apox? Do you think your team has what it takes to win the
game?

BEALE:
Ah they looked pretty good all round alright. That would be the big two going
there so they're obviously happy to be through that one. Good ten point win.
As for our game, 'Gus and the other coaches will be turning to that now so
we'll spend the week on figuring out how to deal with Darmen and we'll make
sure we're in the best position to get the W.

REPORTER:
Well we look forward to the big game. Best of luck with the rest of the group
stage.

BEALE:
Yeah, thanks.

Beale pats reporter on arm and walks to dressing rooms.

CUT TO:

INT. TEAM DRESSING ROOM

Players huddle together chanting, celebrating and singing "Foxtrotter Maddie." Angus Foley then raises hands to get their attention in the middle of the room.

FOLEY:
Alright, alright. Guys, ten outta ten game of rugby there tonight. Great
performances out of you all. Nick, well done with the line outs, Barns you
were tops, and Stew, if you keep making 30 meter breaks to the line like
that, I'll be putting you on the wing instead of in the front row.
(Laughter)
Well done lads. Enjoy the buzz for now, but we're starting again first thing
tomorrow with. Mango on three. One, two, three...

ALL:
MANGO, MANGO, RUNNA-RUNNA-HOP-SKIP, YELLA, YELLA, YAP-YAP-YAP!
KORA, KORA, HA HA HA, HE-HE-HE, KIASER, KIASER, WE-WE-WE, TERRA,
TERRA, T-K-C, OHHHHHHHH AH! K-I-A-S-E-R, SQUEEEEEZE!
(Whooping and applause)

DISSOLVE TO:

8

RECOVERY AND PREPARATION 1

8

INT. A CRYOTHERAPY CLINIC IN SCOTT CITY - DAY

Players in shorts queue up outside the cryotherapy chambers.

SERIES OF SHOTS between clips of treatment and interviews.

LESLEY PARROT:
We're just going for our first cryo sesh of the Cup. Basically the boys are
going to step into one of those chambers there, some liquid nitrogen will
be introduced, that'll evaporate and cool the air below a hundred degrees.
They'll stay in there for about 3 minutes or so, and they'll get to about
minus ten themselves. This often helps aid recovery after games and
intense sessions so we plan on doing this after every game to keep the
boys ticking over and prevent strain injuries. Can't say I'll be joining them
for it though haha.

JAMES WATSON enters a chamber, which closes up, leaving his head exposed uptop. There's a sudden hissing sound as gas enters the chamber.

WATSON:
Wooooah-ahhhhh my god Gus you dick!
(Players and coaches laugh)
Haaaa that's cold!

CUT TO:

Interview with Watson.

WATSON:
Haha yeah, not my toughest moment for sure. I'm not long in the set up
here so I've not been through that like the other guys before so they
probably had that one lined up for a while. But yeah, feels pretty good
after and they say it'll patch things up and sort the muscle aches out so
that's all good. Doesn't mean I'm not going to get back at Gus for it. Being
coach won't protect him haha.

SIONE TU’IVAKANō has snook up behind Watson at this point with a handful of ice chips, which he presses to the back of his neck, which makes Watson recoil. A chase follows.

WATSON:
YOU BASTARD! You're so dead!

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. TRAINING PITCH - DAY

SERIES OF SHOTS of training, opening with stretches and passing drills. Intercut with coach interviews.

CONOR O'HARA:
So today we're focusing on our defence. As defence coordinator, I'm always
aiming to keep the number on the wrong side of the scoreboard down, so it's
always a pleasure to see a zero in a game. The game didn't teach us a whole
lot about ourselves there seeing as we had all the ball, and Darmen are no
doubt a bigger threat in attack so we'll be keen to keep on top of that. We'll
be focused in particular on our cover defence and making sure we realign
properly after each phase so we can neutralize their wide threat.

CUT TO:

CLOSED IN SHOT of Foley giving instructions.

FOLEY:
(Blows whistle)
LAUNCH!
(Pause)
REALIGN!
(Whistle)
LAUNCH!

CUT TO:

PARROT:
The Darmeni team have a lot of experience and strength in the front five so
for the next game I'll be looking at making sure our scrum is firing on all
cylinders, and the locks know their roles in the lineout. Set piece advantage
could be huge in this one to stop them getting into their attacking rhythm.

Training montage continues for a short while. Ends with a clip of a scrum in training.

DISSOLVE TO:

9

DARMEN

9

EXT. CITY STADIUM - NIGHT

Scene opens to the sound of a crowded stadium with the match under way, starting from a Darmeni scrum.

COMMENTATOR (V.O.):
Leonard to put into the scrum for Darmen. Neither side giving an inch in
the opening scrum, but the front rows have gone down and it's a penalty
to the Kiaser Colonies! Collapsing the scrum the call. You can see the bind
breaking on the replay as the tight-head drops, and Erhard DeBoule awards
the penalty. Cole tells Beale to go to the tee. This the first opportunity for
the Kiaser Colonies to put points on the board. Takes his time with the prep.
(Pause)
And it sails over. Beale converts from forty metres out and after thirteen
minutes, it's the Kiaser's who lead three points to nil.

CUT TO:

Darmen with possession of the ball just inside the Kiaser 10m line.

COMMENTATOR (V.O.):
Ivers presents the ball. Leonard spins it to Short, runs to the defence,
gives the switch pass inside to Abarca who beats the challenge of
Jackson. He's got Leonard in support! Gives the offload under the tackle
from Hanson and Waltz manages to haul the scrum half down inside the
twenty-two. He's cleaned out by MacAslan and Lewis makes a pick to keep
the ball going. Makes a yard or two. Leonard up quick to give the ball to his
flyhalf, ball goes to Albinson. The crash gains another few meters. Darmen
are making ground with each carry here. They're within five meters now.
Schubert picks. Then it's the turn of Callahan Moles. Erhard DeBoule sticks
out the arm for advantage as Addams attempts to slow the ball. Gladwyn
goes for the line. Just stopped. There's numbers out to the right but Oliver
goes himself and manages to wriggle his way over! Darmen take the lead
through the try from Wendelin Oliver. ... Conversion is just wide so Darmen
will lead 5-3 towards the end of the half.

Voice over fades as footage of players headed to tunnels and coaches reacting plays.

CUT TO:

INT. DRESSING ROOM

Clips of Foley's team talk from various angles.

FOLEY:
Lads we need more. The game is there to be won but we need to get a few
things right. Pillars, watch out for the nine, seconds, don't follow the ten. That
switch is one of their favourite plays. Front row; the scrum is holding up well,
we need you to keep winning that front. The scrum penalties are valuable.
And I want to see more pressure put on their back three in the air. I want you
to make the opposite man's life hell,
Lachie. Alright back out there, go!

Players filter out and take to pitch. Kick-off and various match play highlights play. Inter cut with Kiaser coaching staff reactions occasionally.

EXT. CITY STADIUM - NIGHT

COMMENTATOR (V.O.):
Hanson fields it. Sends it high. Hewitt and he go in chase. Darrell takes in
the air but he's hit hard be Hewitt once he lands. Hanson joins too. Darmen
players arrive to pile in. Fox also in support. The referee calls maul. The
ball isn't coming out and it's a scrum to Darmen. Kiaser's looking to attack
the scrum. They're driving the Darmeni pack backwards, arm goes out.
Penalty to the Kiaser Colonies again. Cole points to the posts again. ... And
Beale makes no mistake from the wide angle. The Kiaser Colonies back in
front.

CUT TO:

Shot of scoreboard shows only 3 minutes left with the Kiaser Colonies leading 6-5. Darmen have the ball for a line out just inside the Kiaser 22.

COMMENTATOR (V.O.):
Ball straight off the top to Leonard, skip pass to Abrahams in midfield. Oooh
he's caught high by Barnett. Referee giving advantage. Leonard hoists a box
kick. Nobody under it for Darmen and the penalty is awarded, almost straight
in front. Abarca points to the posts as expected. This more than likely the
game winning chance here for Darmen. ... And the kicker makes no mistake.
Darmen lead 8-6 with under 90 seconds to play. What can Cole and his
teammates do from this position?

Kiaser players rush to half way. Beale gives the signal and kicks the ball up high and short.

COMMENTATOR (V.O.):
The ball comes down towards Kästner, and it comes forward off a his hand,
but it's too hot to handle for Jones and it'll come back for a scrum between
the ten and twenty two. The Kiaser Colonies will have one last chance to win
the game. They've been edging the scrum contest all night but this time it
wheels under pressure and Darmen get the penalty! Oh what a time for the
balance to swing. Leonard takes the ball, taps it and runs back away from
the Kiaser players as he sees out the remaining 5 seconds before kicking it to
touch. And that's the end of the game. Drama at the City Stadium here in
Scott City. Heartbreak for the Kiaser Colonies as they're denied a win by the
hosts. Final score, the Kiaser Colonies 6, Darmen 8. The Kiasers now know
their game against Apox is a must win fixture.

[Natanians and Nosts]

A good start

Natanians and Nosts defeated South Covello at its first match in the Rugby Union World Cup.The team won by 23x10.
The team scored its first goal with Gheorghe Ion da Silva,after he stole a ball from a South Covellan deffender at the 3rd minute.The Covellans didn't hesitate and two minutes later scored a try and converted.Natanians and Nosts scored again,at the 28th minute,with Mihai Kaeso Marão at the 22-metres line.Octavius Caeso Numésio scored the third Natanians and Nost drop goal at the 33rd minute to make the game 9x3.
Gheorghe Ion da Silva scored a try at the tenth minute of the second period,but Mihai Kaeso Marãoo failed to convert it,but ten minutes later he scored a drop goal.At the twenty fifth minute Márcus Ion Hûs scored for Natanians and Nosts a drop goal,but the Covellans,seven minutes later,scored a try and converted.Mihai Carolus César,with assistance from Caeso Paulus Augustus,scored one last drop goal fro Natanians and Nosts at the thirty-eighth minute of the second period making the game 23x10 for Natanians and Nosts.
The next game will be against United Vietussia,at Lyons Stadium in Eau Clair

[New South Munster]

Niall Sweetnam runs in New South Munster's only score in the 5-3 win over Kopyk

New South Munster tasted triumph in their opening match of the Rugby World Cup as they overcame a dogged and much improved Kopyk side in the tournaments second round. The game was a tense, tight affair with few real scoring opportunities for either side. The first spark of excitement came after 31 minutes when a stray kick to winger Paul Earley produced the first try scoring opportunity. Spotting a hole in the Kopyki defensive line, Earley's swerving run and quick footwork saw him slip in between the attempted tackles of Harald Torfisson and Lars Bjornsson. Earley then turned on the gas and left Magnús Leifursson for dead with a strong hand off. A certain try for the winger was prevented by a fine last ditch tackle by the opposite winger Hrafnkell Árnisson, who intercepted Earley at the corner flag. The young Kopyki winger sustained a head injury during this valiant feat however and was subsequently replaced.

However, New South Munster were able to make up for the denied opportunity just before the end of the half. The pack showed their strength in turning over a Kopyk scrum just outside the 22. Catching the Kopyk line off guard, scrum half John Sherry took the ball quickly and sprinted forward to fix the central defenders before launching a sublime skip pass to winger Niall Sweetnam out wide. Showing incredible power to change direction in an instant and swivel around his opposite man, Sweetnam made short work of finding the line for the games opening score. Egan's conversion missed the mark by only a few inches to leave the score at 5-0 going into the break.

In the second half, it was Kopyk's turn to cause trouble for the New South Munster defence. After both sides failed to show enough to make any inroads past the 22, an opportunity fell to outside centre Dagnýr Gunnarsson. The Kopyki 13 made good use of a hole in the line as he burst right through the space in the centre of the pitch. With only Brian Keatley between him and the in-goal and a support runner along side him, it looked for all the world that Kopyk were going to be under the posts. New South Munster got lucky in part when Gunnarsson opted to try barrel through the full back, only to be stopped dead in his tracks by a truly heroic tackle. Keatley almost made it one of the plays of the game when he was quick to spring back to his feet and get over the ball. Sadly, his technique let him down as he over extended his reach and ended up losing balance. The net result was a penalty for playing the ball on the ground. A lucky escape considering the Kopyki team should have gone in for a full seven. Unsurprisingly the shot from in front was converted, leaving the lead at only 2 points.

The game petered out from that point as New South Munster opted to keep a hold of possession and take no risks with the result. Kopyk defended strongly but couldn't find an attack to match and so it finished, New South Munster 5, Kopyk 3. The result leaves them 3rd in the group with a game against Velstrania to come.

[Darmen]

Now that it's Matchday 3, we should be getting a clearer picture of who will make it, and who won't. Will you be one of the final sixteen teams? MD3 Cutoff!

Group A
Darmen 24–0 Kita-Hinode
Apox 5–3 The Kiaser Colonies

  Group A                     Pld   W  D  L   PF  PA  PD  Pts 
1 Darmen                        3   3  0  0   52  16 +36   12
2 The Kiaser Colonies           3   1  0  2   53  13 +40    4
3 Apox                          2   1  0  1   15  23  −8    4
4 Kejri Islands                 2   1  0  1   13  55 −42    4
5 Kita-Hinode                   2   0  0  2   11  37 −26    0

Group B
Tomure 7–32 Vakolicci Haven and Celeria
Aji No Moto 7–0 Savojarna

  Group B                     Pld   W  D  L   PF  PA  PD  Pts 
1 Elejamie                      2   2  0  0   34   0 +34    8
2 Aji No Moto                   2   2  0  0   33   0 +33    8
3 Vakolicci Haven and Celeria   2   1  0  1   32  24  +8    4
4 Savojarna                     3   1  0  2   29  24  +5    4
5 Tomure                        3   0  0  3    7  87 −80    0

Group C
Filindostan 0–19 Abanhfleft
Latrovia 0–7 Mattijana

  Group C                     Pld   W  D  L   PF  PA  PD  Pts 
1 Mattijana                     3   3  0  0   51  25 +26   12
2 Abanhfleft                    2   2  0  0   44   7 +37    8
3 Filindostan                   3   1  0  2   24  37 −13    4
4 Latrovia                      2   0  0  2    3  19 −16    0
5 United Republic Empire        2   0  0  2   20  54 −34    0

Group D
Alpine Union 8–0 Quantilia
Nova Anglicana 13–0 Copper Cuprum

  Group D                     Pld   W  D  L   PF  PA  PD  Pts 
1 Nova Anglicana                2   2  0  0   20   0 +20    8
2 Copper Cuprum                 3   2  0  1   36  38  −2    8
3 Northwest Kalactin            2   1  0  1   23  25  −2    4
4 Alpine Union                  3   1  0  2   13  18  −5    4
5 Quantilia                     2   0  0  2    0  11 −11    0

Group E
Ko-oren 17–12 Islana Lunigo
Daghvir 11–0 Nexus OD Corporations

  Group E                     Pld   W  D  L   PF  PA  PD  Pts 
1 Ko-oren                       3   3  0  0   61  12 +49   12
2 Lisander                      2   2  0  0   66  31 +35    8
3 Daghvir                       2   1  0  1   11  14  −3    4
4 Islana Lunigo                 2   0  0  2   29  47 −18    0
5 Nexus OD Corporations         3   0  0  3   14  77 −63    0

Group F
Velstrania 0–3 New South Munster
Alice Bay 13–21 Barunia

  Group F                     Pld   W  D  L   PF  PA  PD  Pts 
1 Barunia                       3   3  0  0   66  16 +50   12
2 New South Munster             2   2  0  0    8   3  +5    8
3 Alice Bay                     2   1  0  1   33  31  +2    4
4 Kopyk                         2   0  0  2    3  30 −27    0
5 Velstrania                    3   0  0  3   13  43 −30    0

Group G
Neu Engollon 40–6 Xasnep
Banija 0–21 United States of Devonta

  Group G                     Pld   W  D  L   PF  PA  PD  Pts 
1 Neu Engollon                  3   3  0  0   87  12 +75   12
2 United States of Devonta      3   2  0  1   37  29  +8    8
3 New Doltania                  2   1  0  1   27  27   0    4
4 Banija                        2   0  0  2    3  39 −36    0
5 Xasnep                        2   0  0  2   20  67 −47    0

Group H
United Vietussia 0–10 Natanians and Nosts
Azadeshia 7–9 Hutanjia

  Group H                     Pld   W  D  L   PF  PA  PD  Pts 
1 Hutanjia                      3   3  0  0   51  17 +34   12
2 Natanians and Nosts           2   2  0  0   33  10 +23    8
3 Azadeshia                     2   1  0  1   20  15  +5    4
4 South Covello                 2   0  0  2   20  44 −24    0
5 United Vietussia              3   0  0  3    6  44 −38    0

[Abanhfleft]

Gaelic Gamers
Presents...

The Rugby Rundown
with Graham O'Doherty

RUGBY UNION WORLD CUP 26 RECAP: FILINDOSTAN VS. ABANHFLEFT
Another day, another rugby union game to recap and run down. Such is the life of this Gaelic Gamer. Not that said life has been particularly difficult; the amenities in Romanopolis in Darmen have been very good, actually, and for the first time in my life as an unofficial Rugby Union World Cup correspondent, I'm finally within range of consistent and reliable Wi-Fi, which is why I've been able to send out regular Rugby Rundowns recently. But why am I talking about all this when we have a sumptuous rugby union match to recap and run down? Let's get cracking!

Filindostan are an up-and-coming nation with both very lofty ambitions and the quality to back it up. Take their association football national team, for example. They took the 66th Baptism of Fire by storm and went all the way in that competition to take home that trophy, and unlike some of the other Baptism of Fire winners gone by, they look like they will be here to stay. Filindostan has also done somewhat well in the field of club rugby union, with two of their domestic teams, Venividicci and Fortunas, participating in the second and perhaps final edition of the Dwile International Tournament. Venividicci crashed and burned in that tournament's group stage while their compatriots Fortunas managed to sneak into second place with a 3-0-3 record and booked themselves a meeting against Oshkosh Dnistrosh of the Rugby Coalition. Oshkosh defeated Fortunas in stunning fashion, registering a 38-3 aggregate victory on their way to their second Dwile International final, where the Pridnestrovian team were beaten by host Apox's Dwile Jerseys.

But onto the actual rugby match between Abanhfleft and Filindostan. Well, for one thing, despite me hyping up the Filindostanis in the previous paragraph, this contest was totally and extremely one-sided, and the Filindostanis were just unable to come up with even a credible response to the Fleftics' dominance. You could see it very well from the fact that we shut out Filindostan, a team that has scored twelve points in each of its two previous games.

Let's start off fifteen minutes into the first half, when Filindostan conceded a scrum to Abanhfleft on their own 22. You would think that that was the start of something good for Abanhfleft. Well, yes, it was, but it wouldn't be until five minutes later before Abanhfleft was finally able to land the try courtesy of Marouane Mahout, who has done that kind of thing a lot more times as part of the rugby sevens side. The conversion was easy enough for Abdulrahman al-Thabsi, who stroked it home calmly and coolly through the posts. it wouldn't get much better for Filindostan as Saladin Nursaladinov forced a turnover from Ann Biogos (to be referred to in the future of this blog post and in official records as "Ann B.", a Filindostani peculiarity that applies to each and everyone of the citizens of Filindostan). Scott Butt (son of Fleftic rugby union legend Richard Butt, who spent the majority of his career being followed by his nickname "Dick") pounced on the ball and started off a run where the Fleftics could seemingly offload the ball at will with the Filindos chasing shadows, and then Jack Wiley finally capped off the run with a smashing try. Rahman al-Thabsi sliced the conversion wide of the left upright though but the advantage was still in Abanhfleft's favor. 12-0 in Abanhfleft's favor, to be exact.

The Filindostani frustration began to surface in the second half. The Filindo 4-lock Yuliana Widyawati "Yulie" Agusalim was sent to the sin bin after she somehow managed to wrap her arms around the neck of Adam Jaden Sforza, but Abanhfleft was unable to take advantage of being a man up against their opponents. Filindostan were defending for their lives, and their efforts paid off, for the moment. However, with only eight minutes left to play in the game, Tad "Tad" Barrios made another high tackle on Abd al-Latif bin Khalifa, and even as the referee blew his whistle to stop the game and show Tad the yellow card, Latif retaliated, with the end result being that Abanhfleft and Filindostan were playing against each other fourteen versus fourteen.

The person who would finally seal the deal for the Fleftics would be the young Paracelso Adhikain, the half-Fleftic half-Oontaznik center who plies his trade with the San Seriffe Bad Hombres of the Rugby Coalition and jumped at the chance to represent Abanhfleft in international rugby. Paracelso broke two tackles on his way to landing the try underneath the black dot to make the conversion an easier thing for Abdulrahman.

And that does it for me today. It's not the best rugby union match in terms of the fouls, penalties, and sin binning, but it's still a win for Abanhfleft, and that's enough for the team and the fans. Next up, Abanhfleft will take on the mysterious Latrovia rugby union team before taking on Mattijana in the final matchday of the group stage to most possibly determine who gets top spot in the group. Until then, toodaloo, motherf***ers....

Filindostan (0)

Abanhfleft (19)
Try: Mahout 20' c
Wiley 34' m
Adhikain 77' c
Con: al-Thabsi (2/3) 21', 78'

[Ko-oren]

"Well, we're in Aminey. First things first, let's find out where exactly our hotel is. We'll get a map there, and then we'll take a bus into the city. See the things on day one, find what's worth looking at, and visit those things on day two. Day three we gotta be on time for the train into Mayara, rest of our stay we're in that four city area."

"Train into Mayara, move around there, and Senoren, Maethoru, and lastly Gehrenna."

"Glad you're the one who's done their homework beforehand... I just know that's where the capital is, but it isn't a big city at all!"

"Ko-oren actually did away with just one capital. Gehrenna used to be Ko-oren City in the past, and it's still an important place for the government. The ministries relocated to the other three cities nearby, and to the large cities on the bay. Aminey is one of them. The skyscraper over there is the Ministry of Finance."

"Whoa, you really prepared for this!"

"Nah, it's right there on the side. Ministère des Finances. Can't miss it."

"Oh well, there you go. Anyway, let's catch a taxi down to our hotel. D'you know how this city works?"

"12 districts. Six in lower Aminey, that's near the sea, and six in upper Aminey, that's where the hills start. That's also where the airport is, we came through it by shuttlebus. These districts are big over here. We started out in Arlenon, now we're in Armetières, and our hotel is one suburb over in Ouleux. How can you tell? They celebrate the start of every district like you're crossing a country border for some reason."

...

"Ok good, free maps on the counter. Free internet on the PCs in the lobby as well, we can look at some things to do here. Everything that's important is near the sea anyway, so we can just head over to the boulevard."

"God, that's an ancient looking website."

"Is it any good?"

"We're about to find out, I guess. Let's go... Destinations... Bay... Here! Aminey!"

"First thing on the page... things to do in Aminey this week. Huh, the Rugby World Cup is on."

"Now here's something I know more about than you. Rugby Union"

"Rugby?"

"Yeah, it kinda slipped my mind that this would be on. Looks like there's going to be something on today. Entire city is closing down to watch. Ko-oren versus Lisander. I've heard of that country. Seems like it's the only thing we're going to be able to do around here from four till six."

[New Doltania]

New Doltania is praying for the upset of the tournament as they face world No 2 team Just Engollon next.

[Darmen]

Live Chicken Importation Ban receives huge support

George Bourdillon, Member of Parliament with the Coalition of the Left and leader of the Green Party, has proposed legislation which would ban the importation of live poultry into Darmen. The bill is largely viewed as a response to the Copper Cuprum's national rugby union team's pre-game ritual sacrifice of a live chicken.

The pre-game event, which involves slitting the throat of a live chicken and sprinkling its blood around the field, caught many off guard following the Copperite's first match against Northwest Kalactin in Scott City. The ceremony drew the immediate ire of animal rights groups and some religious organizations.

The following organizations signed a letter sent to the Copperite Rugby Union, the Darmeni Rugby Union, the Department of Culture and Sports and various members of Parliament, which called for an immediate end to the practice:

• Association Against Violence
• Concerned Darmeni Mothers
• Darmen Green Society
• Darmen Wilderness Protection Movement
• Leave Nature Alone
• Modicum Of Modesty
• Moral Minority
• Mothers Against Youth Doing Stupid Stuff
• People for the Ethical Treatment of Everything
• Society for the Protection of Animals
• Two Wheels Good, Four Wheels Bad

The Animal Liberation Front, a small militant animal rights group, has further threatened to disrupt the Copperite's final group stage match against Quantilia. The Metropolitan Police Department is expected to provide increased security for matches taking place in Scott City for the rest of the tournament.

Bourdillon's bill, officially to be titled the Importation Restrictions Act of 2040 should it be passed, will have its first reading next Friday. It has received widespread support from almost all political parties, with only Joshua Rademacher's Liberal Conservative Party expressing some reservations. Rademacher, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, was quoted as saying that "the Copperites should be allowed to do whatever they feel gives them an advantage in their matches, except killing the other team of course."

[Aji No Moto]

Aji No Moto 7-0 Savojarna
TRIES: Tansho (29')
CONS: Etsuko (29')
PENS: none
DROPS: none

Part 1

Apparently, players from national teams are not affected by this ruling.

The national baseball team appeared in the 41st World Baseball Classic group stages, finishing with a 13-17 record, and eliminated from the group stages. By the time they went back to the Empire, there were no news of a public execution or some sorts. However, some players of the team were seen with several lashes around their body, implicating that they were still punished for a dismal World Baseball Classic performance.

The same cannot be seen for teams acting both as a national team and a Tennou no Chiimu.

The national basketball team, who also plays in the Imperial Basketball League, lost to a team of Engineers last week, blemishing their perfect record that they held since inception. Due to diplomatic appointments, Hirohito scheduled the execution of the entire team this week, with a brand new team replacing them for the IBL.

Things would turn for a change in the coming days.

[Lisander]

Catarina Scott, from Chuckio, Darmen.
Mixed-team defeats Islana Lunigo

Lisander continues to walk comfortably through the World Cup. Not as comfortable as you had in mind, but what did you guys want? Rugby League? The win against Islana Lunigo came without major mishaps, as expectes. Lisander played with the control of the scoreboart all the time and the Islanders had little to do but to take advantage of the spaces that the few positioning failures of Lisanderian mixed team left on the pitch in the second half.

Lisander scored the first seven points of the match with Milo Holstein. The fullback took advantage of the return of a ball in the middle of the field and ran, diagonally, first to the right, then to the left until dropping the ball close to the posts. Kevin Armada converted, opening 7-0, with 8 minutes of play. Lisander then began to play the game more lightly, until in the 16 minutes, Islana Lunigo hit a drop goal, narrowing the gap to 7-3. That was what Patrício Bernauer needed to leave the cabin and go screaming at the edge of the field. The trainer's complaints took effect, and before halftime Lisander was 20-3 with Sebastian Livon's try in the 23rd minute, easily converted, in addition to two Penalty Goals in the 28th and 34th minutes. All these by Armada's feet. Lisander had practically the game secured.

In the halftime, Bernauer made the three substitutions that he was entitled to. Kevin Armada by Eran Lasses, Sebastian Livon by Guilherme Morian and Arno Florian by Milen Brandet. It was like trading six for a half dozen. The order was that Morian did not get tired, so there was not much movement on the left side. Lisander's third try, in the 57th minute, came with Matthew Gear, coming up on the right, dribbling the fullback and sliding inside the H. Eran Lasses made no effort to convert 27-3. Now it was okay for Islana Lunigo to score tries. They even scored two tries in a multi-phase great effort, at 66' and at 74', before Eran Lasses close the game with a Penalty Goal in the final play of the match. Final score, 30-17. Four more points guaranteed, and the position well on the way.

In Matchday 3, Lisander, or rather, Lisander XV faces the Southwestern Blue Tigers in a practice game. They will play two 30-min halves, with free subs for both teams. The Tigers do not come with their full team. Hirsh Halloran and Tranter Evelyn are in Scott City defending the Darmeni team, that will play against Kita-Hinode. The board of TRZ has been able to enter into an agreement with LRU and we will broadcast the match to our followers on MyFace! If you still do not follow our profile, then click here and keep an eye out so you do not miss any moment of this World Cup!

• More from TRZ.ls:

The obnoxious pre-match ritual of Copper Cuprum
We scavenged Ko-orenite newspapers: How does they feel about Lisander?
Alice Bay going strong for the next round
Valls Rugby working in a new collection! [SPONSORED CONTENT]
Lisander XV v Southwestern Tigers: Watch Live from TRZ MyFace!

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© 2018 TRZ Alice Bay and TRZ Lisander are brands of Newport Rugby Media Holdings. Alice Bay and/or Lisander laws may apply. Dale a tu cuerpo alegria macarena. For further information and commercial contracts, contact promo(at)trz.ls or ad(at)trz.ab.

[Elejamie]

Elejamie 36-9 Elejamie Amateurs

EJM

TRY: Peguero (3) 3' c, 18' m, 43' c
Huang 55' c
Tavarez 69' c
CON: Debenham (4/5) 4', 44', 56', 70'
PEN: Debenham (1/1) 31'

EJM Amateurs
PEN: Glasswood (3/4): 21', 48', 76'

A sunny day at the ECArena in Elejamie City saw the national squad go against the Elejamie Amateurs, a team made up of non-league players as well as the odd player from Division Two, the lowest level of professional/semi-professional (although mixed and/or fully-amateur teams aren't uncommon) rugby union in Elejamie. Peguero would get an early try by capitalising on a Phil Glasswood error, with Paul Debenham converting it to make it 7-0 to the national team. Peguero would score another try roughly a quarter of an hour later, although Debenham's kick would go wide to leave the score at 12-0. Glasswood would make up for his error earlier by scoring a penalty from 35m out, although a second attempt at a penalty five minutes later would bounce off the post and go into touch. Debenham would go on to score a penalty of his own to make the score 15-3 going into the break.

After the half-time break, the national side would extend their lead by seven more points with a third and final try from Peguero (who'd later be substituted for Phil Holloway in the 60th minute) and a second successful conversion from Debenham would make it 22-3 to the home side, although a second penalty from Glasswood would bring the Amateurs within 16 points. Shortly afterwards, Elejamian fullback Adam Gates was replaced by Terry Huang, who'd go on to score a try in around the 55th minute; Debenham would successfully convert that to make the score 29-6 to the Elejamian national team. A fifth and final try for the home side came in the 69th minute when Brandão just managed to pass it to Armando Tavarez, who'd slide underneath the posts for the five points; this was followed by one last conversion from Debenham. After Glasswood scored a final penalty for the away side, the match ended 36-9 to the national team.

Elejamie 23-21 Elejamie Universities XV

EJM

TRY: Tavarez 19' c
Oldaker 52' c
CON: Guinho (2/2) 20', 53'
PEN: Guinho (2/2) 11', 44'
DROP: Gates 40'

EUXV

TRY: Hamidou 24' c
Pernet (2) 65' c, 70' c
CON: Mortensen (3/3) 25', 66', 71'
PEN: Mortensen (0/1)

The following weekend, in a slightly murky weather-wise affair at Barnham Road in Davenport, Elejamie Universities XV not only played their first non-tour game since 2011, a 36-0 victory against the aforementioned Amateurs side, but also their first ever game against the national side. Pablo Cartagena made only one change to the side that played the previous weekend, with Guinho starting instead of Paul Debenham; Reinaldo, his EUXV counterpart, kept his squad the same as the team that toured Bvriania the previous Summer, although graduates Logan Mankiewicz and Guinho were replaced by Brandon Curtis-McCaffrey as lock and Tom Akindele as a substitute scrum-half respectively.

The first half got off to a slow start, with plenty of turnovers from both sides, before EUXV flanker Liam Peterson entered the ruck from the side, giving the national side a penalty; Guinho nailed the kick and made it 3-0 to the home side. Armando Tavarez then went on to score the first try 19 minutes in, with a Guinho conversion making it 10-0. This was followed by the EUXV scoring a try of their own, when Adnan Hamidou managed to break through a strong Elejamian defence and put the ball down for a try, with Joey Mortensen scoring a conversion to make it 10-7. After a successful drop goal from Adam Gates past the 40 minute mark extended the Elejamian lead by another three points, the first half ended 13-7 in the national team's favour.

The second half began the same way the first ended, with Elejamie getting another set of three points, this time from a successful Guinho penalty. The national side would then get some more points around the 52nd minute when captain Ben Oldaker put the ball down past the EUXV try-line to extend his team's lead, with Guinho scoring a further two points to make it 23-7 to the home side. However, things started to shape up for the EUXV David White received a yellow card in the 63rd minute for a particularly nasty tackle; this lead winger and mathematics major Johnny Pernet score two tries for his side, the first in the 65th minute and the second in the 70th, with both of them being converted by Mortensen. However, a failed attempt to take the lead in the 76th minute, when Mortensen's penalty just missed the post, meant that the national side finished the match very narrow 23-21 winners.

[Lisander]

Southwestern Blue Tigers 10-13 Lisander XV
Practice Match, Southwestern RFU Practice Field #3, Chuckio

Catarina Scott, from Chuckio, Darmen.
Post-match Interviews: "Sorry, I didn't even notice."

Extra edition of our Cup Diary!

Following today's match, the Irises held a press conference. But only in name.After all, there was only me, Theo (the person responsible for capturing the images) and a Darmeni blogger (I, unfortunately, forgot to ask her name, but she seems to be a fan of the Blue Tigers). Also present were LRU Rugby Director Leonard Assen and captain Andreas Linzmeyer, who played only the final 15 minutes. I was able to ask each of them a question. To the Director, I asked him if he was satisfied with the victory. He answered the following with an impressive sincerity:

"Sorry, I didn't even notice. So the Lisander XV, as the press calls it, won this practice match? I was not even keeping track of score, to be honest. It doesn't count to the table. Ok, losing against a local side could be bad for team morale, but I did not even think the team is truly worried about it."

I was completely stunned for a moment, processing that answer, while Assen told the blogger that the Southern Tigers were an interesting team and that had been a great challenge for the team.

Then, I asked Linzmeyer, how were the other players for the match against Ko-oren.

"They are apprehensive, but it is not a fifteen-headed monster that we are going to face. It's a very good team, but nothing is impossible. Sebastian [Livon] and Guilheme [Morian] good performances are causing problems for the coach because as it is known, the Rugby of Lisander has been based very much on the speed, but this type of problem is good, after all, it means that we have quality. "

What does that mean? He spoke a lot and did not answer anything effective. It was then that I realized that they are really hiding plans for the next Matchday. They will not give much information because it is a crucial game to define the future of Lisander in the RWC. I should have expected that.

What do we know? They are all looking forward to the next game. Even us. So are you. And a lot of the rugby fans on the planet. Because it's going to be a great game!

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© 2018 TRZ Alice Bay and TRZ Lisander are brands of Newport Rugby Media Holdings. Alice Bay and/or Lisander laws may apply. Dale a tu cuerpo alegria macarena. For further information and commercial contracts, contact promo(at)trz.ls or ad(at)trz.ab.

[Darmen]

Hopefully, your team is still motivated enough to get through these last matches in the Group Stage. I'm sure the fatigue is starting to set in. MD4 cutoff!

Group A
Kita-Hinode 15–18 Apox
Kejri Islands 8–10 Darmen

  Group A                     Pld   W  D  L   PF  PA  PD  Pts 
1 Darmen                        4   4  0  0   62  24 +38   16
2 Apox                          3   2  0  1   33  38  −5    8
3 The Kiaser Colonies           3   1  0  2   53  13 +40    4
4 Kejri Islands                 3   1  0  2   21  65 −44    4
5 Kita-Hinode                   3   0  0  3   26  55 −29    0

Group B
Vakolicci Haven and Celeria 7–16 Aji No Moto
Elejamie 26–0 Tomure

  Group B                     Pld   W  D  L   PF  PA  PD   Pts 
1 Elejamie                      3   3  0  0   60   0  +60   12
2 Aji No Moto                   3   3  0  0   49   7  +42   12
3 Savojarna                     3   1  0  2   29  24   +5    4
4 Vakolicci Haven and Celeria   3   1  0  2   39  40   −1    4
5 Tomure                        4   0  0  4    7 113 −106    0

Group C
Abanhfleft 9–7 Latrovia
United Republic Empire 13–7 Filindostan

  Group C                     Pld   W  D  L   PF  PA  PD  Pts 
1 Abanhfleft                    3   3  0  0   53  14 +39   12
2 Mattijana                     3   3  0  0   51  25 +26   12
3 Filindostan                   4   1  0  3   31  50 −19    4
4 United Republic Empire        3   1  0  2   33  61 −28    4
5 Latrovia                      3   0  0  3   10  28 −18    0

Group D
Quantilia 0–11 Nova Anglicana
Northwest Kalactin 3–19 Alpine Union

  Group D                     Pld   W  D  L   PF  PA  PD  Pts 
1 Nova Anglicana                3   3  0  0   31   0 +31   12
2 Alpine Union                  4   2  0  2   32  21 +11    8
3 Copper Cuprum                 3   2  0  1   36  38  −2    8
4 Northwest Kalactin            3   1  0  2   26  44 −18    4
5 Quantilia                     3   0  0  3    0  22 −22    0

Group E
Islana Lunigo 12–8 Daghvir
Lisander 0–25 Ko-oren

  Group E                     Pld   W  D  L   PF  PA  PD  Pts 
1 Ko-oren                       4   4  0  0   86  12 +74   16
2 Lisander                      3   2  0  1   66  56 +10    8
3 Daghvir                       3   1  0  2   19  26  −7    4
4 Islana Lunigo                 3   1  0  2   41  55 −14    4
5 Nexus OD Corporations         3   0  0  3   14  77 −63    0

Group F
New South Munster 13–23 Alice Bay
Kopyk 18–7 Velstrania

  Group F                     Pld   W  D  L   PF  PA  PD  Pts 
1 Barunia                       3   3  0  0   66  16 +50   12
2 Alice Bay                     3   2  0  1   56  44 +12    8
3 New South Munster             3   2  0  1   21  26  −5    8
4 Kopyk                         3   1  0  2   21  37 −16    4
5 Velstrania                    4   0  0  4   20  61 −41    0

Group G
Xasnep 8–15 Banija
New Doltania 6–16 Neu Engollon

  Group G                     Pld   W  D  L   PF  PA  PD  Pts 
1 Neu Engollon                  4   4  0  0  103  18 +85   16
2 United States of Devonta      3   2  0  1   37  29  +8    8
3 New Doltania                  3   1  0  2   33  43 −10    4
4 Banija                        3   1  0  2   18  47 −29    4
5 Xasnep                        3   0  0  3   28  82 −54    0

Group H
Natanians and Nosts 18–16 Azadeshia
South Covello 17–0 United Vietussia

  Group H                     Pld   W  D  L   PF  PA  PD  Pts 
1 Hutanjia                      3   3  0  0   51  17 +34   12
2 Natanians and Nosts           3   3  0  0   51  26 +25   12
3 Azadeshia                     3   1  0  2   36  33  +3    4
4 South Covello                 3   1  0  2   37  44  −7    4
5 United Vietussia              4   0  0  4    6  61 −55    0

[Northwest Kalactin]

Only 3 points against The alpine union dang that was a big game for Northwest Kalactin I was really hoping we would win that game because Northwest Kalactin is probably knocked out from the rugby World Cup we had a nice run you know a win against quantilia 3-0 our team was playing great defense then but this time our defense did not play well and our offense was not playing well in fact earlier in this game we lost halfback Levi colon to a broken knee which means he will be out for the rest of the tournament.

[Lisander]

Catarina Scott, from Chuckio, Darmen.
Lisander 0, Ko-oren 25.

Sorry. I do not want to write about it. Just remembering already hurts.

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© 2018 TRZ Alice Bay and TRZ Lisander are brands of Newport Rugby Media Holdings. Alice Bay and/or Lisander laws may apply. Dale a tu cuerpo alegria macarena. For further information and commercial contracts, contact promo(at)trz.ls or ad(at)trz.ab.

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Lisander Herald spared no criticism of the team in its pages. But the cover was remarkable without many words.

It also presented the new Lisander Basketball Federation logo as the only happy headline of the day.

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Catarina Scott, from Chuckio, Darmen.
"The flutter of a dragonfly's wing can ultimately cause a massive destruction in a field of Irises"



Ignore the Herald's sensationalist coverage, people. They only report rugby when it is an exceptionality like yesterday.

Humiliation, disgrace, fiasco? None of this. Ko-oren is a nation with a very high level Rugby. With much more experience and a level of structure that we are still building, to take advantage of when boys like Cesc and Brandet become consecrated idols ... The defeat was expected.

Of course, we did not expect it to be that much. 25-0 must have been a big blow to Leonard Assen, who did not even appear for the interview after the game. The team seems to have taken a vow of silence, and also said nothing at the exit of the Stadium. And they have kept that vow of silence until now. It is not for us to force questions where there are no answers. Let's move on and think about Daghvir.

Daghvir seems to be on the same level as Islana Lunigo, but without previous experience in NSRB Tournaments, there is not much to say. I think Assen and Bernauer should put all reserves to play this match. Florian, Skye and Armada looked completely desperate in the game against Ko-oren, missing many passes, making room for counterattacks. They need a break. Because after Daghvir, everything indicates that whoever comes from group H, comes strong.

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© 2018 TRZ Alice Bay and TRZ Lisander are brands of Newport Rugby Media Holdings. Alice Bay and/or Lisander laws may apply. Dale a tu cuerpo alegria macarena. For further information and commercial contracts, contact promo(at)trz.ls or ad(at)trz.ab.

[Copper Cuprum]

Copper Cuprum is in the center of attention once again, and once again it involves the ritual for the prayer of luck and success on the national rugby union team, better known throughout the rest of the multiverse as "the chicken-killing ritual".

The history of the ritual for luck and success in sports dates back to the first game of rugby league played in Copper Cuprum. The game of rugby was introduced in Copper Cuprum in 1919, five years after the tiny island nation was discovered by Fleftic Navy ships searching for the S.S. Titanium, a passenger liner whose passengers included the wife and daughter of Abanhfleft's president at the time, Rufus Wole Mensah. The rugby enthusiasts who arrived at Copper Cuprum arrived there to preach both the greatness of God and the greatness of rugby league, as they were Presbyterian ministers from Abanhfleft's Presbyterian Islands and were looking to have another place where rugby league can become popular (the Presbyterian Islands are then and now considered the heartland of rugby league in Abanhfleft). The Copperite people themselves weren't too keen on having missionaries teach them about some one true God when their pantheon had served them well for the entirety of their existence, but rugby league did pique the Copperites' interest, and soon Chief Zed allowed a team of the thirteen best rugby league players of his people to take to the field against the missionaries' own thirteen. Before the start of the match, the Copperite spectators noticed that the missonaries had gathered together to pray for their success in the coming match. Seeing this, Chief Zed's court shaman, "Uncle Sam" Usumal Samutuk decided that the Copperites should also pray for their own success and the shaman used the old Copperite ritual for success and fertility in the year to pray for the success of the Copperite representative team. The ritual included the most notable aspects of the "chicken-killing ritual" that the Copperites show to the rest of the multiverse during their pre-game rituals such as the slitting of the throat of a live chicken and the sprinkling of the blood in a circle around the players. The Copperites went on to win this first match against the missionaries 12-6, ensuring that this ritual would further remain associated with success in the Copperite collective mindset.

The use of the "chicken-killing ritual" has spread to other sports in which Copper Cuprum has sent out representative sides, including association football and the other code of rugby, union, but when Copper Cuprum made its association football debut in the 60th Baptism of Fire against the weirdly-named nation of Freedom Utopia 100, the Valladar authorities hosting the tournament were very much appalled by the "chicken-killing ritual", and the live broadcast of the ritual prompted international condemnation and outrage of the Copperite sporting tradition. Copper Cuprum quickly succumbed to the pressure, and for the rest of the tournament they replaced the live chicken with a rubber one, and the head of this rubber chicken was cut off and the head tossed around by the players in a circle to replace the blood sprinkling part of the ritual. Copper Cuprum reverted to using live chickens when they played World Cup qualifiers in their own country but switched to the rubber chickens when they were playing abroad, and the rubber chickens were carried over to the 65th Cup of Harmony in San Jose Guayabal. But when Copper Cuprum qualified for the 26th Rugby Union World Cup, the Copperite Rugby Union decided that they would return to the old ritual of sacrificing a live chicken and this time refuse to bow down to international pressure and condemnation.

Said international pressure and condemnation finally came to a head in the Copperites' game against the Alpine Union. The Alpines had already lodged a formal complaint to the Copperite Rugby Union about the ritual, and the Alpine Association for the Protection of Endangered Animals and Species had also declared a national boycott of Copperite and Fleftic products. The Chiefdom's Foreign Minister Prince Zum released an official statement questioning the Alpine boycott of Copperite products, and the prince's private statements about the boycott, laughing it off because "the Alpines don't buy too much Copperite products anyway," also made their way to NSLeaks. But relations between Copper Cuprum and the Alpine Union so far remain normal.

Darmen were next to condemn the Copperite ritual, and the Darmenis actually went so far as to ban the importation of live poultry in response to the Copperite ritual. This didn't have an effect on the Copperites as they had already brought in enough chickens to last them up to the final, if they could make it that far in the competition, but despite the condemnations from all over the multiverse, the team's resident shaman, Ermesa "Uncle Doc" Dokuta, has stated that he will remain firm and proceed with the ritual as usual, not bowing down like he did years ago in Valladares. "The shame that my ancestors must feel for bowing to the foreigners and refusing to carry out the ritual as prescribed by the gods to the first Copperites can never be truly removed," Uncle Doc said in an exclusive interview with the Copperite royal family's official news service. "But I can do my best to unburden them of the shame by performing the ritual for as long as I live and as long as His Royal Majesty Chief Gon tells me that I must continue performing the ritual."

Uncle Doc also scoffed at the threat of Darmen's Animal Liberation Front to disrupt the ritual of Copper Cuprum's next game, stating that "my stick is ready to draw the blood of anyone who dares interfere with the ritual."

But as for Copper Cuprum's performance in the Rugby Union World Cup itself, they predictably fell against Nova Anglicana, who finally found the time to publicize their roster for the World Cup. At least now the Copperites knew who they were dealing with; they wouldn't be chasing shadows throughout the game. But even though knowing is half the battle, the other half of the battle involved actually playing against the Anglicana Lions, and on that front, the Copperites failed spectacularly. Graham King opened the scoring with a particularly lung-bursting try, shoving aside such strong Copperite players as Mabuda Oweda, Satusa Heyedy, and Homeka Omega before finally grounding the rock just beyond the line. Quentin Foray completed the conversion to give Nova Anglicana a 7-0 advantage within the first twenty minutes.

Chorode Hizekte conceded a penalty on the Copperite 22 after he came into the side of a particular maul, and Foray scored from the kick as well, and Copper Cuprum went into half-time with a 10-0 deficit. Copper Cuprum then started off the second half with Omoro Bitabu off to the sin bin after a high tackle on Atticus Joiner, but thankfully the Copperites held firm and refused to let the Lions take advantage of being a man up. However, on almost the very same moment that Bitabu finally returned to the field after serving his ten minutes in the bin, the substitute Copperite 5-lock Ichiro Kashigawa deliberately collapsed a scrum, at least according to the referee, and Nova Anglicana opted to kick once again. It was Foray's replacement, Brendan McKinney, who took the kick, and his penalty kick was a textbook perfect kick, right between the posts and almost exactly between the bar and the open space on top of the posts. Both teams fought hard to score points after that, but that penalty would be the final points scored in this match, and Copper Cuprum lost its first game in the Rugby Union World Cup.

For their bye day, Copper Cuprum kept up their proficiency by playing sevens against each other, with those members of the team who actually represent the Chiefdom in rugby sevens against a select side of their teammates. The official Copperite sevens team won the contest 43-5 with Hiram Massoudoglu scoring two out of the Copperite sevens side's four tries.

Copper Cuprum's last match of the group stage will be against Quantilia, yet another unranked side who are Group D's cellar dwellers with three losses and no wins but only 22 points conceded. At the very least, Copper Cuprum hopes to add yet another loss to the Quantilians' loss column as this will guarantee second place as the Alpine Union have their bye day on the final day but this is all predicated on Copper Cuprum winning against Quantilia.

There was still everything to play for for the Copperites.

Nova Anglicana (13)
Try: King 17' c
Con: Foray 18'
Pen: Foray (1/1) 33'
McKinney (1/1) 54'

Copper Cuprum (0)

[Abanhfleft]

Gaelic Gamers
Presents...

The Rugby Rundown
with Graham O'Doherty

RUGBY UNION WORLD CUP 26 RECAP: ABANHFLEFT VS. LATROVIA
Well, crap. That was a close one. Someone bring me my brown pants; and bring me some industrial-strength laundry bleach as well. Shameful for me it is to say this but I really did poo my pants when Abanhfleft somehow managed to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat against an unexpectedly strong Latrovia side. Good thing I packed enough clothes with me to stock a boutique store but still, an adult like me should never have to walk the walk of shame after I sharted myself in celebration of Abanhfleft's victory. So why don't we just chart the path to our victory right here and right now?

Right from the start, Abanhfleft versus Latrovia was a tense and laborious affair. Both teams huffed and puffed but both of them had little to show for it except for nine points for Abanhfleft and seven points for Latrovia. Latrovia somehow were able to manage to counteract Abanhfleft's running game, necessitating the use of penalties to put some points up on the board for the Fleftics. Abdulrahman al-Thabsi elected to kick for goal when Abanhfleft received a penalty right in front of the posts after the Latrovian loose prop deliberately collapsed a scrum. Abanhfleft seem to have plenty of luck with the referees noticing when scrums collapse on us, and we sure have taken advantage of it. Rahman al-Thabsi's first penalty kick was as cool as you like, and you won't ever see another penalty in such a perfect position ever again unless you'll be really, really lucky. Abanhfleft were able to double the lead with yet another scrum collapse penalty against Latrovia, and although the angle was somewhat tougher than his first penalty, Rahman al-Thabsi still scored it, doubling Abanhfleft's advantage and ensuring that Abanhfleft had a good enough lead coming into half time.

It was more of the same in the second half, although this time with the wind picking up Rahman didn't risk another penalty kick, opting for scrums and lineouts instead. We would almost pay for that in the last ten minutes of the game when the Latrovian fullback somehow managed to squirm through the tackle of Radomir Rakitic and ground the ball for Latrovia's first and only try of the game, and also the only try in the game, period. The Latrovian number 8 completed the conversion to give Latrovia the lead for the first time in the game as well. Abanhfleft then did their utmost best to scrounge up a try or even just a penalty, which is exactly what we would get when Latrovia collapsed yet another scrum, but when al-Thabsi's replacement Carlos Delgado sliced the kick wide of the posts, it began to feel as if this was not going to be Abanhfleft's day.

As the clock wound down, Abanhfleft began getting more desperate to put some points on the board. Latrovia was defending out of their skins, defending for their lives; they were still fighting for points in this game, and a historic result against a powerful rugby nation like ours would be forever etched in their memories. And then, with only fifteen seconds or so, the incredible happened. With Abanhfleft seemingly unable to break through the Latrovian defense, someone took the decision to go for a drop kick should time go past the eighty minutes. The clock struck eighty minutes and one second, and the ball found its way to young Lee Jae-sang. And what should the youngster do but go for a drop kick? He let the ball drop to the ground and then he struck it with his right foot, and everyone held their breath as the ball sailed through the air and towards the uprights. Finally, after what had felt like an hour but was actually just one second or two tops, the ball went through the uprights; the referees raised their flags, and Abanhfleft won the game on a drop kick. That was the moment when I sharted in celebration, and now both moments will now be forever associated with each other in my minds.

The battle for top spot in Group C comes to a head tomorrow as Abanhfleft face off against Mattijana. Both groups have had perfect records in the group stage until now, but we all know that one will most probably have to have a blemish in their records come the end of tomorrow. Abanhfleft versus Mattijana. I can't wait for it and at the same time I wish it will never come. Damn, my feelings are so confused right now....

Abanhfleft (9)
Pen: al-Thabsi (2/2) 14', 27'
Delgado (0/1)
Drop: Lee Jae-sang 81'

Latrovia (7)
Try: Fullback 61' c
Con: Number 8 (63')

[Mattijana]

Mattijana Set For Abanhfleft Showdown

They left it until the final round of the Rugby World Cup 26 group stage, but its finally time for the big one as first plays second in group C.

The two teams are tied on 12 points each after 3 games after Abanhfleft laboured to a 9-7 win over Latrovia, though due to more convincing victories against Filindostan and the United Republic Empire, it is the fleftics that go into the decider with the superior points difference. That means that in the unlikely event of a tie, it is Mattijana's opponents that will progress top of the group whilst Marko Vinzanic's team will have to settle for second.
Pride is of course not the only thing that the two teams will be playing for in Romanopolis. Topping the group would enable Mattijana to avoid the other first-placed teams that will include hosts Darmen, Nova Anglicana, Ko-oren and Neu Engollon.

Team News:

Mattijana will be without centre Julia Hermann for the match due to a calf injury, so 25 year old Burges player Danil Skofjec will step in at outside centre. Mattijana will otherwise remain unchanged for the match from the side that beat Latrovia on matchday 3 and the bye over the 4th round means that they will be the fresher of the two sides.
Abanhfleft have no new reported injuries or suspensions to deal with, so barring fatigue, the head coach will have a full-strength squad to choose from.

Build Up:

Mattijanan head coach Marko Vinzanic admitted his side needed to be better after the 7-0 victory against unranked Latrovia, but the unconvincing victory for their coming opponents against the same opposition will put things into perspective. Some even argued the fleftics were fortunate to get out with the 4 points as a late drop goal and two penalty kicks earned them a slim victory.

Abahnfleft have showed their class in previous games though, particularly defensively. The team have conceded only 7 points in their first 3 games, all against Latrovia and Mattijana will have to be on top form to break through a well-organised and dogged defence.

Mattijana have also showed signs of promise however. A satisfactory 15-12 win against Filindostan followed a more convincing 29-13 victory against other unranked side the United Republic Empire. They have scored a similar amount of points to their opponents, but will need to stop leaking so-called "silly points" if they are to overhaul their higher-ranked opponents.

That said, the likes of Sanja Cevnik and Matej Campagnaro posess a real threat and if Mattijana can string their passes together, they can trouble any side in the multiverse.

Expected Lineup:

Prop-Kramaric
Hooker-Mulec
Prop-Kamj
Lock-Basic
Lock-Krunec
Flanker-Skofjec
Flanker-Badhoff
Number 8-Dramic
Scrum-half- Velezia
Fly-half- Kunikov
Wing-Cevnik
Centre-Sainz
Centre-Skofjec
Wing- Campagnaro
Full-back- Vastasic