Rugby Union

The post mortem into Scotland’s World Cup exit may have only just started, but one player who missed out on travelling to the showpiece event in Japan has already begun to think about the 2020 Six Nations with Jamie Bhatti determined to be back in dark blue by then.

Before each match, Michael Leitch and his Japan squad have left the field in a battle-like formation after their warm-up, each man in widening ranks behind the captain and with his right hand gripping the shoulder of the team-mate in front.

The post-mortem will go on for a long time, as indeed it must. It should, however, be extended well beyond an examination of coaches, players and performances, for it is likely that such an examination will yield few useful results. Indeed it might lead to the conclusion that, things being as they are, we did a bit worse than we had hoped, but it is unlikely we could have done much better.

How do you top the greatest moment in a rugby team’s history? Go one better is the obvious answer but it is a formidable ask.

Scrum-half dangerman Antoine Dupont is fit for France's World Cup quarter-final against Wales on Sunday.

HIT AND MISS MENU CHOICES

Ken Owens believes that experience is a key factor behind Wales’ successful big-game mentality.

England have dropped George Ford in order to beef up their midfield in expectation of a Samu Kerevi-led assault by Australia when the rivals clash in tomorrow’s World Cup quarter-final.

Our Scotland stars were left to reflect on what could have been after departing the World Cup at the hands of hosts Japan on Sunday afternoon.

Police in Japan are investigating an alleged assault by Uruguay rugby players at a bar in the southwestern part of the country.

Back to Tokyo for my last week here including a quarter-final weekend which sadly doesn’t involve Scotland but two mouth-watering matches to cover – New Zealand v Ireland on Saturday and Japan v South Africa on Sunday.

Former Scotland rugby international Alan Lawson and rugby journalist Bill Lothian talk to host Jack McIlroy-Reid about Scotland’s loss to Japan and group stage exit from the rugby World Cup.

Heading home, heads bowed and nursing wounds, Scotland have now been kicked while they’re down and cast as the bad guys by 
the Rugby World Cup organisers. Misconduct charges have been issued against the SRU for comments made about the potential cancellation of the final group match against Japan, as the destructive Typhoon Hagibis descended upon the Tokyo-Yokohama area.

Zander Fagerson insists Gregor Townsend is still the man to lead Scotland forward.

Scotland could face punishment for their "comments and behaviours" after hinting at legal action when their World Cup match against Japan was under threat of cancellation.