The Indy Rugby Podcast: Is this the greatest weekend of World Cup quarter-finals ever?

Jack de Menezes is joined by Samuel Lovett to reflect on the devastation of Typhoon Hagibis, how Japan’s victory over Scotland united the nation and preview the four quarter-finals this weekend

The Rugby World Cup quarter-finals are upon us with eight teams left fighting it out, including hosts Japan after their thrilling victory over Scotland last weekend concluded the pool stage.

Playing for more than just their rugby dreams in the wake of the tragic Typhoon Hagibis, Japan gave the nation something to cheer about with a phenomenal performance in one of the great World Cup matches of all-time.

Samuel Lovett was at Yokohama to watch the match as well as experience the full brunt of what Hagibis did to the Kanto region, and this week he ventures out to Fukishima to see the real devastation caused.

He joins Jack de Menezes for the latest episode to look ahead to all four matches this weekend, starting on Saturday with England vs Australia and New Zealand vs Ireland, with Sunday’s encounters seeing Wales take on France before Japan vs South Africa wraps up the action.

The boys also make their predictions on who will be left standing in the semi-finals, and discuss the different ways to enjoy the local sake.

Download the episode here as well as on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Acast or wherever you listen.

Chief sports writer Jonathan Liew will join the team this weekend to feature in our next episode reflecting on the weekend’s action.