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It came to me in a form of a dream, like a woman on fire, like a knife’s edge. As if my name is Nostradamus. A southern hemisphere nightmare? I am African, so why am I getting an English fairytale?
I don’t even like the Poms. But the dream I had last night was clear as day-light. England will win the Rugby World Cup.
Now I don’t exactly know how and why the English managed to pull it off, but visions of them lifting Bill filled my medulla oblongata.
I could remember every result of the World Cup in my dream/night-mare.
I am not superstitious, nor do I have any warrior ancestry. But maybe living in the Eastern Cape of South Africa, home of the very proud and traditional Xhosa clan, who are known for their premonitions, some spirited entity mistakenly came to me last night and revealed the deepest curiosity I had these last couple months:
“Who is going to win the Rugby World Cup?”
If you don’t want to know how things unfold, I suggest you don’t read any further. But you will – you’re just as curious as I was (before the dream).
Enough of the mystifying stuff, and let’s head straight to the business part of this article.
| Pool A | PL | W | L | D | Bp | Pts. |
| New Zealand | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 19 |
| France | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 15 |
| Japan | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 8 |
| Canada | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 |
| Tonga | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
New Zealand receives no serious challenges, whisking their way through the group. Only remotely stiffness they receive is a 24-7 win against France. France winning the rest of their matches, no bonus points againts Japan. Japan and Canada draws 16-16.
| Pool B | PL | W | L | D | Bp | Pts. |
| England | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 18 |
| Scotland | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 15 |
| Argentina | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 11 |
| Georgia | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 5 |
| Romania | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
England struggles against Scotland and Argentina. Scotland just edging out Argentina 18-17.
| Pool C | PL | W | L | D | Bp | Pts. |
| Australia | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 18 |
| Ireland | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 17 |
| Italy | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 10 |
| Russia | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| USA | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Australia and Ireland draw 36 all. Italy beat the others. Ireland fail to get bonus point against Italy. Russia and USA play out their World Cup final, with Russia winning 23-19.
| Pool D | PL | W | L | D | Bp | Pts. |
| South Africa | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 18 |
| Wales | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 13 |
| Fiji | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 10 |
| Samoa | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| Namibia | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Toughest group by far. South Africa find it very uncomfortable and struggle to put Wales and Fiji away. Wales beat Samoa, Samoa beat Fiji and Fiji beat Wales. But due to Wales’s superior bonus points, they advance through tothe quarters.
Quarter Finals
New Zealand vs. Scotland.
NZ scores a try and two penalties, while Scotland scores a try and then another one just before half-time. Scots lead 14-13 at break. Possible choke?
The second half starts with Scotland getting a penalty. NZ scores a try. Scots gets penalty. Scots scores unconverted try. NZ gets penalty. Israel Dagg scores last minute try. NZ wins 30-25. All Blacks looks shaky. Country breaths huge sigh of relieve.
France vs. England: England win 11-9 in a dour game.
Australia vs. Wales: Australia win 44-20
South Africa vs. Ireland: Springboks win 29-21
Semi Finals
New Zealand vs. South Africa:
Springboks score first minute intercept try. NZ gets penalty. Boks score again. NZ scores great 100m try. NZ scores try again. Morne Steyn drop goal. Half-time score 17-17.
Second half, Boks get penalty. NZ gets penalty try. Boks get two penalties, followed by unconverted try. NZ scores try. Steyn holds nerve to kick last minute 50m penalty. Full-time. SA wins 34-31.
Australia vs. England: England scores penalty and try in wet first half Second half has Cooper dancing to an unconverted try. Wallabies score another unconverted try. Flood drop goal. England’s forwards power their way to another try. Final score: England wins 20-10.
Third place playoff Australia 23-11 – Henry quits in disgust.
Final: England 32-16 South Africa
If you ask me, I’d rather ask for the lotto numbers in my dream. But I guess its my passion for Rugby that I got this particular vision.
Maybe Bill does truly and rightfully belong to England. Maybe it’s the black jerseys.
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.