OBT Forum

I am leaving so I won't see the first round but it is rugby time again.

New Zealand - Tonga: 41-10
From what I read, the All Blacks had a good first half and a confused second one.
But they got the points.

It was AWSOME being there.  I'll review my tips on Monday after the last of the pool games to see how right or wrong I was and update them.

OK, time to review my inital predictions.

Pool A - NZ, France, Tonga, Canada and Japan

I tipped France to pip NZ, but France are being a little too French at this tournament, as shown by thier form against Tonga.  France can thank Tonga's short turn arround before the Canada game for getting France into the 1/4 finals, otherwise the French would be heading home.  NZ performed smoothly, but they now have a little voice of doubt with Carter out, still they are the form side.

Pool B - Argentina, Engalnd, Scotland, Georgia, Romania

I picked this as the boring pool and it was, with my pick of England/Argentina only getting through due to the Scots inability to want to score tries.  In both games against ENG and ARG they could have put the game away but failed to see the opportunities they created for themselves.  England are lucky to face France next and not a form side.

Pool C - Australia, Ireland, Italy, USA, Russia

Ireland have suprised alot of people with thier Cup performances so far, me included, but apart from the win over Australia, there were no other suprises in the pool apart from the sheer physicality of the USA and Russia.

Pool D - South Africa, Wales, Fiji, Samoa, Namibia

This pool saw Fiji massivly dissapoint, Samoa fall just short of big expectations and South Africa lucky to finish top of the pool.  Wales have shown they have a brilliant game, however, the young side may falter, like the Wallabies in the big games, as shown against South Africa, where they seemed unsure if they were allowed to win or not.

Quater Finals

Ireland - Wales

If both these teams play the sort of Rugby they developed in the Pool stages, this will be a fantastic game.  Wales have a great back 3 matched againt a solid Irish centre line and the strong Ireland pack is matched by a fast and hungry Welsh pack.  This could go either way, but I will tip the Irish for the simple reason that they showed the cunning of an experinced team against Australia, where Wales young side faltered against the Springboks despite being quite enterprising.

England - France

The general consensus is that France are crap, but having watch England play from the stands, they are pretty ordinary as well.  England have an alright side that gets away with wins, but players for player is outclassed by France, however, the result will hinge on what French team turns up to play.  The one that plays Tonga will be out, but the one that played in the Cup warm up games will towel England.  So in short, I have no idea, but for argyuments sake I'll call France...why, 'cause I'm an Aussie and it is against the law for me to back Engaland.

South Africa - Australia

This will be a typical Tri-Nations encounter, with Australia lucky to have several big names back.  If Australia can maintain discipline and get 50% of the ball, they should make it, just, but if the wet and and wind conspire and the forwards are of the pace, Cooper will implode and there goes the game.  The Boks are good at squeezing tight wet games and with the long range forecast for rain, much as I hate saying it, I think the Boks will win a very tight game. However, I am hoping that recent form against the Boks and the best line up we have will get us home.

New Zealand- Argentina

This will be 50+ win for NZ as Arentina are lucky to be in the 1/4s as they have seemed disjointed and scrathy all tournament, a far cry from thier efforts in 2007.  This game will be used by NZ to build the new combination in the halves for the semi-finals.

I maybe easily confused, but Rugby confuses me. I have seen a few games here there and enjoyed watching. Is there anywhere I could take Rugby 101?

It sounds like I may have to wait till later and watch it on my phone instead of at school......

Quarter Final 2

France 19 def England 12

Not to the same standards as the earlier Ireland/Wales clash, this game was a far more dour contest of two much tighter playing teams, who know each other so well.  As I said earlier, the result in this game hinged upon which French team turned up to play.  The team that played for 60 of the 80 minutes was the pre-Cup French side, though there was worrying discipline and concentration lapses from the French in an fairly solid performance.

England played their best game of the Cup so far, playing with much greater width than is usual for them, however, their lack of long term familiarity with that style cost them through numerous handling errors, where other more clinical teams would have put the French away.  Nevertheless, the English pattern was directed to their own strengths and against the French weaknesses and was almost enough for them to get another tight result.

France will be happy with this win, not only for getting them into the semis, but in giving the team some solidarity and belief in itself.  However, had France played either Ireland or Wales tonight, they would have been beaten, putting the onus fully on the French side to stand up again next week against the Welsh.

All in all, this was more of a traditional northern hemisphere game than the earlier encounter, engrossing in its own way, but not quite the spectacle of the earlier game.