A Quick-ish Preview

So here it is, the time is nearly upon us. It feels like it's been an eternity waiting for the latest edition of the Rugby World Cup to arrive and now, with the first game within reach, we finally have it. The hype is at fever pitch, with Japan ready to start things off against Russia, in what promises to be a fantastic, if slightly one-sided, curtain raiser.

Never before in recent memory can I recall such an open World Cup going into this tournament. There is a genuine sense amongst the top nations that this really is anyone's for the taking; they could well be right. For the best part of a decade, the All Blacks have stood tall and impressive at the peak of the world game. Ignore the rankings for one second and cast your eye over the Kiwi's results in that time period. Since 2009 it intimidatingly reads as follows; 7 times Rugby Championship winners, 1 Grand Slam tour of the Northern Hemisphere, 1 drawn Lions Series (the tourists owe Romain Poite a beer or 10), just 3 losses to the Home Nations and 2 back-to-back World Cup's, the first nation to achieve that feat in the history of the tournament. Yet, the tide appears from the outside at least, to be turning ever so slightly against the worlds best team. Since that Lions Series in 2017, the All Blacks have lost some of the aura that so often used to beat teams before they'd even stepped onto the field. Beaten twice by Ireland in the last 2 years, bested and later held to a draw by a rapidly improving Springboks side in New Zealand and just over a month ago, hammered by an Australia team deep in transition. Coupled alongside a vastly improved set of home nations and southern hemisphere sides and with Steve Hansen trying out new combinations in an attempt to somehow play both Beauden Barrett and Richie Mo'unga at once, it seems that the tournament is as wide open as any in recent memory. The Unbeatable All Blacks suddenly look beatable, but it would take a real fool to write them off, they remain the worlds greatest rugby team and they are still expected by most to emerge on Sunday 2nd November as victorious for an unprecedented 4th time.

It feels like I've talked the All Blacks to death there, but their status in world rugby is so huge, so impressive, that they almost need their own section. So let me now cast a quick eye over the pools, with a number of teams due a strong tournament and some waiting in the shadows to pull off an almighty shock when their opportunity arises.

Pool A

Let's begin with the pool of the tournament hosts Japan, I can think of no better place to start. Not simply because this is the pool containing the Brave Blossoms, but it is perhaps the most hotly contested group out of 4. I really cannot call what will happen here and that has a lot to do with the rise of Japan. Having the home support of a rugby obsessed, crazy nation will propel the hosts into genuine contenders to make it out of the group, their ridiculously quick and committed style of play will be a trouble to contain and in Michael Leitch, they have potentially one of the players of the tournament. He will drag them over the line if needs be, such is the influence of his captaincy. Japan play Scotland in the last pool game of the tournament. If Scotland fall at the first hurdle to Ireland and Japan dispatch Samoa and Russia, then that game becomes a straight shoot out to qualify. As for Ireland, there are big question marks over whether their number 1 in the world ranking is deserved after last season or whether the team even want it, but they do possess a great squad with a rugby obsessed mastermind at the helm in Joe Schmidt; it wasn't all too long ago that Ireland were truly the best side in the world. I fully expect Ireland to finish as the pool winners, with either Scotland or Japan following behind. Samoa will try hard and surprise a few, but they lack the depth to challenge, such a shame considering the talent and passion for the game that springs from those islands. As for Russia, I fear it could be a torrid 4 games for those boys. Qualifying via default due to Romania breaking the rules, it will be up to them to show everyone that they deserve to even be there.

Pool B

This is perhaps the easiest pool to choose the 2 qualifiers from, but that doesn't make it any less interesting. Due to South Africa's rubbish few seasons a few years back, where they went on a terrible run by their standards between 2016-17, they find themselves placed into a pool containing the All Blacks. Not only that, but those two play each other first on Saturday 21st September in what promises to be one of the games of the competition. So it's not entirely silly to suggest that the shoot out to finish top of Pool B happens on the 2nd day of the tournament. No disrespect there towards the other 3 teams, Italy, Namibia and Canada, but the All Blacks and Springboks are at a level so good, many are tipping them to meet again in the final, should things go as expected. The Springboks under Rassie Erasmus have transformed from barely potential quarter finalists, into a monstrous behemoth so dangerous that they are mine and many other peoples tip to win the tournament for a 3rd time. In Faf De Klerk they possess the most dangerous 9 in the world; he and Handre Pollard will both be pivotal in guiding their gargantuan pack into thew right places. Now I've talked a bit about the All Blacks already so I won't do it to death, but I'll say this; they may be vulnerable, they may not be at the height of their powers, but if they were to be crowned champions for the 3rd time on the bounce, then no one really will be all too surprised. The people of New Zealand expect to win and to win well, so too do their players.

Pool C

Ah, here we go. Where to start? It's worth noting that as a die hard England supporter with rose tinted spectacles so bright, they'd make Elton John jealous, it will be really quite challenging for me to remain impartial when writing this section. England under Eddie Jones have had a funny old time of it. Taking over from the disaster of 2015 (let's not talk about it), Jones took England from embarrassing World Cup failures to Grand Slam champions in the space of 5 months, shortly followed by a 3-0 series win over in Australia, the first time a series had ever been won out there by an English side. The next season brought similar fruit, albeit as champions after losing the Grand Slam game at the final hurdle away to Ireland. From then on however, it started going a bit pear shaped. England finished 5th in the 2018 Six Nations after losing to Scotland, France and then hammered at Twickenham by Ireland. That losing run soon stretched to 5 games (ignore the uncapped Baa-Baa's match) with 2 losses away in South Africa to a Springboks side that they had been so on top of in the first 30 minutes of both games, before England quickly faded and succumbed to Springbok speed and power. From that point on though England have gone up a gear. The availability of big ball carriers like Manu Tuilagi and Billy Vunipola has brought a new dimension to England's game, with Owen Farrell controlling the ship with an assured hand. England have a genuine chance here to do well and to go all the way. However, first they must get past the French and Los Pumas. France are, despite what many claim, the most consistent team in the world; they are consistently inconsistent. They have endured a terrible few years, losing at home to Fiji among some of the worst results, and yet, it's France. It's France at a World Cup. They are perhaps the only team in the world who could lose every game for 3 years and turn up to the next tournament as genuine contenders, such is the madness of their rugby. I am scared, genuinely scared, because if France get it right, just once, against any opponent, then they win that game, simple. They have the most gifted players in the world, not necessarily the best, but the most gifted and I really feel sorry for the team that finds that out, I just pray it's not England. In the same vein, they could not even make it out of the group, such is their randomness and such is the quality of Argentina. Many people's team of the tournament in 2015, Los Pumas can really turn up when it matters and they know how to play. Their form is not good, sure, but I don't think many teams would have good form if they had to play the Wallabies, Springboks and All Blacks consistently throughout the year. Their Super Rugby franchise, the Jaguares made it to the final where they lost to the Crusaders and with most of that side being selected for the national team, I expect to see Argentina provide a stern challenge for both England and France. I might be wrong, but I expect England to top the group after 2 really hard games with France and Argentina, with France sneaking into 2nd place; though I'm sure Los Pumas will have something to say about that when the two face each other this Saturday morning. Tonga and USA will battle it out for 4th place, but teams should be wary of Tonga, ignore their hammering by New Zealand. Much like Samoa, they possess some of the most gifted players in the world and can spring a surprise if teams take them for granted, as France found out in 2011.

Pool D

The final pool is really interesting. There are 2 teams that everyone expects to qualify and one team that will scare the life out of the others. Wales and Australia should progress here; Wales as Grand Slam winners should fancy themselves to top the lot. With Warren Gatland arguably the best coach in the world and the mighty talisman captain of Alun Wyn Jones leading from the front, Wales have the players and systems in place to go really far. Their defence is probably up there with the best in the world and they'll be using it to strangle teams into submission. There're just two little problems that could cause them a hassle. The first one is that their Attack Coach, Mr Rob Howley, likes a bit of a punt, so much so in fact that he has been sent home with immediate effect for breaching gambling protocols, pending an investigation back in Wales. Wales' attack has hardly set the world alight, so new man Stephen Jones might actually be a blessing in disguise, although it remains to be seen what he can do in the very short time frame available to him. The second is that Wales' record against the Southern Hemisphere sides, especially away from home, leaves a lot to be desired. Yes they beat Australia in the autumn, but that was the first time in 10 years that they'd got the better of the Wallabies. The Wallabies though are not in great form, they enter the tournament as something of an enigma. Australia have the players to beat anyone on their day, just as the All Blacks found out in Perth as they went down 47-26. Their problem has been finding the consistency to repeat performances and keep backing up their wins. No one other than those inside the camp will truly know what impact the Israel Folau saga had on the squad, but it will have been an unwanted distraction. Australia are first up against Fiji. The Islanders boast a team containing an insane amount of mercurial talent and flair. They have pedigree at the World Cup too, beating Wales along their way to getting to the quarter finals in 2007, they will be hoping to repeat that result again in 2019. When you have Semi Radradra, Levani Botia and Josua Tuisova in your back line, you can scare even the most accomplished of defences. Their ability and willingness to offload is best summarised by their lock, Leone Nakawara, the Racing 92 man who's ability to get his arms free out of the tackle and produce unbelievable offloads; a man in his position should not have any business possessing such skills, but that's the Fijian way. The Fijian's can upset both Wales and Australia, whether they will or not remains to be seen. Georgia will go well upfront with their huge pack and the returning Mamuka Gorgodze providing ballast, but don't expect the Georgian's to be challenging for anything higher than 3rd. Uruguay have maybe the nicest/weirdest jersey in the tournament, but that's where the good stuff ends. They'll give it absolutely everything, but expect these to be the Pool D whipping boys.

So there we go. A brief look into the pools and what I expect to happen over the next few months. Now this is all opinion and I truly cannot wait to be proved wrong on a few of those opinions as some of the smaller teams hopefully spring an upset or two. I'll be watching every game of the tournament and fully obsessing about it until it's all concluded in November. During that time, I'll be giving my thoughts on here and trying my best not to be biased. I cannot wait for tomorrow to kick things off, it's like Christmas come early, let's get this thing started.