The RWC has been a delightful return for many rugby fans around the globe. There is much to uncover from the group stages of this World Cup, so let's break it down.
The group stages of the RWC in Paris have seen some fantastic games of rugby being played, with performances to remember for years to come. These games are a classic reminder as to why the RWC is so cherished amongst rugby supporters, and why the game needs this event so much. Let's have a look at this quadriennial edition.
A croaky start...
The opening ceremony of this year's rendition left a lot to be desired. You would think that hosting such a prestigious tournament would force the hosts to call upon their best choreographers to celebrate the event. And yet, the French Federation of Rugby (FFR) decided to choose a story of a normal man buying foodstuffs and goods before dancing with a lady in front of the Eiffel tower. Very rugby orientated. The ceremony was made more entertaining (from a cynics perspective) by the embarassing boo's felt by Emmanuel Macron as he took center stage. To be fair, this was the only part of the ceremony which actually did feel authentic.
France were poised to take on the formidable All Blacks, and the build-up was mightily tense. This sense was quickly diminished however by the anthems, something which frustrated rugby fans to no end. The anthems are an integral part of the atmosphere for rugby games, and to have a school choir singing them amateurishly felt cheap. Some children in the choir were pulling faces as the camera zoomed in on them. You get what you pay for I guess.
Anyway, moving on. We came here to talk about rugby!
The egg in question...
The proceeding Haka gave way to delirium once again, and kickoff came around swiftly. Anyone who watched the France vs. New Zealand game will tell you that it's about as good as it gets. The anticipation for every ruck, the physicality, the creativity. Only a couple of other games in the group stages so far have lived up to the standards of the opener, namely Ireland vs. South Africa, and Wales vs. Fiji, which provided a stellar product to audiences. At this point, I think that the 6 favourite teams for the RWC have undoubtedly revealed themselves. Here is a list (in order) of why I think these teams are the ones to watch:
FRANCE - France being the host nation leaves them in extremely good stead for victory at the end of it all, and because of this, they are my favourites. The all encumbering boo's in any stadium after a decision goes against them does give a sense that they are under severe pressure, and the game against Uruguay did show this somewhat. However, their performances against Namibia and New Zealand were strong enough to believe that they won't be stopped any time soon. The flair they show in broken play does work well for them at the moment, especially with Dupont and Penaud seemingly running backwards more than forwards to find space. I do think against a strong defensive team like Ireland, Wales or South Africa however, a fast linespeed could undo their ingenuity, and force them in to a structure that they do not work well in. I've nudged them just above Ireland nonetheless because of said home advantage, which is a significant boost for morale during any game.
IRELAND - The current squad that Ireland boast is the strongest they've ever had coming in to a World Cup - no question about it. The composure shown in their match against South Africa after being dominated in the tackle area shows real promise for Irish fans. Sexton, even at his ripe old age, is still the omnipotent field general that spurs the team forward. Under the experience of O'Mahony, and with their frightening pack which seems more skilled than some backlines, Ireland are certainly the best looking team in the tournament. Their lack of experience past the quarter-finals could be their undoing, especially since games become more cagey and low-scoring towards the latter end of the RWC. Yet, they were able to defuse South Africa in this aspect, so who's to say they can't beat every team. If they are consistent, they will be a force to reckon with for sure.
SOUTH AFRICA - Whenever I watch the South Africans play, I am in awe of their defence. They are incredibly ferocious, employing the coveted "banana" defence in any channel they see fit. Usually, its something that would be used when a team are playing in to space from the start of a phase. South Africa have no regard for that. Their linespeed and co-ordination in defence is something to behold. On top of that, they can win a game solely on their set piece. As we have seen in the game against Tonga, as long as they are able to rinse and repeat their maul and scrum for the duration of the game, they will always be controlling the scoreboard. Occasionally, they can become too reliant on their kicking game, and force up-and-under kicks to a team which deals with it well. I think this might become more prevalent in the dying embers of the tournament, so instead they should call upon their talented backs in Grant Williams, Cadan Moodie and Cheslin Kolbe (of course) to allow for their creativity. Although all but one of these players starts, I think they are going to be utilised a lot more as the RWC develops. They are guaranteed to score if the forwards keep pressurising teams as they do.
NEW ZEALAND - New Zealand, are, well, New Zealand. For those who don't watch rugby, they are like the Real Madrid of European football. They will always remain a threat no matter the competition or stakes. There is a reason that they are the greatest nation to ever grace the sport. For that reason, it's rather unusual to not have them as favourites for a World Cup. Nevertheless, I don't like Ian Foster's management of the talent that he has at his disposal currently. He seems stuck in a loop with Barrett, Mo'Unga and Mackenzie playing at 10. Coming in to a tournament of this stature, it's always ideal to have some squad stability. On the other side of the coin, having utility backs is also beneficial if injuries do occur. Only time will tell. I must admit, they have been incredibly ruthless in some games during the group stages. The game against Italy was a huge statement, and warning, to the rest of the rugby world. Italy are NOT a bad team, and to disrespect them like that was a joy to watch.
WALES - I can already hear the distant boo's of any English readers, and yes, I'm going to be biased. But, In all honesty, Wales have shocked me and many others. In the run-up to the World Cup, most Welsh rugby fans felt a tremendous sense of dread due to the warmup performances and the Six Nations. Since then, Gatland has demonstrably ran one of his infamous fitness camps where players apparently run in their sleep. The Welsh defence has looked (at times) impenetrable. Apart from the brilliant attacking rugby on display from Fiji (probably deserved winners of that game), Wales' fitness has provided them with the tools to work for the whole 80 minutes. They did allow soft points at times but still managed to keep the scoreboard ticking over to secure the win. If they perform as well as they have, then I think they have an outside chance of getting to the final at least. Their run-in also looks favourable, so there's that...
ENGLAND - England, much like Wales, were looking dreadful coming in to this World Cup. But as the tournaments' previous winners in 2003, England seem to always up their game for the globe's biggest stage. Steve Borthwick has managed to get his team to click, with the focus being on intensity in the breakdown area, and George Ford's kicking game. If England are to win, players like Courtney Lawes and Elliot Daly are going to have to lead their team by example, which they have done up until this point. Sometimes, their discipline can let them down, so getting on the referees side in the knockout games will be vital to their success.
Best of the rest...
It's safe to assume that Fiji are favourites heading in to their last fixture against Portugal. Although, Portugal are no mugs. They have shown off their attacking flair with great conviction, and will trouble the Fijians in their bid to qualify for the knockout stages. Nayacalevu and Tuisova threaten any team on their day, so they must keep firing if they want to give themselves a fighting chance.
The battle between Japan and Argentina is extremely enticing to the neutral. Their clash in the final round of the tournament will decide who goes through, so expect that one to be a cracker. No matter which team qualifies, they have a tough task making it past the quarter-finals, so best not to hype them up too much.
Amazingly, Uruguay have overachieved in many respects, producing a stunning performance against France. It just goes to show that with the correct funding, and development of the game in respective countries, teams like these will be able to compete even more in the coming years.
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There you have it, my analysis of the upcoming knockout stages of this years' World Cup. If you have any thoughts as to my predictions, please get involved on Facebook, TikTok and on the blog. I'm sure a lot of you think that I'm wrong!
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