LONDON — As the Rugby World Cup enters the quarter-final stage Andrew Binner takes in five lessons from the final round of group action including Irelands new heros, a déjà vu for New Zealand and why the RFU must take rugby to north England.
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Ireland injuries present golden opportunity for Pumas
The importance of Paul O’Connell and Johnny Sexton cannot be underestimated to the Irish cause at the Rugby World Cup and green heads started to sink when the star duo left the pitch against France.
But in Connacht wrecking-ball Iain Henderson and Leinsterman Ian Madigan, Joe Schmidt’s men have reason to believe once more. The substitutes came on and surpassed all expectations, showing a maturity well beyond their Test experience to steer Ireland home in a pool decider against a fired-up France.
Well done Ian. You did yourself proud tonight. #IREvFRA https://t.co/v0KjHJPn9m
— RTÉ 2fm (@RTE2fm) October 11, 2015
However the loss of Peter O’Mahony (injured) and potentially Sean O’Brien (cited for foul play) will be a real cause for concern with a quarter-final looming against an incredibly physical Argentina side.
Both flankers are relentless in their work rate and Argentina will enjoy a significantly weaker battle at the breakdown.
While likely replacements Jordi Murphy and Chris Henry will bring an unknown quantity to the quarter-finals, Argentina must be considered the favourites for this one.
‘Super Mario’ transforms Wallabies
This week Australia coach Michael Cheika said he enjoyed his team’s victory against Wales even more than beating England because, ‘There was little skill involved, but it was all about guts’.
The eight minutes that Australia defended their line with 13 players must have seemed like eight years and not conceding a point in this period proved a testament to their leadership, cohesiveness and discipline.
STERN DEFENCE: Was this the best passage of defence in #RWC history? #AUSvWAL #RWC2015 https://t.co/pEQHQKiYQC
— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) October 10, 2015
The shrewd appointment of Argentinean scrum guru Mario Ledesma has paid dividends the Australian pack dominated the set-piece against top-quality opposition for the first time in years.
Against England Australia demonstrated their attacking and creative prowess but against Wales, Australia proved they are happy to win ugly. With the weather set to take a turn for the worse, Australia have announced themselves as serious title contenders.
Brave Blossoms bow out in style
Last week Japan become first team in 28 years of World Cup rugby to win three group games and not secure a place in the quarter-finals.
Scotland’s earlier victory over Samoa had consigned Eddie Jones’ men to an early exit but that didn’t stop Japan dispatching the USA with all the style, skill and courage that has seen them win the hearts of England 2015.
This fan shows what all of Japan (and a lot of rugby supporters) want to say to Eddie Jones after the teams success. pic.twitter.com/vXyqkvcM2G
— EatSleepRugby (@eatsleeprugby) October 13, 2015
However the success has also been noticed at home. Japan’s win over Samoa was watched by 25 million people back home, which represents nearly 20% of the nation’s population and a new world record for a domestic TV audience watching a match.
In any other pool their efforts may have been enough, but their magnificent showing proved that the previously thought of ‘minnows’ now belong at rugby’s top table.
Unfortunately Jones will not be at the helm when the Brave Blossoms compete that their home tournament in 2019 but if the team continues to play with his structures, a first quarter-final may be on the horizon.
France’s loss is the World Cup’s gain
France’s prize for losing the Pool D decider is a quarter-final date with New Zealand and there could have been no better outcome for neutrals and Irish fans alike.
Ireland were tactically more astute than France and well-deserving of their victory. However, there is little doubt that Ireland’s injury-depleted squad would have been given their World Cup marching orders at the Millennium Stadium.
Ok on a les All Blacks en 1/4: been there, done that (2007) and won. With the best counter haka performance https://t.co/E5bcs9Dr0b #FRAIRL
— Nicolas Delaunay (@Gershwin12) October 11, 2015
France on the other hand will be quietly confident that history is on their side. In 1999 Les Bleus defeated the All Blacks 43-31 in the semi-finals while eight years ago at the same venue Thierry Dusautoir’s men defeated New Zealand in one of the World Cup’s greatest upsets.
New Zealand will once again start the game as favourites but two survivors from the side that went down to France in 2007 – Richie McCaw and Dan Carter — will already be working out a way to nullify the threat of the French flanker.
England must take rugby away from Twickenham
England bowed out of the Rugby World Cup to a standing ovation at Etihad Stadium and it is now time to take rugby north on a more regular basis.
Due to the enormous financial benefit of playing matches at RFU-owned Twickenham, an international has not been staged in another venue since 1997.
This is what Rugby Union in the North of England’s looks like #haveit pic.twitter.com/5yH9nmi1CC
— David Edmunds (@DaveEdmunds77) October 9, 2015
Taking games to Manchester would likely have a detrimental effect on debenture sales and there would be a stadium-hire cost but these losses would be offset by the popularity of staging matches in the north and the growth of the sport.
Stadiums for every game at the World Cup have been at capacity and this alone proves that the RFU would be selfish to ignore supporters in other parts of the country that want to watch their nation.
Extra time
It is said that one should never meet his or her hero and Irish centre Luke Fitzgerald will certainly wish that he did not meet Rory McIlroy last week for a round of golf. Any golfer will tell you that driving off the first tee is the most nerve-wracking part of any round, let alone when the world No 1 and all of your teammates are watching. Maybe Fitzgerald will just stick to the day job now.
