Rugby World Cup 2011: "Result! I desperately wanted England to lose to France"

Now, just before my many critics vent their spleen in rants about me being anti-English, anti-northern hemisphere, anti-Johnson, whatever, take note of this: the headline is not me saying it.

No, the headline is the sentiment of some mates – all of them England born and bred, all of them regular visitors to Twickenham, all of them with a red-rosed white shirt in their closets. In short, all true-blue England fans.

It may sound bizarre for England fans to say that, but there's method in their reasoning… That an early exit at RWC 2011 will possibly and hopefully prevent an even bigger embarrassment on home soil at RWC 2015. Or put another way, that defeat to France would stun England into making wholesale changes – in management, in player selection, in playing style.

As one mate put it: "If England go on to reach the final in New Zealand – even if they lose –  Martin Johnson and the RFU will simply believe that all is okay with English rugby. And we'll forever have an impotent backline and stick to players well past their best and tactics good enough to beat mediocre opposition but inferior to the top sides."

And let's face it, France were far from great in Wellington. Committed, determined and workmanlike with the occasional flash of brilliance – but England lost this match as much as Les Bleus won it.

It will be a bitter pill for England fans to swallow. But maybe, just maybe, my England mates are right… this bitter pill could well prove to have a sugar coating.

As for the first quarter-final, wow! Wales were simply sensational. Direct, incisive running combined with tackling of an intensity not often seen, made them full value for the semi-finals – and final if they repeat this power show.

In a strange way, defeat for Ireland could have a similar clear-out effect to that of England. And they should start with old man Ronan O'Gara … two terrible knock-ons with Ireland hard on attack and two terribly overcooked kicks for touch took the sting out of Ireland's running – and Wales needed no second invitation. 

Do you agree with my mates? What was really wrong with England and Ireland on the day? Let me know!

This blog is supported by Maximuscle, the sports nutrition choice of Courtney Lawes, Joe Simpson and the Welsh team. For more information on how Maximuscle is the Team Behind the Team go to www.maximuscle.com/tbtt

Rugby World Cup 2011: Close encounters of the quarter-final kind… with wins for NZ, England, SA and Ireland

Twelve wannabe pretenders to the crown are already snugly tucked up in bed at home – and four more will have joined them come Sunday night. But who will they be?

At face value two of the weekend’s quarter-finals look to be safe bets, and two are absolute humdingers that only a fool would re-mortgage the house for to lay a bet.

But all eight teams, some more convincingly than others, have deserved their place in the knockout stage – and you just have to think back to Cardiff at RWC 2007 that no quarter-final is signed and sealed before the kick-off.

And while purely of academic interest, how different might the draw have looked if the outcomes of a few close games had been reversed… if Argentina had held on to their lead against England, if Scotland had not choked against the Pumas, if the world rankings had held sway between Australia and Ireland?? But that’s how this wonderful game goes, and now we’re guaranteed a southern v northern hemisphere final.

So here some thoughts and predictions… and would like to hear your take on the weekend.

New Zealand v Argentina One of the two ‘bankers’. Even without Dan Carter, even with Richie McCaw carrying an injury, the All Blacks should have far too much class for the enthusiastic but ultimately limited Pumas. There should be some parity among the tight five, the All Black loosies should secure plenty of fast ball, and the backs will have a field day. Game over. New Zealand 32 Argentina 15.

England v France The game between the two teams who’ve made more off-field headlines than set the world alight with their play. The drinking, kissing, lewd dwarf-tossers versus the bitching in-fighters intent on starting a new French revolution. Martin Johnson’s team have hardly been electrifying, squeaking past only reasonable opposition in Argentina and Scotland.

But so be it, they key is they stayed composed and won – and nothing else matters. France, in turn, have been a disgrace, and are the only team to have lost two matches and still qualified for the play-offs.

All signs point to a convincing win for England – and deservedly so. But this – need we any reminding? – is France. Tempestuous, arrogant mavericks that can lose by 50 today and beat the same opposition by two tomorrow. Supporters will hope, opponents will fear, that they have their customary 80 minutes of sublime RWC magic in them, when every bounce of the ball goes their way.

Just don’t see that happening. This France team make their 2010 Football World Cup counterparts look smart and disciplined, while England have enough grunt upfront to silence the calls of Allez Bleus. England 28 France 17.

Australia v South Africa Compelling, fascinating, thrilling… almost an injustice that the world No 2 and 3 teams should meet so early, and a match that won’t be settled until the final 10 minutes. If the Wallaby loose forwards compete like they did against New Zealand in Brisbane in August, and free up their hard-running backs, they could sneak this one. But the Springboks have shown in close matches against Wales and Samoa that they know how to hold their nerve. South Africa 21 Australia 18.

Ireland v Wales To neutrals surely the match-up of the weekend. Ireland, so brilliant against Australia, have gone about the business with understated grit and determination, throwing the pre-RWC form book right out of the window. A true all-round side, boasting presence upfront, a magnificent back-row and hard-running backs. And there’s the rub… with slightly different emphasis, we could say the same about Wales, who’ve done well to overcome that heart-breaking defeat in their opener to the Springboks.

I’ve tossed my lucky 50p coin untold times – and still it’s even between tails and heads. A draw perhaps at full-time with the tie settled in extra time? Virtually impossible to call in on-field skill, so I’ll predict it on perceived mental strength. Ireland, I think, just have that bit more self-belief than Wales, so it’s Brian O’Driscoll’s team by a whisker. Ireland 24 Wales 22.

Prepared to put a tenner on each of the outcomes. How do you see it?

This blog is supported by Maximuscle, suppliers of sports nutrition to Courtney Lawes, Joe Simpson and the Welsh Rugby Team.

Rugby World Cup 2011: England show they are getting better with every game in big win over Romania

This was little more than a training run for England, one in which they executed things slickly and with purpose.

In that regard they can be satisfied with their evening’s work, 10 tries is a decent return in anybody’s book, a bonus point secured and the prospect of a quarter-final place tantalising close.  They will be through if Argentina fail to beat Scotland on Sunday.

Uplifting as the performance might be for England fans, there was a sadness in the hearts of those who would like to see the second tier nations being given a fair crack. Romania, with 11 changes, had their sights set firmly on what will be their World Cup final when they play Georgia next Wednesday. These four-day turnarounds have really taken their toll with some scorelines that embarrassingly blown out this week.

England though had been looking for a more polished display and they got it. Their attacking game had been faltering, interaction between backs and forwards fractured. The fact that the backs scored nine of the tries tells you all you need to know about the quality of the ball. It was fast and decisive.

Mark Cueto made a welcome bow in the tournament with his rat-a-tat hat-trick in the first 26 minutes, the Sale wing showing that he had fully shaken off the back injury which has delayed his entrance in the tournament. Cueto’s work rate has always been admirable but his finishing has tailed off. The three tries were all well taken, Cueto being in the right place at the right time.

Chris Ashton, inevitably perhaps, couldn’t allow anyone to steal his limelight and he showed a true finisher’s instinct. He has been searching for a bit of form himself so this was good to see also.

And what of the ill discipline that so annoyed Martin Johnson last week? Well, England were not without blemish, dropping back into old errant habits when a little bit of pressure came on but there was at least some sign of improvement.

England didn’t allow themselves to get too loose and overeager even though it was obvious that Romania were there for the taking. Often in games like this individuals can go glory hunting but there was a refreshing sense of England playing as a team.

Five tries were scored in either half indicating that they were determined to keep their shape and keep their pedal to the floor.

The wings did well, of course, the fly-halves shared a half each, and performed as one would expect, reliably so in all phases. The scrummage had the occasional creak but there were sound performances from Alex Corbisiero, Tom Croft and, albeit occasionally ragged at the base, from James Haskell.

England are moving through the gears, all too aware that Scotland at Eden Park next Saturday will be a tougher test all together.

Rugby World Cup 2011: All bets are off as jitters grip New Zealand and hope fills England and Australia

Crikey! Just as I thought it was becoming easier to predict the likely finalists for RWC 2011, along comes this weekend to blow many hopes, beliefs and fallacies out of the water. Only a fool would part with big money to bet on a winner (even though, as we all know, pre-Cup form does not necessarily mean much come the play-offs).

Take New Zealand. They would have woken up Sunday morning as the ‘land of the long black cloud’. Their early-season form has deserted them, and while their defeat to South Africa could be written off as their B team, their Tri-Nations loss to Australia in Brisbane is likely to cause serious self-doubt.

Entirely outplayed for the first 40 minutes – the Wallabies’ commitment was brilliant – the All Blacks should not be flattered by the final score. Many of their top players looked tired and well off the pace, and Graham Henry and his wise men have a massive task on their hands to turn their belief around.

They may just have to clutch at straws – and there’s a good one in looking at Tri-Nations history. The All Blacks won the tournament in 1999, 2003 and 2007 – only to fall flat at the World Cup. This year they won’t go into the tournament as champions, red-hot favourites or with bags of complacency. All good omens?

As for the Aussies, full marks to you. Your tight five were ok, your back-row magnificent and your backs created and exploited gaps, along with stellar defence. I suspect England – who think they have the Wallabies’ number after two successive victories – will face a possible clash with great unease.

So what about England? I make the victory over Ireland their best performance of the year. Lots still to work on, sure, but there was steel and grit in their game. Ireland stepped up considerably from their three-week horror show, but still England kept them try-less while scoring  two themselves.

Even the midfield – generally acknowledged to be England’s area of weakness – looked more than solid. I’m still not sure they have what it takes to smoke the Southern Hemisphere big guns, but on this showing they’ll fairly easily top their group and approach the knockout stage with great belief. And, as omens and portents go, England won the World Cup on the back of winning the Six Nations in 2003.

All bets are off and my only prediction will be that Romania or Namibia are not going to win this.

And then some random remarks after Saturday – and please let me know how you saw the weekend unfold:

* What a shocker for back-row forwards. Ireland’s David Wallace ruled out of RWC and Jamie Heaslip injured, New Zealand’s Kieran Read and Adam Thomson in serious RWC doubt, England’s Nick Easter and Tom Wood sidelined for Dublin but seemingly okay to travel to New Zealand and Hendre Fourie did not last long. Who’d want to be a 6, 7 or 8 given the ferocity at the breakdown nowadays?

* After keeping a close eye on Wayne Barnes (Aus-NZ) and Nigel Owens (Ire-Eng) and their colleagues, I have this horrible fear that match officials – rather than a brilliant kick or try – could overly influence tight matches in New Zealand. Both were guilty of substantial inconsistency at times and getting a few key calls incorrect. Hope they all have a proper workshop before September 9!

* Martin Johnson may just need to have a quiet word with his team over discipline (and not for the first time). Chris Ashton sin-binned (admittedly paying the price for team-mates’ repeated offending), Courtney Lawes’ stupid barge and Manu Tuilagi’s take on David Wallace – even if missed by the touch judge – was a shoulder charge rather than a legal arm-binding tackle (not that this ws the cause of Wallace’s injury). Any of them could be very costly in a close affair. 

* Why do British commentators struggle with pronouncing Samoan names? It’s Manu Tuilagi, not Tuilangi. Just as it was Tana Umaga, not Umanga. Easy to practise … the ‘a’ is pronounced similar to when you’re at the doctor, have a wooden spatula pressing down your tongue and have to say ‘aaahhh’.

* And finally, while we’re on commentators, thank God this World Cup is not hosted by Australia. That way the whole world bar the Aussies will be spared having to listen to Oz commentary. They can be funny and witty at times, but they’re blinkered and one-eyed to the extreme. Their non-stop carping at real and perceived All Black transgressions was already irritating, but then to stay mum when the Wallabies do exactly the same is simply biased. Lord, how I still miss Bill McLaren.

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