The Roar
The Roar

Rugby
Advertisement

Counting down to the 2011 World Cup

Katie Lambeski
Roar Guru
8th August, 2011
6
Join the conversation
1095 Reads
Advertisement
Write for The Roar

Anyone can contribute to The Roar and have their work featured alongside some of Australia’s most prominent sports journalists.

Katie Lambeski
Roar Guru
8th August, 2011
6
1095 Reads

I was first bitten by the rugby union bug back in 2003, when I was 12 years old. It was a big year for rugby in Australia.

The William Webb Ellis Cup was being contested in Australia and the Wallabies were among the serious challengers.

The likes of Carlos Spencer, Frederic Michalak, Jonny Wilkinson, George Gregan were among my favourites of that tournament. I became of fan of the game itself, not just the Wallabies.

This goes on to the 2011 World Cup, which will be another great tournament to watch. There are the usual favourites to win the Cup; the All Blacks, Wallabies, Springboks, the list goes on to include the French and the English.

Also middle of the road teams Argentina, Scotland, Wales and Ireland have a chance to win it, albeit a small one.

What also enriches the tournament is the rugby played by island nations; Samoa, Fiji and Tonga. We all love the underdog and those three teams always put in a great performance at the World Cup. Teams beware.

To me the favourite has to be the All Blacks. They are on their home turf and will be a huge challenge for any team. I expect them to win the Webb Ellis Cup.

They are led well by champion fly-half Dan Carter and also by their veterans. Captain Richie McCaw, fullback Mils Muliaina and hooker Keven Mealamu, all have a heap of experience and that may be a factor.

Advertisement

But we have been here before, haven’t we? Before every World Cup, New Zealand is the favourite. And what has happened since 1987? They go home empty-handed.

In my view, the final will be between All Blacks and Wallabies. The Wallabies have a really exciting backline, led by Kurtley Beale and James O’Connor, and are well served by creative maestros Quade Cooper and Will Genia in the halves.

I agree with Nick Farr-Jones about the Wallabies forward half however, when he says it isn’t strong enough to beat the All Blacks forwards.

Also possibly counting against the Wallabies is their youth and inexperience. Spiro Zavos wrote about this after the All Blacks convincingly beat the Wallabies 30-14 at Eden Park last Saturday, writing “Wallab-Ys were exposed as pupils being given a lesson”.

Whilst the Wallabies have work to do, they must be counted as a serious challenger for the Webb Ellis Cup.

Let’s not forget about the Springboks, French or the Poms.

The Springboks are an experienced side. With the likes of Smit, Matfield, Habana, Du Preez, Montgomery still very much part of the national team set-up, they can’t be discounted.

Advertisement

France have shown they are capable of performing on the world stage; who can forget their win over the All Blacks in 2007?

The English, under Martin Johnson, are a good chance as much as the Boks or France. England number 10, Toby Flood has made the position his own.

One factor that is important is that their last World Cup winning captain is now their coach. He will know what needs to be done to win it. Will that rub off on his charges? Time will tell.

6
Join the conversation

Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast.  If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp.  Chances are you’re about to lose.  Set a deposit limit.

Related Posts

close