Given how many of the tier two nations have made significant strides in improvement since New Zealand 2011, I felt this was going to be the most competitive World Cup to date. From the evidence seen over the two last weeks, I have not been disappointed.
In fact, the quality of rugby dished out by some of the ‘minnows’, has exceeded my expectations. For example, Namibia, with only one player of repute in the form of hard-man Jacques Burger were more than respectable against the All Blacks, scoring a try to their credit and pushed fancied Tonga all the way as Sandy Park. That is what every rugby fan likes to see. It seems safe to say that gone are the days of the 100 point hidings that only interested the record keepers.
On to the juicier aspects of the tournament. The Brave Blossoms beating South Africa set the tone on the opening weekend, with the next ‘big game’ of significance being England hosting traditional rivals, the neighbouring Welsh. Given the fact that Wales were a side ravaged by injuries to key personnel, I did not feel that they had enough ammunition to upstage England, who also had the benefit of playing at their Twickenham fortress. At the pre-match show, I called for an England win, by ten points or more. My good mate Shanaka Amarasinghe predicted a Welsh win by three points. A brave man I thought. In the end, I learned that fortune does in fact favour the brave!
England was at near full strength, with the only loss being Jonathan Joseph. Stuart Lancaster opted to start the much hyped Sam Burgess at 12, and have Brad Barritt play outside centre. This is where I believe Lancaster got it wrong. Whilst Barritt is a strong defender, he is by no means good enough to play at outside centre at International level. He is simply too slow, and lacks that creative ability and foresight that player such as Conrad Smith and Wesley Fofana bring to the table. Yet, up to the sixty minute mark, all was going to plan. The England scrum was ripping apart the Welsh eight, Burgess was doing what was expected of him, and Owen Farrell kept putting over the penalties after Johnny May had crossed the chalk in the first half. Most importantly they were ten points ahead (in line with my prediction). Rather inexplicably, the hosts then just went off the boil. The scrum disintegrated, Burgess was off, as was Ben Youngs and Billy Vunipola, and they were just not the same side. This brings about serious question marks about the leadership of this England side. A lot of criticism has been directed at Chris Robshaw for opting against the kick at goal to tie the game. But if he was wrong to make that call, then so was Michael Leitch. For the Japs, it paid off, and Leitch has been hailed for bravado. Not so in this case, and the whole world seems to have turned on him. The issue I have is not so much the decision. He believed in his side, and he went for it. Good on him. However, the execution is what was simply daft. The fact that he called it to himself at the front is not fathomable. Their forwards then were limply bundled into touch, and the game was gone.
Amidst a storm of criticism, England are now faced with the harsh prospect of being knocked out at the group stage of their own tournament, should they lose to Australia on Saturday. In effect this clash with the Wallabies could be seen as a pre-quarterfinal. Unfortunately, I feel that the management have not learnt from the Welsh failure. Joseph has recovered and is back in the side at inside centre. However, they have once again opted for Barritt at 13. The only logic I can make out of it is that, Lancaster is worried about the physical challenge that Kuridrani brings and wants to counter that. Does this mean that he does not trust the defending capabilities of Henry Slade, who is much greater attacking threat? Then why pick Slade in the squad to begin with? If England are to overcome the Wallabies, they will have to seize the initiative in the scrums and destroy the Wallaby pack up front. This would form the foundation to give them good field position, or if close enough, to knock over 3 points. If England win by way of penalties only, they will take it. It’s do or die and a real test of character for this young side. A couple of years ago, England lost to South Africa at home, with Robshaw once again in the news for his poor decision making. A week later they played out of their skins to comprehensively beat the All Blacks. They will hope for a repeat, though a victory by even a point will do fine.
However, nothing should be taken from the mercurial Welsh. Behind on the scoreboard for a greater part of the game, with two of their most potent threats in Liam and Scott Williams being stretchered off, the odds were heavily stacked against them. However, to their immense credit they never stopped believing. Dan Biggar was the chief architect of the victory. When Leigh Halfpenny was ruled out, it was though their goal kicking would be a concern. However, Biggar never looked like missing at any point and kept Wales in the game, waiting for an opportunity to pounce on. The chance did come, and in the form of the most unlikely of candidates. The large number of casualties saw substitute scrum-half Lloyd Williams playing on the wing. It was his kick that Gareth Davies chased down to score, and send the large contingent of Welsh fans into raptures.
However, Warren Gatland’s charges did not have much time to celebrate, as they had the tough prospect facing Fiji with just four days rest. Fiji has historically been a bit of a bogeyed team for them, having most famously being ousted by them at Marseilles in the 2007 World Cup. As for the game, they were subjected to a thorough examination last night. The scrum was a disaster which will be a real worry for them ahead of Australia, and the knock-outs to follow (should they make it through). The much lighter islanders shoved them back with ease. Some of it could be put down to fatigue, but at this level, you would expect teams to manage that. Aside of the scrum, Gatland and his charges would take a lot of heart of that performance as they held their nerve to win 23-13. Despite tiring in the second half, which you would expect, they maintained fluency in their game and won the key moments. Though they did not get a bonus point they, will be happy with the win against what was a very aggressive Fiji, and look forward to putting their feet up for the weekend before planning for Australia in a week’s time.
Australia, in my estimation are one of the favourites to go all the way this year, I said along that if Michale Cheika can strengthen their scrummaging, they will have the game to beat anybody. And they have done just that. They have already registered a win against the All Blacks, and though they haven’t played nay of the top grade sides yet, they have shown enough to suggest that they are really hungry to make an impression. Cheika has opted once again to play both Michael Hooper and David Pocock in the starting line-up. And why wouldn’t you? Both of them seem to complement each other in the loose, and have made so many turnovers already. This the most balance Wallaby side I’ve seen in years, with Israel Folau, Kuridrani, and Ashlely-Cooper providing the fire power out wide, with Will Genia operating from the base calling the shots. If their forwards go toe-to-toe with England, I believe Australia will take the game away from them. I expect them to play with freedom, and if all goes to plan, we are in for quite a treat.
At Twickenham, or on the sofa in front of the television – the best places to be this Saturday evening.
