Jul 31st, 2007 | Test Rugby, RWC 2007 | 20 Comments | print
RWC 2007 Predictions 1 - Pool D
Well, hopefully you have all joined a 2007 RWC pool by now because I am really anxious to take your money ☺. However, to be a fair sportsman, let me start my RWC predictions with a quick look at Pool D. I chose to look at Pool D first because the RWC opener is a Pool D match, and this pool has the potential for an upset like Pool C (Pools A and B look pretty predictable, but I digress).
Pool D consists of the following teams:
- France, 3rd place in the IRB World Rankings
- Ireland, 5th place
- Argentina, 6th place
- Georgia, 17th place
- Namibia, 25th place
Let’s start at the bottom. Namibia or ‘the Welwitschias’ is the only the second African nation to ever appear in the RWC after first qualifying for the 1999 competition. The team has never won a RWC match and suffered a 142-0 crushing vs. Australia in the 2003 RWC. Their efforts lately have been sporadic at best, and little doubt remains that they will be at the bottom of Pool D.
The next obvious victim in this pool is Georgia who have only played in one RWC (2003). Although praised at that time for some good play vs. South Africa, it is likely they only win they will get at RWC 2007 will be against Namibia on September 26.
This just leaves Les Bleus (France), Los Pumas (Argentina) and the Irish to square off for the top 2 positions and advance to the Quarter Finals. At home, the two best teams on the planet are France and New Zealand, so I have a hard time believing that Ireland or Argentina will upset the highest ranked team in Europe. Look for France to come out undefeated on top of the Pool.
Now, the barn burner… Ireland or Argentina. They square off as the last and deciding match of the pool. I know there are a lot of Irish fans around the world, but my money is on Argentina.
Historically, Los Pumas have been strong and they showed a lot of spirit in RWC 2003. They tool a bit of a nosedive about 18 months ago (slipping to 9th place) but have since regained their 6th place spot just behind 5th-ranked Ireland. ARG v IRE is always an exciting match with each team taking one win in past RWC clashes; Argentina in 1999, Ireland in 2003. But, after a triumphant defeat of an inexperienced English side at Twickenham in 2006, a European sweep in May/June of Ireland (2 wins in 2 Tests) and Italy this past spring and Scrumhalf Agustin Pichot returning to captain the team in his 4th RWC appearance, I think the South Americans are ready to explode and start their push towards a spot in the finals in Aukland in 2011. Viva La Revolucion!
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Jul 8th, 2007 | Test Rugby | 10 Comments | print
As I noted previously, the Springbok guests in Sydney on 07-07-2007 started the Mandela Challenge Plate as if their lives depended upon the outcome and quickly accumulated 17 unanswered points against the heavy favorites the Wallabies. In the first stanza, it seemed that the Aussie’s simply weren’t interested in scoring despite this match being the last home test match for the legendary team of Greegan (133 Caps) and Larkham (100 Caps).
Of course, with two Wallabies having the combined test match experience of the entire South African team, it is not surprising that cool heads prevailed. With tries before and after half-time, Australia brought the score-line level. A South African professional foul gave the home side a 1-man advantage and their opponents quickly took the lead and eventually the match, 25-17.
Despite the win, Australia again showed their major weaknesses: lack of focus early in the match and an underpowered scrum. Both of these deficiencies require solid solutions if the Wallabies are to have any chance at hoisting the Web Ellis Cup at RWC 2007.
In addition, an 8-point margin over the Springbok so-called ’second-string’ line is hardly anything to get excited about and is a testament to the depth of the rugby program in South Africa. If you remember that post-apartheid South Africa came out of almost 30 years of international sporting isolation to win the 1995 Rugby World Cup, the depth of the their rugby program doesn’t actually seem that surprising.
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Jul 7th, 2007 | Test Rugby | No Comments | print
Well, it seems that the surprise defeat last week of the New Zealand All Blacks by the Australian Wallabies has resulted in most major media outlets all but handing a win to the home team in Sydney tomorrow against the visiting South African Springboks. In addition to Australia’s confidence-building match last week, the South African’s are sending their second XV and resting their top 20 players.
Those of you who know me are aware of my penchant for the underdogs, so naturally I am counting on the Springboks to show the depth of their rugby program. But it’s more than that.
I see a tired, (over)confident group of banged-up veterans in yellow jumpers (Australia) taking the field against a crew of guys in green (South Africa) who have nothing to lose, are not as battle-weary and know that a great performance could land them a spot at the big dance in France in the fall.
I don’t think it will be easy, but if the ball bounces right and the rugby gods are shining down, look for the Springboks to take the lead in the Tri-nations tables tomorrow.
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Jun 30th, 2007 | Test Rugby | 4 Comments | print
As I’ve discussed previously, the New Zealand All Blacks have begun to show signs of trouble that are no doubt worrying to their countrymen and fans alike as the 2007 Rugby World Cup approaches. Today, the Australian Wallabies officially exposed the All Black weaknesses as they captured a come-from-behind win in Melbourne and snapped a 5-match losing streak against their opponents (BBC, Reuters).
In typical fashion, the All Blacks started the match with extreme prejudice and hammered the ball over the try line to take the lead early on. However, numerous errors by both teams resulted in spastic play and collared the half-time score to just 15-6 for the visitors. In particular, All Black fly-half Dan Carter continued his growing habit of poor penalty kicking and extended his errors by putting at least 2 kicks into touch ‘on-the-full’.
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Jun 26th, 2007 | RWC 2007 | 2 Comments | print
We all know that New Zealand All Blacks have been the highest rated team in the oval planet since Wilco kicked England into the history books at the 2003 Rugby World Cup Final (well, since July 2004 to be exact).
Add to that their worldwide recognition of the Haka ritual (the subject of my next blog) to ruggers and non-ruggers alike and the All Blacks are favored by many to finally hoist the Webb Ellis Cup which has eluded them since the inception of the Rugby World Cup in 1987.
Contrary to popular belief, I think All Blacks PR machine may have gotten a little ahead of itself. These last few weeks have been very revealing for the All Blacks, despite back-to-back wins over Canada and South Africa. Let’s analyze each of these.
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