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Sicario
a, Arts & Entertainment, Film and TV

Sicario takes unflinching look at war on drugs

by Steffan Engling on

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This is not the usual laid back, lowbrow action movie. In Sicario, director and Quebec native Denis Villeneuve (Prisoners, Enemy) has created an unnerving look into the drug conflict along the border of the southern United States. In this story, neither the Mexican and American authorities, nor the drug cartels are playing by the book. At the end of this cinematic tour de force, moviegoers are left with their preconceived notions shattered.

The story begins when a hardened but idealistic FBI agent, Kate Macer (Emily Blunt) and her kidnap response team storm a compound near Phoenix, Arizona, which turns out to be a dumping ground for victims of the cartel rivalries. Marked by this traumatic experience, Kate decides to join a spontaneously arranged inter-agency task-force, led by a mysterious advisor named Matt, (Josh Brolin). After teaming up with Alejandro (Benicio Del Toro) in El Paso, Texas, the group leads a prisoner extradition from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, sparking a string of violence that spirals out of control. As Kate stumbles deeper down the rabbit hole, her own role in the tale becomes more and more ambiguous. The plot culminates with an explosive climax in which all storylines converge for a surprising finish.

Sicario manages to paint a thrilling, thought-provoking picture of cartel violence in Mexico and the American Southwest. While Villeneuve can be criticized for lack of nuance when it comes to the portrayal of Mexican characters, overall the movie instills  the sense that in this conflict, simplistic moral categories like 'good' and 'evil' do not apply.

Much of this effect is owed to the performance of Blunt, who skillfully portrays the mental disintegration of Macer. Blunt’s authentic, detailed, and tense breakdown causes the viewers to soon find themselves wondering about their own moral codex. Her performance is so powerful that the other characters tend to pale in comparison to her. Del Toro manages to evade that risk by instilling Alejandro with an air of mystery, grief and thinly-veiled rage that leaves the audience longing for more. Brolin, on the other hand, remains rather superficial in his role as hardcore, no-nonsense agent Matt. This is partially due to the plot, which does not, by design, provide much depth to this character.

The mood in Sicario—a growing feeling of suspense and uneasiness—is to a large extent set by the cinematography of Roger Deakins. Using impressive aerial shots of the desert, Deakins transports the feeling of loneliness and omnipresent danger. Murky close-ups of the characters make them more relatable to the audience. Combined with the powerful score by composer Johann Johannsson, which builds up tension masterfully, Sicario makes for an extraordinary cinema experience.

Villeneuve and his cast have created an impressive portrait of this deadly conflict. It will be hard for the average viewer to judge how close to reality this film actually is. Regardless, this movie will certainly provoke much thought about responsibility for the killing that continues every day in cities along the U.S.-Mexico Border.

Sicario is playing at Cinema Excentris (3536 St. Laurent Blvd) until Oct. 2. 

a, McGill, Montreal, News

Inaugural Anti-Austerity Week aims to educate students

by Jennifer Chan on

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The Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) held its first ever Anti-Austerity Week Sept. 14 through 18. According to SSMU Vice-President (VP) External Affairs Emily Boytinck, the events and workshops were intended to educate the McGill community.

 “The purpose of Anti-Austerity Week was to develop baseline public education for folks who haven’t been involved in anti-austerity work before, or those who still want to learn a little bit more, and to invite people with different perspectives about anti-austerity to speak in workshops,” Boytinck said.

SSMU Mobilization Coordinator Nicholle Savoie echoed Boytinck’s sentiments, explaining that the aim of Anti-Austerity Week was not to organize students against austerity, but rather to inform them.

“A lot of people who were interested in getting involved didn’t necessarily know what was going on, or know a ton about austerity,” Savoie explained. “So we thought that it would be good to start-off the year with a week to get informed and hear some different perspectives [….] SSMU isn’t in any way leading the anti-austerity mobilizing on campus. Our role is to facilitate the spread of information and to support groups that are already doing [anti-austerity] work.”

Savoie additionally explained how students can continue to take part or learn more about the movement in other ways. 

“Build links with other campuses and organizations and the McGill students who are already mobilizing on campus,” Savoie said. “Read about anti-austerity through the Montréal media co-op [….] Francophone universities have been really active in pushing the anti-austerity narrative, which has trickled into McGill campus, and now we’re starting to get really involved.” 

Molly Swain, president of the Association of McGill Support Employees–Public Service Alliance of Canada (AMUSE-PSAC) led an informational workshop on Sept. 15 entitled “Mobilizing from the Margins.” Swain discussed the history of the anti-austerity movement in Montreal and shared what she would like to see happen in the future.

“My hopes for the future of the anti-austerity movement is that it begins to expand to its conceptions of struggle, and its analysis of austerity as a fundamental part of capitalism, rather than simply a neoliberal trend that can be solved if certain kinds of public funding is reinstated,” said Swain. “The anti-austerity movement should be reflexive to the needs and realities of those participating in it, and its strategies and tactics should be determined that way, rather than by relying solely on what may have been effective in past struggles.” 

SSMU hopes to continue the conversation on austerity in the future, though plans to do so aren’t yet certain. 

“There are no specific events planned right now, but we will definitely be hosting more soon,” said Boytinck. “We also will be organizing contingents to various demonstrations throughout the Fall.” 

a, Art, Arts & Entertainment

Take me to church: Sistine Chapel comes to Montreal

by Demaris Oxman on

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Few works are as universally recognized or as globally revered as Michelangelo’s masterful works in the Sistine Chapel. Created in the early 16th century, these works depict scenes from the Bible’s Book of Genesis, biblical prophets, and the ancestors of Jesus. Among its most recognizable images are the Great Flood, the battle between David and Goliath, and the iconic Creation of Adam. For devout Christians, historians, and art critics alike, the Sistine Chapel is a place to revel in the glory of both. And now it’s here in Montreal.

Entering the exhibit is a perfect escape. Despite other viewers drifting through the room, it is near silent apart for the faint background of choral music, lending itself to the ambience. The audio tour is succinct, informative, and given in a relaxed and soothing voice. Viewers are guided through the exhibit viewing the paintings in the order they were intended, in the same layout as they are presented on the Sistine Chapel ceiling, so that visitors may truly appreciate the stories the images tell. Both the Biblical inspiration and the histories of the paintings themselves are told through the audio player, providing patrons with a rich background. Far from a dull lecture, the narration provides succinct versions of age-old stories, historical context, amusing anecdotes, and insight into the artist’s psyche.

The images of the Sistine Chapel’s ceiling have been captured with state-of-the-art photography taken by the world-renowned Erich Lessing, and are currently on display at the Palais des Congrès. Taken just after a recent restoration, the reproductions portray the paintings in vibrant colour and precise detail. All 33 ceiling frescoes have been reproduced in life-size, along with a scaled-down reproduction of The Last Judgment, which depicts the second coming of Christ and the separation of the chosen and the damned.

The black, steely, industrial surroundings can’t possibly compare to being physically present in the Sistine Chapel itself. Particularly for the frescoes originally painted in the corners or on curved portions of the chapel’s ceiling, it’s harder to appreciate their true genius when they must be viewed two dimensionally rather than on the special surfaces for which their geometry was constructed.

These minor details are a small price to pay for the chance to see the finer aspects of the paintings in a way that’s impossible to experience outside of Vatican City. In the chapel itself, the paintings can only be viewed from a distance, but in the exhibit, they’re 10 feet away. It allows viewers to get up close and personal with the old masterpieces, to examine the expressions on the faces of the prophets, and to marvel at the play of light on folds of silken robes. Being so close to the works creates an intimate experience with the subjects of the paintings, as the viewer is finally able to see every detail and brushstroke. 

While it’s not exactly like being in the Vatican, it’s a comparable experience. The reproductions are beautiful, the guided tour is enlightening, and the images are overwhelming and awe-inspiring. The biggest drawback is craning your neck to see the works hung from the ceiling—just like the real experience.

Michealangelo’s Sistene Chapel: The Exhibition will be at Espace 1001 (1001 Jean-Paul Riopelle Place) until Oct. 12. Tickets are between $12 and $19.50.

Scene from Black Mirror
a, Arts & Entertainment, Film and TV

Give me convenience or give me death

by Eric Noble-Marks on

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“The world itself is just one big hoax,” protagonist Elliot Alderson says in the pilot episode of Mr. Robot. This summer’s critical darling, the show tells the story of Alderson, a socially-awkward, morphine-addicted hacker extraordinaire. Alderson looks at his world and sees an obvious problem: Much of it appears to be in the hands of corporations—namely the monopolistic “E-corp” (referred to by Alderson and others as “Evil Corp” throughout the show). Like any responsible hacker, he teams up with the hacktivist group “fsociety” in order to sabotage Evil Corp’s electronic records and revert all personal debt to zero. 

Rami Malek shines as Alderson, who, despite his rather by-the-numbers character description, comes off as a distinct and memorable protagonist. In many ways, the show is at its best when it stops preaching about corporate greed and instead focuses on Anderson. Malek plays the character with such pathos and loneliness that it’s hard to look away. 

The show’s anti-corporate zeal is well-trodden territory. That’s not to say that it isn’t well done; the aesthetic and narrative of Mr. Robot owes a great deal to Fight Club (1999), a biting satire on consumerism in its own right; however, the show generally portrays the head honchos of Evil Corp as cartoonishly evil caricatures. Tyrell Wellick (Martin Wallstrom), an ambitious middle-manager, is a notable exception not because he’s any less evil, but because he’s more interesting—equal parts Frank Underwood and Patrick Bateman. The other executives paint a clear, unambiguous portrait of good and evil. Corporations are bad, end of story. 

This leads to the one question that is left unanswered  in shows like Mr. Robot or movies like Fight Club: After the technocracy comes crumbling down and the debts have been cleared, what’s next? After all, the increasing concentration of political power in the hands of the rich is well documented. Anyone can look at the Citizens United ruling or the widening gap between the rich and poor and get a good grasp of the way society is heading. It’s harder to admit that it may be as much our fault as corporations.

Perhaps this answer-seeking is unwarranted. Anderson concludes one of his better monologues with “it’s painful not to pretend, because we’re cowards.” Fight Club’s Tyler Durden captured the predicament of the middle-class worker perfectly, saying “we’re slaves with white collars, working jobs we hate to buy shit we don’t need.” As Wellick and Anderson progress, both protagonists tends to forget these concerns, and instead, focus on their main objective—taking down the big, bad corporations, the symptom of a greater societal disease. 

Enter Black Mirror (2011). Charlie Brooker’s cynical, sci-fi satire is the best commentary on consumerism and technology on television. Unfortunately, it’s not on television very often, with only seven excellent episodes to its name since its launch in 2011. Rather than forming a consistent narrative, each episode provides a stand-alone glimpse into the society of the near future. Its characters are not Wall Street capitalists, nor are they revolutionaries. Instead, they are ordinary people, living in a society that is already far out of their reach. One tragically absurd episode features a cynical comedian who decides to run for office as a foul-mouthed animated bear named Waldo as a joke. People have lost such faith in the politicians that Waldo the Bear is able to mount a considerable challenge to the other candidates. Another episode features a device called a “grain,” which records its owner’s every action for replay at a later time. To viewers’ horror, they witness a couple’s domestic troubles spiral out of control as the device eradicates any trust they had in each other. 

What Black Mirror understands that Mr. Robot and Fight Club don’t is that in a world of distractions, technology and consumption have not only shaped political and economic relationships between people, but also personal relationships. Society is at the point in which identities are self-consciously constructed on social networks every day; where a conversation with someone across the world is just a click away, but something as simple as knowing the next-door neighbours is often neglected.  This hasn’t been forced on us. We chose Candy Crush and Snapchat. Perhaps then, instead of asking, “How do we destroy this world?” The question at hand should be, “why did we create it in the first place?”

a, Opinion

Commentary: Anti-Austerity Week a start to mobilizing students

by Ariane Menard on

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Last week, the Students' Society of McGill University (SSMU) hosted a number of workshops and discussions to encourage awareness about Quebec’s austerity measures. Anti-Austerity Week at McGill took a strong stance against continuing university budget cuts while aiming to inform students and the public of what austerity means for them: lower quality of services, higher eventual user fees, a growing wealth disparity in the community, and less support on campus. But despite its merits, Anti-Austerity Week went by relatively unnoticed.

As a youth employment counsellor, I have seen austerity cuts destroy programs aimed to support at-risk populations. As a student, I have heard the rumblings of how these measures will diminish Student Services—through cuts to “non-essential services” such as the Arts Internship program. Sometimes it can be difficult to draw the link between the services that are being lost and the austerity policies behind those cutbacks. Therefore, students may not realize that they are feeling the squeeze of austerity, and as a result might not take action against it. It is imperative that students become educated about this economic policy, and come to understand the broader scope of what is at stake.

It is vital for students to understand the scope of these cuts, as it will impact the variety of services and support available to future generations of students. Anti-Austerity week aimed to make such knowledge accessible, but these efforts must be continued and expanded throughout the semester. Inclusive social media outreach is an important way to reach more people through students’ social networks. Tapping into the outreach power of student leaders on campus is also vital, and creating information booths could help to inform and empower students to push for greater social change.

When threatened with rising tuition, students mobilize swiftly; but the movement against austerity has been far less unified.

Austerity is not an easy thing to mobilize against. When threatened with rising tuition, students mobilize swiftly; but the movement against austerity has been far less unified. This is in part because austerity is a vague and poorly understood economic policy; its effects are far-reaching but not necessarily immediately visible to the general population. Although many people will bear the brunt of cost-cutting measures, it will be felt individually as a small but steady increase in prices and fees paired with wage freezes or salary increases below the inflation rate.

While large-scale protests last spring made the issue visible, the spotlight did not translate into increased understanding of austerity and its impacts. It is important for students to remain informed and politically active in order to preserve the essential social, educational, and health care systems that support us all as members of this community. Uninformed and unorganized protests are not enough. The SSMU and students involved should be applauded for beginning this wave by standing up for social justice and their rights as citizens of this province through their hosting of Anti-Austerity Week, but McGill’s student body must do much more to become educated about the threat that austerity measures pose to their futures and engage with efforts to combat the cuts.

a, Student Life

New York Fashion Week: Taking the trends to the streets

by Tiffany Le and Chloe Lau on

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Monochrome

 

The fashion world is no stranger to monochrome colour schemes and Givenchy’s Spring 2016 collection took advantage of this simple palette to transform silk and lace from sleepwear to daywear. This unusual pairing pays homage to gothic undertones, another prominent theme present at New York Fashion Week. The monochrome trend allows for a wide range of experimentation with textures, layers, fabrics, and accessories while still keeping the pieces relatable. A great addition to this look showcased at Givenchy’s show was a classic pointed heel with an lace-up panel to add structure to the front of the shoe. Not only are such outfits easy to transition from runway to campus, they’re also easy to match on days when you’re running late for class. Moreover, the unique texture and feel of corduroy is a good starting point to become comfortable with the different structures and materials showcased in this trend.

(vogue.com)
(vogue.com)

 

Off the shoulder

 

Proenza Schouler’s collection at New York Fashion Week highlighted the brand’s versatility. The use of asymmetric structures and textures in their Spring 2016 collection welcomes ruffles and polka dots back into the spotlight. The collection also continued the trend of incorporating elements from traditional East Asian garments such as the Chinese cheongsam and the Korean hanbok. One of the prominent trends in the collection plays on fashion’s obsession with shoulders. Should cutouts have been seen in previous years, ut this season is the pinnacle of the full off-the-shoulder trend. For this piece, as well as many others in the collection, designers McCollough and Hernandez incorporated ruffles inspired by traditional Spanish garments. A loose off-the-shoulder top or dress with bell sleeves can give any outfit a ‘70s impression, but a tight off-the-shoulder crop top is a modernized layering staple. Even as Montreal heads into the colder months, the off-the-shoulder trend can still be transitioned to long-sleeves­—an easy tip for students attempting to mirror this look.

(vogue.com)
(vogue.com)

 

 

Longer the better

 

Trench coats have always been a classic staple, but this year they’ve shown up full-length, billowy, and Sherlock Holmes-esque all over the runway. At his New York Fashion Week show, Calvin Klein Collection designer Francisco Costa threw a velvety trench coat over a loose-fitting silk slip dress for an edgy yet refined look. Costa also introduced eye-catching florals that bring to mind a modern East Asian flair. This infallible combo is comfortable, and looks great even when paired with sneakers (as Costa proves) and the intricate and minimalistic stitching on certain pieces ads a subtle curiosity to his creation. Contrasting and combining the richness of fabrics with the simplicity of the outfits is what made this collection memorable.

Long trench coats are a great trend because they are very open to interpretation. A student budget might not accommodate a brand new trench coat, but thrift stores offer a wide range of sizes and colours. Channel a casual Winona Ryder at the 1987 screening of Amazing Grace & Chuck by slipping on a pair of pyjama-looking printed pants underneath, or imitate Audrey Hepburn’s timeless glamour by pairing your trench with some sleek black heels.

 

(vogue.com)
(vogue.com)

Shorts on shorts

 

For his 10th anniversary collection this season, Alexander Wang not only threw the best, most extravagant party of New York Fashion Week, but he also displayed a groundbreaking collection. Wang has consistently paved the way for creating wearable trends with an unusual twist. With defining figures of this generation— from Kanye West to Nicki Minaj—filling up his front row, it was only fitting that Wang’s collection represented this generation’s rebellious, adventurous mindset. His pieces evoked an urban jungle vibe, and one look that stood out was the two pairs of shorts stacked on top of one another. Any pair of baggy jean shorts will take on a whole new persona on top of another pair of colourful shorts. There is a nonchalant, careless feel to every piece that Wang has ever presented, and perhaps that’s the key to his widespread popularity. Whether opting for some worn-in cutoffs with a pair of adidas basketball shorts, or a polka-dotted number over neon spandex, this is a way to break out some clothes hiding in the back of your closet. This whole look is about the confidence to try something different and it is an innovative way to break the conventions of how clothing should be worn.

(vogue.com)
(vogue.com)

 

 

 

 

 

 

a, McGill, News, PGSS

Get to know the 2015-2016 PGSS Executives

by Jenna Stanwood, Laura Hanrahan on

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  • Danielle Toccalino

  • Devin Mills

  • Sahil Kumar

  • Behrang Sharif

  • Bradley Por

  • Brighita Lungu

 

a, Student Life, Student of the Week

Student of the Week: June Mills

by Karina Alibhai on

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June Mills is passionate about using education as a means to foster global development. Pursuing an honours degree in international development, she has become deeply interested in global educational policies, and her desire to help and educate others has driven her to engage in many activities both on campus and internationally.

As the recipient of the Davies Family Arts International Internship Award, Mills pursued an opportunity offered by McGill’s Arts Internship Office to work with the Association for India’s Development (AID) this summer. She was able to intern in their education department, The Eureka Child Foundation, and visit rural areas while examining their primary education programs. From this, Mills compiled a report about the most effective teaching practices in classrooms, and was able to draw conclusions to help the organization better understand which teaching methods were best-suited to improving students’ scores. During her time abroad Mills also travelled around India, to places like New Delhi and Agra.

“I chose to go to India for two reasons: First, I have always wanted to travel [to] India and learn about a new culture, language, and history,” Mills said. “Secondly, I was very interested in the work with education that AID India does.” 

Mills’ passion for global development also led her to get involved with the Dream Corps chapter at McGill.  Dream Corps is an organization that works with local governments, schools, and educators in rural China to set up libraries, provide books, and run reading activities for children. 

“I got involved with Dream Corps because I was born in China and was adopted at a young age,” Mills said. “I have been fortunate to grow up in Canada […] and this is a way for me to give back.” Throughout the year, Mills plans to hold fundraisers and information sessions in order to raise money towards sending books to libraries in China.

In addition to being a member of the Dream Corps chapter, Mills is an executive member of Best Buddies. Best Buddies is an international organization that fosters the inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities in the community through friendship programs with student buddies. Mills has been a part of this program since she was in high school and is now the co-event director of the McGill chapter. 

“I learned about Best Buddies in grade 10 at a leadership conference […] my friend and I loved the program so much we opened a chapter at our high school,” Mills explained. 

On top of planning events like glee concerts and the Annual Art Auction, Mills maintains a positive relationship with her buddy of three years, Jonathan, through playing guitar and attending glee club rehearsals­—her favourite activities to do together.

While education is important for Mills as a pillar for international development, she also places deep importance on her own education and is the recipient of the Duncan McCaskill Scholarship at McGill. Combining her desire to help others and enrich her own knowledge, she is currently a research assistant for Political Science assistant professor Megan Bradley. Mills decided to take on this position after taking and thoroughly enjoying Dr. Bradley’s course, POLI 359, on refugee politics.

Mills is excited to start the next chapter of her life, and she is shocked by how quickly her three years at McGill have flown by. She reminisces that one of her favourite memories at McGill was meeting people from all over the world during first year. 

“I was in New Rez which was huge, but I was still able to meet many people,” Mills said. “I made closer friends here than I ever have, and going through all the ups and downs with those friends was fun and a bonding experience.” 

Mills also cites immersing herself in the McGill community as one of the most valuable aspects of her time in university, and advises other students to do the same to get the most out their McGill experience.

“Don’t worry too much about your work,” Mills said. “Readings are definitely important, but it is also important to take advantage of every opportunity you get because you are only here for a couple years, and there are a lot of cool things that happen at McGill […] Take advantage of all your resources.”

Mills hopes to use the insight gained through her research assistant  position, as well as her various other community service endeavours, as she looks into post-graduate paths such as law school and graduate studies programs. This way she can continue applying her passions and academic abilities to the real world and inspire positive change around her. 

Alouettes
a, Football, Sports

From the Cheap Seats: All about the Alouettes

by Sason Ross on

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Many McGill students I’ve talked to don’t respect the CFL. They see it as a game filled with unskilled players—a joke living in the shadow of the NFL.

Just go to one game and you’ll see that this couldn’t be farther from the truth. I headed to Molson Stadium on Sunday to see the Montreal Alouettes take on the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. The atmosphere was electric. Every big play was followed by cheers from the crowd of 23,262 vociferous, loudmouthed Quebecers in attendance. A 95-yard kick return by Montreal’s Stefan Logan—the game’s MVP—brought the crowd to a fever pitch. The energy was transcendent throughout the stadium as time wound down. The final score read 35-14 in favour of the Alouettes.

The CFL is a very distinct game in comparison to its American counterpart. It embraces a much faster pace, which leads to more highlight reel plays. With only three downs, a shorter 20-second play clock, and a larger field, offensive coordinators favour throwing the ball over running it. This leads to more long passes—something any football fan will appreciate.

Jesse Briggs, a former Redmen football player and current Winnipeg Blue Bomber, explained what drew him to the CFL.

“[It’s] something that is ours,” he said. “It’s truly Canadian, something that we own.” 

There is a certain Canadian blue collar quality to the CFL. The average salary, according to Global News, is around $50,000 a year—a far cry from the NFL. CFL players have even been known to work as police officers in the off-season.

As a result there is less media coverage surrounding the CFL. It’s easier to focus on the on-field action without the distracting WWE-style narratives around deflategate and concussions. 

The knock on the CFL is that the players are worse than NFL players. There’s no denying this—NFL players are faster, stronger and more skilled. The Canadian game, however, makes up for this by being more unpredictable and hence exciting. There’s an anything-can-happen mentality that leads to crazy games and Sports Centre moments.

In Sunday’s game, with Bombers’ quarterback Drew Willy injured, back-up Matt Nichols got the start for Winnipeg. It was immediately apparent that he was overmatched as he threw a pick that would have shamed a Pop Warner quarterback.

Injuries hurt a team far more in the CFL than in the NFL, because teams have less depth. This creates absurd and unexpected mismatches week to week. With less certainty comes more excitement and parity. Another wrinkle in the CFL is that after the three-minute warning, the clock stops on every play—20-point leads vanish in the last quarter of games as teams chuck the ball up on every possession. 

These quirks make the average CFL game a perfect way to spend your Sunday. So grab some friends, drink a couple cold beers, and embrace some of Montreal’s very own culture—it’s right at your doorstep. Find out for yourself whether or not this game is for you. 

Be proud that we can call this game ours: Truly Canadian.

Alouettes games are played just around the corner from the upper residences at Percival-Molson Stadium. Student tickets are anywhere between $24-34.

a, Sports

10 Things: Rugby World Cup

by Nicholas Jasinski on

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  • 1) The origins

    The Rugby World Cup, started in 1987, is a quadrennial international rugby championship contested by the top 20 national men’s rugby teams in the world. The 2015 tournament, which lasts six weeks, began on Sept. 18th and is being hosted by England. The final will be held at Twickenham Stadium in London on Oct. 31.

     

     

  • 2) Japan's upset

    Japan defeated South Africa 34-32 in the first great upset of the 2015 Rugby World Cup . The surprise group-stage victory was entirely unprecedented. South Africa had only lost to three other teams in the history of the World Cup: Australia, New Zealand, and England. It had also been 24 years since Japan last won a World Cup game. The match represents a pivotal moment for rugby in Japan, where the 2019 World Cup will be hosted.

     

     

  • 3) William Webb Ellis

    The winners of the tournament are awarded the William Webb Ellis Cup. The trophy is named after an Anglican clergyman who invented the sport of rugby in 1823. According to legend, Webb Ellis simply picked up the ball during a soccer game and ran with it towards the goal, inspiring the new sport of rugby.

     

     

  • 4) Leaderboard

    The Rugby World Cup is organized by the sport’s worldwide governing body, World Rugby, which  was formerly known as the International Rugby Board. The association, founded in 1886, has 100 full members and 17 associate members, and is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland.

     

     

  • 5) The qualifiers

    Twelve of the 20 teams in the tournament qualify automatically by finishing third or better in the group stages of the previous Rugby World Cup. The remaining eight teams qualify by region, with Europe and the Americas both receiving two qualifying places and Africa, Asia, and Oceania one place each. Final qualifiers are decided through a play-off.

     

     

  • 6) Narrowing the competition

    The tournament is divided into a group stage and a knockout stage. The nations are divided into four groups of five teams. In the group stage, each team plays every other team in its pool once. Teams are awarded four points for a win, two points for a draw and none for a defeat. Teams can also score a bonus point by scoring four or more tries in one match or by losing by seven or fewer points.

     

     

  • 7) Knockout

    The top two teams from each pool enter the knockout stage, with the third-place team falling out of the tournament, but automatically qualifying for the next Rugby World Cup. The knockout stage has eight teams and three rounds: A quarter-final, semifinal, and then the final. The winner of each group faces the runner-up of another group in the quarter-final. The losers of the semifinal matches play a consolation match for a bronze medal. 

     

     

  • 8) New Zealand

    New Zealand—the current title holder—South Africa, and Australia each hold two titles. England captured a title in 2003. New Zealand is the only country to reach every semifinal held since the Rugby World Cup was created.

     

     

  • 9) Viewership

  • Attendance has fluctuated over the history of the tournament. The average sits at around 1-2 million spectators each year. The most successful Rugby World Cup was the 2007 edition, held in France and attracting 2.3 million viewers, 35 per cent more than the 2011 tournament in New Zealand.

     

     

  • 10) Pitch to PC

    The officially-licensed Rugby World Cup 2015 video game was released in September 2015 on PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360 and Xbox One. IGN rated the game 1.5 out of 10, calling it "unbearable."

     

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