Most rugby fans will tell you when their team are playing, everything stops and there is nothing more important for those 80 minutes.
In the last 12 months two nations at opposite ends of the rugby spectrum, have found out the hard way that life does in fact move on outside of sport.
Both the dominators of world rugby New Zealand and upcoming minnows Japan were victim of a number of horrendous natural disasters that has left both countries in pieces.
The rebuilding process is on-going though, and both nations will lay special emphasis on the tournament, as a way of galvanising their respective countrymen.
It is perhaps a suitable coincidence then that they have found themselves drawn against each other in the pool stages of the competition, and will play each other in the second round of pool fixtures.
Whatever happens at the world cup will not be able to ease the pain and devastation suffered by both nations over the last 12 months.
But from time to time sport throws up an event that will provide an event both unique and special, and the game between New Zealand and Japan will be just that.
The match will be a coming together of countries with one supremely unfortunate connection, and will provide a memorable moment of rugby history, regardless of the eventual result.
Both sides share another connection though, in the form of former world cup winning all-black John Kirwan.
Kirwan, currently coach of Japan, scored six tries for his native New Zealand when they won the inaugural tournament on home soil in 1987, and was the first back to represent the All-Blacks over 50 times.
Now entering his fifth world cup, (having played in two in 1987and 1991, coached Italy in 2003 and Japan four years ago), Kirwan's name is rapidly becoming synonymous with rugby's showpiece event.
Kirwan has done a remarkable job with the cherry blossoms since taking the job four years ago, most notably guiding them to 12th in the IRB world rankings, while also seeing them win the Pacific Nations
Cup after it was moved from Japan to Fiji following the earthquakes in March.
Kirwan knows that his job is not done and his toughest test will come in this autumn's world cup.
Japan must win two matches in the pool stages of this year's tournament in order to seal automatic qualification and will be targeting matches against Tonga and Canada as their best chance of doing so.
It won't be easy though.
There only five days between their matches against New Zealand and Tonga, before playing Canada just six days later.
Japan will need the best out of every member of their squad and injuries and conditioning will be critical.
Having not won a single match in in France in 2007, for Japan to seal qualification for the tournament in England in four years' time would be a brilliant achievement for all involved with the side from Asia and no doubt strengthen their position among the developing nations of world rugby,
For Kirwan, memories will come flooding back to 1987 and will be keen to see the country of his birth, put right their disappointing record in the tournament since then.
That being said his primary concern is guiding Japan to where he feels is their rightful place “ among the best of the rest in terms of rugby nations.
Having championed the depth of talent in Asian rugby, Kirwan will need his players to add weight to his statement.
Having won the tournament as a player, Kirwan will not be looking to win it as a coach but he can cement his position as one of world rugby's great coaches with a successful showing this time round.
Whatever happens though, the unique storylines attached to matches like this one, will make for one of the most memorable world cups to date.
