Rugby World Cup week, time for the countdown.
It promises to be arguably the best world cup of all time. Thanks to the lop-sided draw, 3 of the 4 groups have real jeapordy, while the quarter finals will also provide us with 4 impossible to call games (the semi finals may prove to be more lop sided but then anything can happen).
For those looking for a quick guide, I've done my best.
Pool A:
Starts the tournament with a bang on Friday night, hosts France vs the famous All Blacks. Sadly, that's where Group A peaks. Of the 10 games in the group, there are only 2 where the result isn't already near certain. Italy will beat Namibia and Uruguay, but lose to New Zealand and France, the game at the end of the month between Namibia v Uruguay to avoid the wooden spoon is the only other intriguing match up. Hopefully Namibia can get their first ever world cup win.
Pool B:
Group of death. 3 of the top 5 teams in the world competing for 2 spots. Ireland world number 1, but famous for under performing at world cups. A South African Springbocks team that looked formidable vs New Zealand last week. A Scotland team who on their day are now a match for anyone. Throw in a Tonga side benefitting from the relaxation of player eligibility rules and the Moana Pa ifica club side, while they have flattered to deceive in the warm ups, they may get better as the tournament goes on and will target the Scotland game as their biggest hope for a shock. A special mention for Romania, who if people I follow on twitter are to be believed, may well be playing in their final world cup before fading away as a rugby nation. I'd love them to get a plucky win vs Tonga and maybe remind Romanians that they can be good at the sport.
Pool C:
It would 100% be the most exciting group if it didn't feel like it came out at every tournament (Wales Fiji have been paired together for the last 4, Wales Australia Fiji for the last 3 and now Wales, Australia, Fiji and Georgia twice on the trot). Even then, this time it feels different. Fiji go into the tournament as the highest ranking team. A win vs England wasn't a fluke, the Fijian Drua club side now play in the Southern Hemisphere Super Rugby Championship, helping the all round game of the national team. Throw them in vs an experimental and struggling Aussie side and a Wales side who don't look any better and they could easily top the group and get a favourable quarter final. You then have a Georgia side who have beaten Wales in the last year or so, who some believe could actually topple the Aussies and potentially challenege for 2nd place. Is it possible for Fiji and Georgia to go through? Portugal finish off the group, plucky, but likely to be cannon fodder.
Pool D;
England are so, so lucky to get this group, yet even this might not be enough. Argentina look odds on to beat us on Saturday. We will get past debutants Chile and we are facing Japan at the right time (they aren't the side of 4 or 8 years ago), but Samoa are possibly on the road back to being the side of 20 years ago. They are benefitting from the Moana Pacifica club side in super rugby and there seems to be less upheaval at home. That final group game vs England looks likely to be the 2nd place decider and their players will have gelled together by then with the home grown talent and the 2nd gen Kiwis and Aussies who have recently joined the side.
