Kobe edge dour affair

 

Vissel Kobe 1

Oita Trinita 0

 

Vissel Kobe grabbed another important win at Kobe Home Stadium to keep alive their dreams of a first J-League title. The opponents were tiny Oita Trinita, an obscure football franchise who are having something of an Indian Summer this season. The game was between two sides, tied at second in the league.

Argentina find some form at last

Argentina could have been excused for feeling apprehensive about the trip to Marseilles to face France last Saturday evening. This despite an extraordinary run against Les Bleus which had seen them win six of the previous encounters, including embarrassing their more illustrious hosts twice in the game’s global showpiece in 2007. Marcelo Loffredo was replaced by the wonderfully named Santiago Phelan and since then Argentina had won just one of their next four encounters.

France failing the virtues of Rugby Union

Marc Lievermont, in the build up to last night’s match against Argentina, spoke of abandoning the ridiculed selection policy he adopted during his first twelve of months in charge of Les Blues, and also to start playing the style of rugby that fans across the globe have become accustomed to from the French.