There are, in fact, some easy games in international football

TV View:We'd missed the start of the rugby World Cup, partly because we were otherwise engaged, partly because we didn't realise it was on, there's been so little coverage. But such is the frustrating fate of minority sports.

But, now we're up to speed, we can't but wonder what value there is in including in this tournament minnows who suffer drubbings of the most ruthless kind, like Portugal, Japan and England.

It's just sporting cruelty, that's all, and can hardly help advance the game in those countries. From Silves to Sapporo to Skegness, kids are turning away from the sport in their droves.

We were particularly appalled by New Zealand's 108-13 defeat of the Portuguese, which led us to believe that "there are no easy games in international football any more" might not quite apply in this particular code. It does, of course, apply in proper football, if you're prepared to exclude that recent Fiji 16, Tuvalu 0 World Cup qualifying result.

England's drubbing by South Africa on Saturday might have been anticipated by those who know something about this sport, but ITV's Will Greenwood, who retired from international rugby last year, and therefore should know about these things too, had us convinced a shock was on the cards.

"There are tremendous puffed-out English chests," he said from pitchside, as his former team-mates warmed up.

Granted, he conceded there were "tremendous puffed-out South African chests too", but still, he was sensing Brian Ashton's boys were so up for it an upset was nigh on inevitable.

Later that evening. England 0, South Africa 36.

Will: "Um, beaten by a better side, Martin?"

Martin Corry (England captain): "Eh. Yeah. Obviously."

Over on Setanta, Neil Francis, as we knew he would, felt for Ashton. "If you have any money in your back pocket put it on him being the first coach to be sacked after the World Cup," he said. "I think he's absolutely crap."

Paul Dempsey, our host, giggled, as did Ciaran Fitzgerald and Matt Williams.

Paul then asked Neil if he thought Sunderland would stay up this season. Ah no, he didn't, but you couldn't blame him if he had; he'd hardly finished his afternoon shift with Pat Dolan, covering the Sunderland v Reading game, when he was on rugby duty. If Setanta are paying him by the hour they'll be bust by Wednesday evening.

The England game, though, was only the aperitif; the meat and veg came in the form of Ireland v Georgia. Georgia, we learnt, aren't one of rugby's powerhouses, but considering they host the US Masters every year you'd imagine they shouldn't be overawed by big sporting occasions, a pertinent fact not raised by a single member of the Setanta panel. It's at times like that your heart aches for George Hookie, Brent Popie and Tom McGurkie.

Neil, in particular, seemed to dismiss Georgia's sporting pedigree, forecasting that because Eddie O'Sullivan is "a ruthless little bastard . . . I guarantee you that Ireland will be a completely different team tonight, it will be a completely different performance" from the Namibia game.

Paul was surprised that Neil was so upbeat, not least because they'd already christened him "Dr Doom".

"You're putting an Indian sign on it," suggested Ciaran, but Neil was assured. Partly, we think, because he reckoned Georgia were "15 Graeco-Roman wrestlers - it's 1980s rugby all over again".

This, we assumed, was a bad thing.

By full-time the mood had changed in the studio, a touch.

"Wake up, folks, it is a World Cup now," said Paul, sternly, rousing us from our slumber.

Neil was lost for words (just kiddin').

"I have to say Eddie O'Sullivan is the worst coach in the World Cup; you have to laugh," he said.

Ciaran wasn't laughing, though. When he heard Brian O'Driscoll insist "we're still in it", he shook his head and remarked, "Mentally, you'd wonder what planet they're on."

Later that night, on Up for the Match, Michael Lyster told us he heard George Hook on the radio liken Ireland to "the Listowel under-13 team", which drew indignant boos from the Kerry half of the audience and, presumably, had the Listowel treasurer reckoning they could build a new clubhouse with the proceeds of the defamation case.

And just to complete the Listowel folks' profitable weekend, Kerry disproved the theory that "there are no easy games in Gaelic football any more". Not entirely sure what their residency rules are, but at this rate Sam will soon be eligible for a passport to the Kingdom.