I’ll be conflicted when Scotland face Ireland in the Rugby World Cup on September 22 in Yokohama as I’m of the Irish-Scots variety.
But I’m thinking that a draw would suit both just fine.
One thing is for sure that when it comes to the party then the Scots and the Irish will be clinking glasses.
Two thousand Green Army foot soldiers will be flying with Emirates http://www.emirates.ie to Japan. And but for a pesky raffle ticket number I’d be too.
My numbers were too low, but congratulations to the winner (no, really).

I had spent lunch with Tommy Bowe who was doing a Q&A session with Wayne Barnes ahead of him refereeing the Ireland v Wales game at the Aviva this afternoon.
The pair shared some good bonhomie as they recalled past matches including the iconic 2009 Ireland Grand Slam match with Wales.
How Tommy Bowe had come on as a replacement only to have to go off again with a broken leg which elicited the reply from the ref: ‘Oh, Tommy.’
This will be Wayne’s last Rugby World Cup and I wish him well. I’ll share more nuggets like this in your weekly This Sporting Weekend column tomorrow.
But for now check out Emirates’ best deals to Japan which you’ll fall in love with when you see the rugby action on TV.
Winter warmers

I thought my friends at Aer Lingus http://www.aerlingus.com knew me better because they posited that we needed to avoid the temptation to hibernate for the next six months.
As if.
Aer Lingus won’t be putting their feet up either.
They have 2 million seats on sale until September 23.
They have European fares from €29.99 one way for travel from October 1 to December 16.
And fares from North America from €159 each way when booked as part of a return trip and valid from November 1 to March 31.
Here’s myself and the Scary One livin’ it and lovin’ it in Amsterdam https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/pictures-of-amsterdam/.
Wendy is the business

Returning to Japan for a minute and there are few people who know more about Asia than Wendy Wu http://www.wendywutours.ie.
Wendy Wu Tours are offering free one-way Business Class upgrades with Cathay Pacific http://www.cathaypacific.com on selected China & Japan offers.
The upgrades are available both ways from €1199. This offer is based on flights from Dublin while Shannon and Cork add-ons are an additional €100pp.
Valid one-way only on inbound flights from Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu and Guilin in China and from Tokyo and osaka in Japan.
Booking dates September until October 7.
A quick browse of their many offers and I found Jewels of Japan, 11 days from €6190pp and nine days In Pursuit of Panda from €2490pp.
And, of course, we’re on the road to Japan with https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/2019/08/23/countdown-to-japan-monkeys/ and https://jimmurtytraveltraveltravel.com/2019/08/10/this-sporting-weekend-rugbys-big-in-japan/
MEET YOU IN THE SKIES