World Cup Preview

By Lestyn - 9/10/03
October 9 2003

Four years of waiting will finally be over on Friday morning, when millions of us will skive off work to lend our full and undivided support to Argentina. It’s a shame that Steve Hansen and the boys don’t have a hope of taking home the silver wear,but we can look forward to some pretty decent rugby.

Optimism may be in short supply at home in Wales, with only a small number of fans bothering to make the journey down under, but our old friends across the border, if the English press are to be believed, only have to turn up to get their hands on old Bill (as the Aussies call it).

There’s no doubting England have an exceptional team, but they like every other team are really going to have to be on top of their game to get anything out of the tournament. Australia as the host’s may have had a dodgy year, including a first ever defeat on home soil by the English, but improved significantly as the Tri nations neared its end, only just losing out in New Zealand. With the crowd behind them, and their RL boys settling in they should prove more than a match to any of the favourites. But they are quite lightweight up front, which could prove to be their Achilles heal.

I don’t think the French will have as good tournament this time round though, Laporte’s side are still developing, without the mental toughness to win big games in the latter stages of big tournaments like this.

The same could be said for the All Blacks, who despite hammering South Africa and Australia earlier this year, still struggled in victory against England and a tight win over a shadow French side. The absence of a stable goal kicker cost them in both those games, as good as Carlos Spencer is with ball in hand, an off day with the boot will against a solid defensive outfit inevitably lose matches. But it’s difficult to write off any side, which can create tries more or less from nothing. However like the hosts could get found out up front.

And of course England. Who after unusually not throwing away a grand slam this season, and winning in both Oz and New Zealand are quite rightly favourites for the trophy. As mentioned above their press are building them up, but as the past has shown it’s easier to knock them down that way, should they fall at any hurdle. With an all round strength that no team in the rest of the cup can match, it would take a brave person to look outside Woodward and co for the crown, but in a one off situation the pressure may get to them.

Moving on to the dark horses, South Africa despite their recent troubles still have some credibility, the Bok’s have only ever lost one World Cup game and that was down to a drop goal in extra time, in the semi final four years ago. But with few big names make the trip to Oz, Rudi Straueli’s side posses little to worry the big guns. They’re bruising physical play will only get them so far, without Brent Russell behind it’s hard to see them unlocking many defences.

Failing to qualify for the quarterfinals last time round has cost Ireland in this years event. Officially ranked the third best team in the World, the Irish have both Argentina and the hosts to worry about. Geordan Murphy’s late withdrawal has made Eddie O’Sullivan’s job even harder, the Leicester players pace and running lines from full back will be hard to replace. Keith Wood’s return will be a major positive. It’s a tough call between them and Argentina for the final quarter spot, but the Paddy’s should just do enough to get through – but that will be as far they make it.

As for Wales, we all know it’s a case of beating Italy, Canada and Tonga and hoping the opposition have an off day in the quarters. Underestimating and overestimating teams has always been our problem. Hansen claims that the autumn internationals came to early in our World cup build up, that’s hope were near our peak against the Italians. Scotland’s situation is a similar one, but unlike Wales they’re style is not suited for the hard grounds.

Unfortunately the rest have little chance of a quarterfinal berth. Through simply not having enough the talent or being bullied out of their best players by foreign provinces or clubs – either way the World game will be at a loss. It really is a travesty the likes of Trevor Leota and Dan Baugh won’t be gracing our screens. And yet the IRB sits back and does nothing.

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