Mostly Australia
This post is mostly about Australia so if you wanna read what I wrote on the other countries, skip these few paragraphs and scroll down below.
AUSTRALIA ========== Australia played some quality rugby in the first 40 minutes against Russia then barely won the second half, if not for a Berrick Barnes charge down try. The tournament ending grade one strain to his left hammmie for Drewster was personally heartbreaking for me. I have been following him since his debut in 2005, when there was a mass exodus/retirement of Australian players and remembering who is this baby faced 21 year old, and will he able to fill the boots of the great Australian wingers like Joe Roff, Wendell Sailor, Lote Tuquiri, Matt Rogers and Stirling Mortlock. Fast forward 6 years and this dude is from having the form of his life for Australia and with the Tahs in Super Rugby. I was in Australia when he got the horrific ankle dislocation against the Reds which ruled him out of the remainder of the season and all but ending his World Cup hopes. I was remember being damn bummed going to a Tahs game and watching Lachie Turner instead of him and I was like man he is on a totally different level(only Beale was the only one worth watching in the backline then as Barnes was out with head injury). However, being the dedicated player he is, Drewster made a quicker than expected recovery through and forced his way back into the Australian reckoning for the World Cup and was named in Robbie Deans' 30-man squad for the World Cup. And he's out. Again.
This dude is a champion in my book and it was a tough call between him and Habana in my all time World 15 and honestly, I've haven't decided who was the better winger in their prime(I can't choose both of them cause the other winger has to be Lomu you see). I hope he recovers in time for Super Rugby next season and he continues to play for Australia in the next RWC, smashing many more records in the process. He joined the great David Campese as 2nd-highest ever World Cup tryscorer for Australia in the Russia game, that means 10 tries in 8 RWC games (Campese needed 15 matches to get his 10 tries). Only Australian legend Chris Latham has more.
Happier times: 1) When he was side stepping and burning everyone like nobody could touch him and scoring tries like it was free
2) Showing the world his butt tat
THE REST OF THE WORLD ======================= So the quarter finalists of RWC are decided and the semis will look something like this: WAL / IRE vs ENG / FRA AUS / SA vs ARG / NZ.
South Africa have looked good, in fact, pre-tournament I suggested a SA/AUS or NZ/AUS final. This is no longer possible. That loss to Ireland really screwed the groupings. Ireland has continued to improve. I, unlike many others, was not super impressed with their performance against Australia(just that Australia played like crap), but they were great in a difficult match against a committed Italy.Ronan O’Gara looked a different attacking player in this match – Alan Gaffney take a bow!
Wales look like a complete team, with that 66-0 match against Fiji. Keeping a Pacific Island team to zero points is something, but I think that this Fiji team was not much a challenge and I think that Ireland will prevail. Ireland can play a tight game, rotating between the two flyhalves Sexton and O'Gara, or a wide out game like we saw in the 2nd half against the Azzuri.
England’s hard-fought win over Scotland should not be under-estimated either. They look a very mature side, with real strike power and an ability to play whatever game is required. France were horrible against Tonga, but perhaps that just signals an outstanding performance around the corner. Argentina remain in the top tier, but they are not the side of four years ago in France.
The favourites must still remain New Zealand. They have been dealt a horrible blow with the injury(full tear to abductor tendon) to Daniel Carter and we all are saddened by his absence. In all honestly I thought the news was bullshit that they wanted to rest key players for the Canada game but after they made the official statement that he's out of the RWC the next day I couldn't believe it. I mean of all people. And the timing! Please take care of McCaw foot. Its one thing to lose Carter, but its another thing to lose both Cater and McCaw altogther and I feel McCaw is the bigger loss because of the leadership role he is in but that is for another story altogether. Carter is one of the truly great players and an ornament to the game. Aaron Cruden is named as the backup to cover the number 10 slot but I feel Colin Slade is a better understudy to DC and will continue to stay in the playmaker role. They nevertheless remain a complete team and can play a high-paced, high-power, high-impact game with real attention to detail.
The biggest game of the quarter final no doubt will be the number 2 and 3 sides in the world, SA and AUS. The question is whether Aussies can beat the Saffas 4 times in a row and have a shot at the Semis, who will most probably be the Kiwis. I feel that this game largely depends on who PDV picks. If he decides to go with guys like Bismarck du Plessis, Danie Rossouw, Francois Hougaard I'll be shit scared, but if he guys like picks John Smit, Bakkies Botha, Pierre Spies, I'll be more comfortable. And how great that Frans Steyn is out. And if the Aussies manage to win the Saffas, who knows, they might have the confidence to beat the Kiwis.
I’m excited!
REPLIES TO TAGS ===============
Shorm: The minnows have all moved forward considerably, so some things are working. Maybe the IRB’s initiatives are having an effect, the next RWC will surely throw up some new threats and upsets! Japan Coach former all black John Kirwan himself said that Japan needs matches with bigger nations like 6nations and trinations to improve. Asian 5 nations is great but it's not helping much for Japan having yet to drop a game. I feel Japan has no problems with stamina, they lack intensity. Their players are probably as fit, or fitter than most countries but if you watch their matches closely you really see a drop in the level of intensity during the match once they or the other team takes control of the game.
And SBW is overrated. Period. Please look at Conrad Smith, he is the most underrated All Black player in my opinion because he works so fucking hard off the ball. He tackles are super low and his defence is effective plus he is one of the best support runners I've seen in rugby.
Nick: I agree with the Alesana part. That is why Manu plays for England. Stronger Nation = Easier Group = More chances at attack = More chances at Rugby Glory. Franz Steyn is out due to shoulder injury and I am so happy for that because he has a damn sick boot with a penalty range of 60 meters and Australia won't have to deal with being stressed giving away penalties on the halfway line. Spies in my opinion has always been under performing for SA. It was between him, Henrich Russow and Burger in my Fantasy Team and I choose Burger because of experience and safety of performance, something Spies has yet to achieve. He can really be damn awesome one minute and like shit in another. Burger, on the other hand has really matured and knows his role in the team now plus he has stopped giving away stupid penalties and yellow cards, something that used to piss me off in the past whenever SA plays NZ or AUS in 3N. On to the topic of John Smit, I think PDV is playing him for his leadership/captain skills instead of his playing skills. I feel that ranked in order of front row ability, Bismarck is world's best player at the moment(along side Australian Hooker Moore), followed by Steenkamp. John Smit, CJ Van Der Linde and The Beast are all joint for 3rd place in SA my book in terms of skill/playing level. But his leadership qualities make him the better option. Now that Matfield's back and Smit had that 2 minute game against the Samoans because of that stupid yellowcard knock on, I think he won't be in the starting lineup much anymore. Plus being able to play both Prop and Hooker and not being a 'specialized' player doesn't do him any favors (CJ Van Der Linde and The Beast are more likely to start due to specialized positions and he will be the utility front row sub).
TP: Tindall has been captaining England in 2011. Moody was captain before him and has a shitload of injuries this year so Tindall got the armband. Didn't really approve of Martin Johnson's decision when they played in the 6 nations. Got enlightened only until I watched England's Pool matches. Maybe because he married royalty that why so zai at RWC. Any idea he is the number what succession to the throne? He might be King one day haha.
