I apologise for the lack of entries for the games of the rugby world cup, but what I'll do is... I'll just post them another day, maybe in my own words... maybe not. We'll see. Just that these early, uncivil hours take the toll after a while!
Anyway, as it stands now, there are 8 games left to be played in the pool stages, but the winners and runners-up of the pools seem to be set. And a couple of teams are on the next flight home already...
So, for Pool A, it is definite that, with all wins and bonus points, New Zealand are steaming ahead of France, the current runners-up. New Zealand will be playing the runner-up of Pool B in the Quarter Finals, which is a spot being fought over by Argentina and Scotland. However, Argentina seem to be favourites for it (in my books, anyway), since they have Georgia to beat while Scotland need to win against the current pool leaders, England. But Scotland don't just have to win... they need a bonus point win, or a win with lots of points and also without the Argentines having a bonus point. To be honest, I can't see that happening. Not with the Scots playing England and the Argentines playing the Georgians.
Therefore, England will be at the top of the pool B , with Argentina coming in second place.
Now, for the runners-up of pool A, it seems to be France, and they will be up against England in the quarter finals. This will be a huge game! England have problems with discipline and France have a problem with... being France, I guess! England have performed very well when they are not dropping (or changing) the ball, missing the posts or giving a knee to someone's head. France have also done good when they finally screwed their heads on. But, when France are good, they really are. So I predict that the French will win, but it will be close.
Now for the quarter-final involving New Zealand. I predicted they will be playing Argentina. But, let's face it... it has to be New Zealand. And if you want to know why or you think I'm going crazy... you haven't at all been watching them play. And, though they're known as 'chokers', I really can't see them choke against Argentina. The Kiwis are too on form for that. I don't think it will be as close a game as the English-French game either. The Argentines have more brawn than brain, but the New Zealanders are very skillful and the passing of the ball is impeccable.
So, from Pool A and Pool B, I think New Zealand and France will be going into the semi-finals. But, not against each other... not again!
They will both be playing the winners of the other lot of quarter finals, and it seems from Pool C, the winners seem, unexpectedly at the beginning of the tournament, Ireland. After their historic victory against Australia a couple of weeks ago, it seems they can indeed top the table. It is still possible for Australia to top the pool, since they will be playing Russia and come away with an easy win. But Ireland also have an easy, but not so easy, game against Italy. From the 6 Nations, Ireland and Italy have annual fixtures, so they know each other's game, but it won't be as much of a walk-over as the Australians have it. The only way Australia can top the pool is if Ireland lose. And will that happen? Well... if it does... Ireland will sink to third, leaving Australia and Italy to qualify. Anything can happen in rugby... and things like this have happened before. But I can't see Ireland throwing it away at this stage in the game. They have too much experience for that... so I guess having such a senior team isn't that bad!
Now, for Pool D, Wales are second in the pool due to that heart-breaking defeat against South Africa. But this seems to be the strongest, most confident Welsh squad in a long, long time. They had every intention to win against South Africa. They could have beaten them, but it was not to be. However, being one of the youngest squads in the world cup, they are playing very impressive rugby. The high-scoring win against Namibia will boost their confidence a lot for the game against Fiji, against whom they must be very wary. But I'm sure they won't let history repeat itself, which they proved against Samoa.
South Africa, then, they're safe at the top of the table and seem to be lined up to play Australia in the quarter finals, leaving the Irish play the Welsh. It works in the favour of the Welsh, and possibly the Irish, too. With the South African performance against the Australian, I can see the South Africans doing well against them and will advance to the semi-finals. But the closer game will be against Ireland and Wales. Both nations will want to win this one... and they won't give it up easily at all. I think it will all come down to the Welsh fitness and youth against the Irish 'old-age wisdom' and experience. But what I've noticed lately, the Irish can tire. And this will be their downfall. And I think because of this, Wales will just about clinch it. Just about.
So, who do we have in the semi-finals?? New Zealand v South Africa and France v Wales. Exciting!
Now, I'm having trouble in deciding this one. Both games will be close, however, with the pressure under New Zealand being hosts and the knack of bottling it, they will be giving it their all against South Africa, and New Zealand have been on better form than the South Africans, and for that reason, I'm putting New Zealand in the final.
But Wales and France? That's a tough call. The problems they have are starting and being there. The Welsh take a while to get into the game. They aren't the best starters, as proven against South Africa. They may only take 5 minutes to get properly immersed into the game, but in those five minutes, a try may be scored against them. At this stage of the tournament, they cannot allow that to happen. I'm sure they'd have learnt that with the South African game, so they will be needing to score those first points. The French, though... they are either there or aren't. That's the thing with them. They can play really well, but in some games, they don't know where they're going or what they're doing. For the sake of the Welsh, let's hope their minds are concentrating on cheese. But whatever the outcome, it will be a close one. France are no longer the France they used to be, but Wales are better than the Wales they used to be. So, with only a couple of points in it, Wales could well indeed go ahead against New Zealand in the final.
And that is where it could all end for Wales. It has been nearly 60 years since the Welsh have beaten the New Zealanders. And New Zealand will not let them do it again. Not in this tournament and not in the final match. New Zealand have so much running on this world cup, they cannot afford to let anyone hinder them. But then, who knows what the psyche will be in the Welsh team... it would be the first time they got so far. The last time they would have done as good was 24 years ago when they came third in the tournament.
As I mentioned earlier, anything can happen in a game of rugby, and a lot of things have happened in this tournament that were unexpected. But we'll just have to see. It isn't over yet...
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