The first 48 unmissable hours of the Rugby World Cup
If there is one thing to be grateful for as the countdown to the Rugby World Cup moves from days to hours this week, it’s the fascinating and potentially decisive opening weekend that the schedule has delivered.
As fixture lists go, there are few more appetising than the one offered up by the first three days of the tournament in Japan, with pools capable of being decided right from the first game. There will be no room for error, with all four pools entertaining possibly climactic matches within the first 48 hours of the competition.
In all honesty, you could not have drawn it up any better and it all starts with the hosts, Japan, taking on Russia in Tokyo on Friday.
In terms of on-field considerations, it’s not the most glamourous to ever start a Rugby World Cup, but tournaments, in terms of atmosphere, excitement and national buy-in, can live and die on the form of the host nation. In Russia, Japan have a relatively easy match-up to get their campaign underway with and, on paper, Jamie Joseph’s side should put away Russia with ease, potentially racking up a bit of a score as they go.
No one should begrudge the hosts a favourable contest to start the tournament and if it helps them pick up form and confidence going into their matches with Ireland, Samoa and Scotland, then the Rugby World Cup will be all the better for it, despite not being the ‘headliner’ that some would want for the opener.
The next game on the slate is Fiji versus Australia in Sapporo and this can be circled as a major upset alert. Fiji know that, along with Japan, they are carrying the flag for tier two nations at this tournament and they will also know that if they want to make the quarter-finals, they will need to knock off one of either Australia or Wales, whilst also avoiding the significant banana skin that is Georgia.
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Watch: Rugby World Cup city guide – Sapporo
Fiji’s contests with Wales and Georgia, who both play a much tighter brand of rugby, will be fascinating chess matches in their own right, but in Australia they believe they have an opponent who won’t be afraid to open the game up and adopt an ambitious and attacking approach. Not only does this provide neutrals with at least a shot of seeing an upset, it also should deliver a compelling and open match, with both teams eager to lay down an early marker.
If Fiji were to win, they suddenly look very much like quarter-finalists, irrespective of how they then go against Wales at the end of the group stage.
From there the action returns to Tokyo, where the potentially decisive meeting between France and Argentina in Pool C is set to unfurl. If we take form over the entire Rugby World Cup cycle into the equation and England’s recent results against both of these nations, Eddie Jones’ side would look to be favourites to top the pool, possibly making this a winner-takes-all clash for qualification.
It’s an underrated rivalry in the English-speaking rugby world, with the two sides taking six wins apiece from their last 12 games against one another and whilst their players have looked good in club jerseys of late, their overall international form has been less than impressive, with France sitting at 8th and Argentina at 11th in World Rugby’s global rankings.
Unless either nation can upset England and keep things tight in the top three spots in the pool, this Tokyo match-up could see Pool C decided less than 24 hours into the tournament.
Action on Saturday is concluded with the stellar contest between New Zealand and South Africa in what is one of, if not rugby’s greatest international rivalry. The two nations have shared scalps in recent years as the Springboks’ resurgence has picked up speed and barring an unlikely upset by Italy, they will be the two teams to qualify from Pool B.
This is simply a match to decide who will finish top of the group and then face the theoretically more appealing quarter-final. Top the group and you’re likely facing Japan or Scotland, come runner up and you’re probably going head-to-head with Ireland. Although Ireland’s pre-Rugby World Cup form wasn’t the most scintillating, they are still a threat to go all the way in this tournament and, with all due respect, most nations would prefer their chances against Japan or Scotland first up in the knockout rounds.
If you’re still down on the chances of the northern hemisphere teams in this tournament, too, then this is a very possible dress rehearsal for a final between these two southern hemisphere heavyweights, with the draw in the knockout rounds set to keep them apart until the final, should both nations make it through the quarter- and semi-finals.
Sunday doesn’t offer quite the same thrills, spills and dramatic consequences as Saturday, with Italy versus Namibia and England versus Tonga either not likely to impact on qualification or are on paper somewhat predictable, but the contest between Ireland and Scotland in Yokohama City is another Test with bona fide colossal repercussions.
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Watch: Rugby World Cup stadium guide – Yokohama
For Ireland, there’s some leeway here, with them facing Japan six days later. It’s not ideal, especially with Japan getting two extra days of rest and training and the build-up to it, but it’s manageable for Joe Schmidt and his side. As for Scotland, their contest with Japan comes at the end of the pool, just four days after they play Russia, in what is likely to be a physical, if not overly competitive, contest. Conversely, Japan get a full 10 days between their game with Samoa and the Scotland Test.
'There was plenty of discussion over it, because it was such an important decision to take'https://t.co/wbRStMaBf1
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) September 15, 2019
The Brave Blossoms will have had that game circled on their calendars for a long time now and with Samoa looking short of being consistently competitive at the highest level, this is the prime opportunity for a tier two nation to make the knockouts next month. Japan have a balanced squad and game plan and they have encouraging depth in two or three positions, should injuries come calling.
Of course, if Scotland were to win that opening encounter in Yokohama, then the pressure is immediately flipped on to Ireland, whose Rugby World Cup dreams could be shattered just six days later when they take on Japan in Shizuoka.
From the Pool B contest between the All Blacks and the Springboks that will lay out the knockout scenarios, to the “must-win” matches involving France and Argentina and Ireland and Scotland, and from the hosts looking to put down a marker on Friday night to the potential fireworks of Australia versus Fiji, little more could have been asked of the opening weekend.
As 48-hour periods of rugby go, this is looking set to be the most exciting and compelling that we will see before the semi-finals roll around in October.
Watch: Rugby World Cup stadium guide – Shizuoka
Comments on RugbyPass
It’ll be very interesting to see how Razor’s AB’s handle the new England rush D. It’s basically the Bok recipe they copied, so if England goes well then we know most likely the Boks will go well too. If England cops a hiding then we’ll have to study and adapt.
4 Go to commentsTypical trait of an australian is to moan. Goes well with there lack of humbleness as evident by the Reds bench on the weekend.
2 Go to commentsSBW’s bro’town commentary and lazy default to hyperbole should be ignored, a technical analyst he is not. Sotutu is a good player when games get goosey loosey, high skill set that fans of Zinzan recall with starry eyes. But you need power and mongrel at no8 in the Test arena and Sotutu gets found wanting there, much like Akira Ioane. No8’s like Zinzan and Ardie have bucketloads of mongrel and power and tenacity which allow the skill sets to flourish.
11 Go to commentsAn inside pass to attacker on the angle can make a drift defence look lead footed. Relies on fleet footed forward/s to get across from the breakdown. An argument for the smaller faster 7 perhaps?
4 Go to commentsSensational tackle. The reds one was late and rightly penalised. The other two were simultaneous with the pass. If nitpicking TMOs can’t find fault there clearly isn’t any.
2 Go to commentsBrumbies fully deserved their win on the back of their physicality and desire to control the ball. Xavier Numia, Asafo Aumua and Tyrel Lomax should be the ABs starting front row when we start our test schedule. They have “come of age” and have bested all they have faced as well as been dominant with ball in hand in making the gainline. With De Groot, Tamaiti Williams and Fletcher Newell backed up by Taukei'aho and Cody Taylor there's not an international front row that can trouble us. Can't wait to face the Boks over there, won't be no one point game this time.
5 Go to commentsKinda strange that he wasn’t with a premiership team or a higher level of rugby? Start playing late or something? With that kind of size and athleticism you’d think someone would have picked him up?
2 Go to commentsShows how much attitude matters. Last week the Brumbies got done, this week they dominated the tournament leaders, who were likely thinking they could cruise to victory.
5 Go to commentsA Turtle has more pace and leg drive than Owen Franks, so it’s a good thing he only had to run 90 metres for that try.
2 Go to commentsOh Tamati Tua was in the vastly over-rated Leon MacDonalds Blues system? Well, no wonder he was wasted, much like Emoni Narawa and Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens under MacDonald. now look at them. Good thing Tua isn’t eligible, the Aussies latch on to any player who isn’t tied down.
5 Go to commentsMark Telea is a lot of things, but a defensive juggernaut has never been one of them. There will be far bigger tests in that regard for the youngster.
11 Go to commentsLove and respect to Fiji but not a chance outside of 7s
4 Go to commentsGood summation Ned. Agree the Canes were out-muscled for once (except at the scrum!) by a focused Brumbies outfit. Tua deserves consideration for higher honors after the way he humbled Jordie and the Canes defense. Thankfully, his lack of eligibility for Oz keeps him from Joe’s plans. While I also agree the injuries affected the Canes performance, some players seemed to lack focus and intensity for this match. Perhaps after the Blues demolished the Brumbies, they thought it was going to be easy? A good reminder that any slip up in preparation can have a big affect on the result. Brumbies deserved that win.
5 Go to commentsKarl Dixon should never have been appointed this fixture, absolute disgrace, He’s not much of a referee anyway, didn't have the balls to send his mate care off
5 Go to commentsBrilliant article! Harry of 8/9
4 Go to comments‘UK athletes' have been in the NFL from the start.
2 Go to commentsIt’s going to be Scott Barrett. He’s the coaches mate and captain of a previously elite team. Ardie a great option but scooter has worked with the coach and Ardie still as big a leader as needed.
23 Go to commentsI commend Colin Scotts bio All Balls. He was the first Aussie to make it to NFL. But he was poached and did a full apprenticeship at the University of Hawaii. He was 130kgs surfed played 1st grade cricket etc. big guy by normal but not NFL standards and a top athlete. Even then the nfl were picking up Tongans and Samoans for their natural size and explosive power. They want explosive power not cardio from the big boys so a guy like Taniela Tupou would have been good if picked up young enough. He has fast twitch and they’d bulk the little lad up and give him something to do. soccer teams set up academies and look for Over Sara’s talent eg Messi was at Barcelona since a teenager and harry kewell went to Leeds as a teenager like 16 or something.
11 Go to commentsThe article alludes to the fact that this isn’t about picking a captain. But picking a great captain. So who would make for a great All Black captain - not just an obvious or safe shoo-in? I’m not sure Ardie’s the guy and Barret doesn’t stand out either.
23 Go to commentsI guess we may all agree on the fact, that the ABs and Boks are the two in contest for No 1 in rugby history (the triple-A sort of) …. the Wallabies, England and France are the next tier, with Ireland being the new kid in town (AA) …. in my view it makes little sense creating imaginary competitions (unless you have too much time to waste)
45 Go to comments