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Former All Black backs Fiji to still win Pool C and Wales to miss quarters
Pool C is in for a tight finish after Fiji scored their first win of the World Cup and handed the Wallabies their first loss, keeping both teams within an arm’s reach of the table-topping Wales.
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Having prevailed in two testing contests against Fiji and Portugal, Wales must now beat Australia to verify their position in the driver’s seat of the pool.
A loss could put them at risk of missing the knockout stages altogether.
Georgia and Portugal both sit on zero points in the pool but that will inevitably change for at least one of the nations when the two meet in Toulouse tonight.
All teams still have it all to play for as the countdown to the knockout stages ticks on.
The eyes of all nations will be firmly fixed on the Lyon stadium overnight as a Wallaby win could open the door for more drama.
“I feel Aussie could defeat Wales by more than Fiji lost to Wales by, and Wales could potentially still fall out,” former All Black James Parsons told the Aotearoa Rugby Pod.
“If you look at Eddie Jones’ press conference, he’s taking it all on himself but, also, they’ve got nothing to lose now and I just feel like they’ve got enough star power in there to score points.
“I think Wales thought they did really well against Fiji but Fiji probably lost that game rather than (Wales) won it.
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“Aussie will have to sort out their discipline, obviously 18 penalties is a hell of a lot.
“I just have a feeling that pool will still see Fiji top it and Aussie potentially come second.”
Wales’ win over Portugal was also not convincing enough for Parsons to back them in the high-pressure moments.
“If they had put Portugal away, and sorry to the Gatland family, I’m a big fan of the Gatlands obviously but I just think Aussie have got a performance in them.
“I don’t think they’ll go deep or make the semis but I think they’ve got a performance in them.”
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Wallabies coach Eddie Jones has promised much upon his return to Australian shores, but is yet to deliver more than just one win in his seven Tests in charge.
The controversial coach’s decision to select a slew of young talent for the World Cup over tried and tested players like Michael Hooper and Quade Cooper has proven unpopular with many Wallaby greats, and the round two loss to Fiji only intensified criticism.
One Wallaby maintaining belief is George Gregan, the World Cup winner remains close to Jones and Justin Marshall recently revealed that Gregan believes the Wallabies can hit another gear in the tournament before all is said and done.
While Parsons candidly made his initial prediction on gut feeling, he added some analysis to give context to where the game would be won or lost for Australia.
“I don’t think they’re going to find the Welsh attack as disruptive, so if anything their biggest cg=hande probably needs to be on defence. One: making their one-on-one tackles. Two: having the ability to disrupt or slow Wales’ attacking ball down.
“He’s picked a young side but someone like Michael Hooper would be very valuable right about now around the breakdown. I think that’s an area where they’re probably just lacking, they’re allowing that speed of ball and then riding tackles and not winning those collisions.
“Wales will be direct, their forwards will be direct. They will use their kicking game, they do have moments of flair but it’s not their natural instinct, they will manipulate in and around that breakdown so they need to focus on that breakdown defensively.”
Comments on RugbyPass
No doubt Razor will want to kick the 2024 campaign off with a decisive selection of the top match fit players to insure his selection as the appointed coach has maximum impact. We the supporters and critics will settle for nothing less because historically it is what we have become ingrained and accustomed to. With that in mind and the distinct fall from grace of his beloved crusaders we will expect him to stamp his mark in the same way he left his old post.
9 Go to commentsI would've expected a better turn around in response to the changes within the team and its management. Lacking in my opinion is the skill sets that once was and now seemingly vacant within the squads regular front runners. Furthermore there seems to be no set game plan, the accuracy that once was is no more, the quality off the bench were poor matchups and frankly I feel a lot has to do with the coaching. Never thought i’d be critising the sadas to this degree.
5 Go to commentsAverage AB captain by recent standards. Speaks to the wider issue
9 Go to commentsWholesome lad, but no longer test level. At all
9 Go to commentsThis game was always going to be close, Canada have such a dominant pack and the Black Ferns have come unstuck in that area against teams like France and England in the past.
2 Go to commentsA distinct discomfort with the officiating they were probably selected from the local IRA narcos branch along with the commentators bloody fly tippers.
1 Go to commentsWow, never thought I would read that
2 Go to commentsExcellent match. Great to see Keenan and Ryan back for Leinster. Super result for Ulster. Season is turning around.
1 Go to comments“We need eight or nine new players, who are hard-wearing and durable and experienced Premiership performers”. So why are they scouting a retired fullback who himself admits that his “body is broken”?
1 Go to commentsBrumbies hand, knocked a Crusaders hand. Therefore, knock on in goal. Crusaders, goal line drop out should’ve been awarded. most likely after that 24 each at full time, so extra time would’ve been the right an entertaining outcome. Act Jim
1 Go to commentsSpeell cehck
1 Go to commentsColeman is gaawwwwnnn.
1 Go to commentsnext SA head coach?
3 Go to commentsGreat try by van Poortvliet.
1 Go to commentsThey have been cruelled by injuries but almost nobody (Sevu Reece and Fletcher Newell big exceptions) has played above himself which regularly happened before. Surely Scott Robertson had maintained the recruitment programme and it looks like a reasonable squad. Last in this competition will stall a lot of careers. Penny seems likeable. But it’s not enough even though this was better. We haven’t been good enough and it’s not helped by the “it’s been 15 years since… “etc “after nearly every match. Seems somehow a soft gifting of something once valuable. Kieran Read giving comments last week almost choked describing the easy surrender of possession by the forwards. I’d love to think that the senior players some of whom are back can show enough pride in the jersey to test the Blues next week.
5 Go to commentsWho will Joe select for the back three with so many in form candidates? Just hope he doesn’t get shafted like Dave Rennie and to a lesser extent Deans.
8 Go to commentsAlways reluctant to blame a coach when losses rack up, but Penney must go. The backline is dysfunctional and the coach must carry the can. No cohesion, no idea and in many cases, minimal skill. The trains out of Roma St depart faster than the ball from Crusaders’ set pieces. Wouldn’t be surprised if the forwards went on strike.
5 Go to commentsAdding to earlier comment. Cullen Grace has been playing great at no6. Lio-Willie , who was on fire a few weeks ago, had a bad game. I think Cullen should have been moved to 8 earlier, Dominic Gardiner on earlier. Feel for Quinten Strange , put in a big shift .
8 Go to commentsWe dominated the scrums Ben Curry was all over pitch again .Surely James Harper got to be one of best English tightheads
1 Go to commentsRoos is a better option at 6 than 8 for the boks. Needs to work on his windgat though.
1 Go to comments