Minnows

NOTE: I wrote this before the games this weekend, but due to Cardiff's shithouse availability of internet cafes I can only publish now- fairly accurate though...

Minnows

One of the pure joys of a rugby world cup is the many, many low rent matches that have to be played to find out who the best of the rest is, that is which teams who aren't going to make the quarter finals can ensure themselves an invitation to the next big dance in 4 years with a strong showing this time around.

The best example of this was on Wednesday night, when we got to see two terrific matches, the first between Japan and Fiji, and the second between Italia and Romania. In the first match the Japanesse showed the incredible never say die attitude that makes rugby the finest sport in the world. They were smaller in the forwards and had less razzle dazzle in the backline, but the Jappannese managed to make it a match for the full eighty minutes. When the Fijians finally managed to score their first try (with a lucky 60 metre breakout) we thought that the Fijians were going to run away with it, but the old kamaikazies managed to fight back in, then lead, then loose again, then fight back in, lead again, and then lose it. But the final act of the game, the Japs keeping the ball alive for over fifteen phases in a desperate bid to steal the game. Unfortunatly they failed, but the spirit they showed, and the spirit the crowd showed, sums up totally what hte world cup is all about.

I was too drunk to really pay too much attention to the Italy/Romania game but the bits I saw showed that they managed to do the same as the Nippons. Which brings us to this weekends minnows game, Canada vs Fiji on Sunday in Cardiff. We have tickets so it should be a hot afternoon, after the maddness that will be tomorrow's big game hopefully the Fijian/Canada fight for the right to come third in Pool B will be a well fought tussle.

The other big matches this weekend will be the deciders for Pools B and A. South Africa vs England tongiht and Australia Weales tommorrow. On paper the Southern Hemisphere teams should be able to a load of points on their belegured Northen rivals, but there is something about the atmosphere at the moment that I think there are going to be two epics played this weekend.

England were once a great team, without Johnny they will struggle tonight, but I figure hey will at least be in the match until about the 60 minute mark, the Saffie's will prob get a bonus point, but not until very late in the match. It will be Habana or Pieterson, grabbing a double that will break the game apart.

The Aussie match will be strange, I'm expecting an 60, 000 welsh, 20 000 Australian mix in the crowd, so the atmosphere will be incredible. The corresponding game last year was absolutley incredible (thank the lord for Latho) and the games in the middle of the year (abliet low strength teams) back home were also well contested. The Welsh have been off for the last few months, but I think at home they will be able to recreate the six nations form that saw them lock England completely out of the game.

The forwards battle should be interesting, with only maybe the second row being a real advantage for the Aussies, but an important advantage. Our backs will be stronger, allthough with Jimmy Hook in the side they are always a chance, he's one of those game change in an instant types.

Look for the Wallabies to win, but it will be soooo close, and maybe the crowd could be a factor. We will win, but it won't be pretty.

Vindication

So I spent a lot of time this week listening to well meaning, but stupid people banging on about the French tilt, and how they will win the worlds cup. I of course have known a lot better so was not surprised at all when los pumas destroyed le cocks hopes of making it past the quarter finals. The Argentinian's played their game plan to perfection, not letting the Frenchies have any ball, and defending like monsters. Contempari at number 12 show's this, they just plugged it up the middle with the forwards, then kicked or bombed the ball up the pitch, only going outside of number 10 very, very rarely. Letting Contempari have a go every now and then. If this will work for the entire coupe de monde I don't think so, but good on them for that game. Watch for Freddie Michalak to be back for the Frenchies as soon as possible, also the mighty Chabal to start.

I didn't get to see much of the AB's game, just the first 20 minutes, which was enough to see the first 40 points. Of course they slowed up a lot after that, which was expected.

The Aussie's started very slowly, and were quite disjointed in the early part of the game. However in the second half when it all clicked they were spectacular. The big story was the performance of the reserves. Hoiles, Mcmeniman, Mitchell, and Barnes were very solid. I am very biased, but how can Palu continue to start? Hoiles on the pitch, with Mcmeniman and Chisholm on the bench allows the coaches heaps of discretion as too who to replace, can you imagine getting both second rowers off at the sixty minute mark and having basically four number sixes and G Smith on to finish the game?

Speaking of which George Smith has a huge candidacy for the try of the cup with his effort in the second half, tackling and regaining his feet in one movement, then running in to score the try untouched was amazing (coupled with the fact he touched down right in front of us...).

As for the other games, the poms were shit, the saffies had some massive hits- then a good win, the Welsh were horrible (but a good game), and the Irish had a non match.

Overall, my reading of the first weekend is that the Southern Hemisphere heavy weights were all about equal (which is a result for the aussies) whilst France and England were predictably crap. Argentina have just let themselves down with a sub par performance against Georgia, but I am going to go and buy their 5/8th Hernandez for my Test Rugby team, as he has to be cheaper then Contempari...