#360view: No answer from north

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  • South over north: Southern hemisphere going strong in the RWC.

    England 2015 was supposed to be the Rugby World Cup where the northern hemisphere laid down a statement that it would no longer be considered cannon-fodder to the south.

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    Ireland began the tournament with a perfect blend of flair and experience.  Their form over the last two seasons under master tactician Joe Schmidt had many whispering that this could be their year.

    Wales broke their southern hemisphere voodoo last November with an historic victory over South Africa that had Warren Gatland shouting from the rooftops that the omens were good for his men.

    Three-time finalists France always seem to raise their game for the World Cup and could have been tricky opponents in familiar surroundings while mighty England were considered a force to be reckoned with at HQ.

    Yet exactly one month since rugby’s showpiece event began, Scotland’s agonizing quarter-final loss to Australia embarrassingly marks the end of the northern hemisphere’s involvement in the tournament.

    The prospect of another head-scratching four years will hurt more this time than in previous years for the north. Two of this year’s semi-finalists were looking far from being one of the top-four teams in the world heading into the tournament, while it must be said that Scotland aside, no one even got close.

    Following South Africa’s early loss to Japan the Springboks have been at their destructive best and simply blew both Scotland and Wales away with an impressive, if boorish, display of power rugby.

    Australia meanwhile have been a shadow of their former selves ever since the British Lions series victory in 2013. Maybe rugby fans should have taken the hint when four countries combined only beat an under-strength Australia 2-1.

    Australia dropped a hint of their potential to cause an upset with a victory over New Zealand in this year’s Rugby Championship but the swathes of yellow shirts in the crowd at Wales v South Africa quarter-final showed that even their own fans expected a second-place finish in the Group of Death at best.

    In beating Wales and England Cheika’s men showed that they are back at rugby’s top table and are combining creativity with a strong set piece to create an almost unsolvable equation for anyone at this World Cup.

    It is less surprising to see Argentina and New Zealand progress to the tournament’s latter stages given their consistent good form over the past 18 months, but the manner of the Pumas’ 23-point winning margin against Ireland really highlighted the gulf indifference between the north and south when it comes to high-pressure rugby.

    The main factor behind the north’s abysmal showing in a ‘home’ World Cup is preparation.

    It is no secret that while the Six Nations boasts magnificent stadia and a magical atmosphere, the rugby skill-level is just a fraction of the southern hemisphere’s Rugby Championship.

    Over the last decade Italy and Scotland have provided two ‘soft’ fixtures where the other four teams are almost guaranteed a hefty win.

    Compare this to the Rugby Championship’s four-team format where every game is up for grabs. Even in the early stages of Argentina’s inclusion in the tournament, Rosario presented one of the most hostile away days going.

    This means that the southern teams are more accustomed to playing under the pressure of what is essentially knockout rugby, as any loss in their tournament will usually mean foregoing the championship title.

    This explains their sharper decision-making and their confidence on attack in the quarter-finals.

    With pride to play for and Scotland’s improvement in this tournament it looks like February’s Six Nations could be the best yet, but if the Webb Ellis trophy is to make another trip up north following Japan 2019, there is quite some way to go yet.

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