While there will be no prizes, nor statistics generated, I thought it might be fun to vote for a match-of-the-round, based on last weekend’s games.
Depending on responses, I could turn this into a weekly thing.
The candidates are as follows:
New Zealand versus Tonga
This was won by New Zealand comfortably on the score-sheet. Even though this signalled the start of an event I and many others had looked forward to for ages, I found it a bit of a boring game.
The result was never in doubt – we didn’t see a miraculously ‘inspired’ Tonga as we have with other teams. And for me the All Blacks won playing sensible, pressuring rugby as opposed to scintillating flashes of brilliance.
Scotland versus Romania
Scotland won ugly in a match much tighter than many would have expected. Romania played with a lot of heart. What more can one say about this one?
Fiji versus Namibia
Although Namibia seemed to astonishingly stick with Fiji for a while thanks to a game plan inspired by the AFL, Fiji eventually blew the cobwebs away and stormed away in this one.
I know it’s only Namibia but I thought Fiji were very impressive. And jeez aren’t Fiji always fun to watch – I wish we could see more of them.
France versus Japan
I can’t actually work out how Japan stayed with France as long as they did in this one.
What I saw of this match was all France – they kept butchering things, but they kept earning themselves the right to butcher things. They looked so much more dominant to me.
I know their coach is tearing the new ones left, right and center but France have to get the bad performances out of their system, don’t they? And once they have…
Argentina versus England
Despite this being a low scoring battle between teams who have an openly admitted to the ‘win ugly’ approach, I found this to be another cracker of a match.
Maybe because I was going for the underdogs Argentina.
I am a lot less worried about England now, than I was last week. I know I shouldn’t be – I know that’s the last thing I should be doing – but I am.
Australia versus Italy
I know the first half of this match was also dour and low-scoring but I enjoyed both halves of this match.
I was actually very impressed with our scrum in the first half. And our forwards, while not quite as brutal as the Brisbane game, realised that the battle was on up front and showed up for it.
Ireland versus USA
I have to admit I did not see much of this match.
Maybe Ireland were awful, but I think we have to take our hats off to the USA. They seemed to survive on pure guts and determination.
The try the USA scored with the clock virtually up was the least they deserved. Question now is: Will Ireland come out rattled and lacking confidence or fired up against Australia?
South Africa versus Wales
I’d watched all the ‘big guns’ in the previous matches for signs of which ones were looking the goods, which were being shown up as nervous or underdone, and, to be honest, not seen much to show me much one way or the other.
Then I saw the Springboks’ performance in the first 20 minutes of this match and thought here’s a team not nervous or undone – here’s a team out making a statement and stamping themselves on this tournament.
Then a strange thing happened. They ran out of puff (seemingly) and Wales just hung in there and got themselves into a position from where they should have won the match. But didn’t.
Was it Wales ‘choking’? Was it the South African ‘experience’? Or was it just the ebb after the flow? Who knows.
My vote for the Rugby World Cup match-of-the first weekend then, goes to, the South Africa versus Wales for sheer edge-of-the-seat suspense, from start to finish.
Agree? Disagree? Please comment on your choice.
Mike
Guest
Yeah I agree, very hard to single out one game. One of the best weekends of rugby you could get. So many different approaches, but plenty of guts especially from minnows. Great stuff
Sharminator
Roar Rookie
It's a romantic idea ... The AB's or Wallabies playing in Tblisi or Apia but for a whole host of reasons it isnt practical. The first problem is logistics there are not many flights to these countries. The second problem is how international touring works .. The host country pays all the costs of as visiting team and in return gets to keep gate receipts. Due to low populations, low economic development and a lack of stadia and infrastructure, the 2nd tier. Nations would actuslly lose money by having tier 1 nations visit them. The islands and european nations now have their own regular tournaments, paid for by the IRB as weell as the nations cup and churchill cup and americas cup tournaments. One off tests like those of aus samoa and nz fiji should be held every year ... But in the big country with some sharing of gate receipts.
Rob9
Roar Guru
Aww do we have to!? Such an awesome weekend of Rugby. Love seeing the minnows having a crack! I was pooing myself watching the rain fall at North Harbour Stadium before the Italy game. 1st half didn't do anything to ease the nerves either. If you had to single out one game it'd have to be Boks/Wales.
Moaman
Guest
Bush; It is a source of shame to me that NZ does not play the Island Countries a bit more regularly.Some kind of gate-sharing system if matches were always played in Auckland perhaps? Anything to encourage,support and improve rugby in these island nations. I did say that this was purely my personal opinion,regarding Scotland....but apart from the odd draw and the odder still,fright,generally games between NZ and Scotland fizzle once their magnificent athem has been rendered.My pulse-rate hovers a blink above "comatose"..just as it does when NZ plays a number of other teams.As a Wallaby supporter,you come at these opponents with a different set of memories and expectations.In recent recall are losses v Scotland/Manu Samoa for instance.Both unthinkable possibilities to me.
The Bush
Roar Guru
Moaman, Your idea may or may not have merit, and I definately agree that a wider pool of teams need to be toured as watching the same old sides gets repetative - but that doesn't explain, at all, how you can call Scotland anything other than a "major team" or a "Big Gun". As to your points, I think you'll see a marked improvement in the next cycle as the reintroduction of "Tours" means that at least two (2) Six Nations sides will have to be adventurous in June as there are only four (4) major Southern Hemisphere teams to play. I've read recently that a number of Northern Hemisphere heavyweights have committed to playing in the Pacific Islands over the next four (4) year cycle and Canada and America have confirmed that the Celtic teams will be doing tours shortly... In the short term I think this is the best outcome for a decade.
Jiggles
Roar Guru
Not a popular choice buy I really enjoyed the Argies giving it to the Poms despite it being a lower quality game than the Wales-Boks one. the Wales - Boks match was my second favourite. Warburton was my player of the round.
Who Needs Melon
Roar Guru
Thanks for the responses guys. Enough to prompt me to do the same thing next week. I'll just have to let the wife know that I NEED to watch all those rugby games. :)
Moaman
Guest
Rather than create "multiple tiers" The Bush---I would like to see 3N/6N scrapped completely--I KNOW it won't happen any time soon-----and a global competition run over 4 years,say,and culminating in a grand Final series-best of 3.Home and away matches for the Top 20.So the Abs playing in Tblisi or Turin or Suva or Apia...and England playing in Bucharest or Buenas Aries.....Built in,around this competition,some Tours where provincial sides like Munster and Orange Free State (new name escapes me) or South Australia get a crack at international sides. The 2nd Group of 20 Nations....the Germanys/Swedens/Portugals and Sri Lankas have their own comp run on identical lines with an eventual Promotion-Relegation Series...... I believe one of the things we like about RWCs is the variety of opposition.I'm sick to death of a diet of gamey Wallaby and stringy Springbok.
Brett McKay
Guest
Moa, I know what you mean, and actually I was just talking generally there, when I mentioned the 'big guys', as in the game just what you'd expect from a David v Goliath-type contest...
sharminator
Guest
For me South Africa versus Wales was the most exciting match .... hands down ... Romania - Scotland was the best hard man match .. in terms of pure 30 mean trying to beat each other up .. with Argentina - England coming a close second. And Australia was the most impressive .. turning on the style with their second half tries against Italy.
jaysper
Guest
SA vs Wales was my fave by far. FANTASTIC arm wrestle
Will Sinclair
Guest
Yeah - he was bloody impressive, wasn't he. Assuming he and Pocock get the opportunity to go head-to-head in the QF's, it should be a cracking contest.
Wawnout
Guest
Just watched SA v Wales again. How good is that Sam Warburton? Best game, best player of the weekend for me.
Kuruki
Roar Guru
I think Japan has put in the best performance so far in this world cup. Scrap the last 10 minutes when they genuinely ran out of puff, the first 70 was outstanding. They played rugby and they got the crowd off their feet.
Will Sinclair
Guest
Has to be Wales v South Africa - it really was a cracking game. Also really enjoyed Scotland v Romania (that Romanian scrum was something to behold), France v Japan (have to love the way the Japanese approach the game), Fiji v Namibia (brave and smart rugby from the Africans, beaten by the silky smooth class of their opponents) and Ireland v USA (the brave Americans were brilliant). Thought NZ v Tonga and Australia v Italy were OK. England v Argentina was sh*t on a stick.
The Bush
Roar Guru
How can Scotland not be considered a "Big Gun" when they play Six Nations every year, receiving inbound Tests against all three (3) Southern Hemisphere powers and go on tour against those same opponents every June? They have two (2) professional teams in one of the big three (3) leagues in Europe and have a professional talent pool that dwafes Romania. I get what you're hinting at, but unless you're creating multiple tiers to world rugby* Scotland must definately fall down on the "have" side rather than the "have not"? *For example; Tier One AUS/NZD/RSA/ENG/FRA, Tier Two SCO/WAL/IRE/ARG/ITA/TON/SAM/FIJ; and "eveyrone else"
ohtani's jacket
Guest
South Africa vs. Wales was far the match of the weekend. I think it was one of the best pool matches in World Cup history. Japan/France would be my runner-up.
Moaman
Guest
Brett-Funny that you refer to Scotland( I presume? ) as a "Big Gun"....maybe it's just me or maybe australians have a different perspective but I regard the Scots as a gritty 2nd Tier opponent,no more.More of a Big Minnow if you know what I mean? Perspective is everything in these clashes,isn't it? I mean,why eg are some people talking the Irish up when there is no compelling evidence of any recent form that should worry a decent side? As to the WC overall---and sport in general,the most compelling viewing is nearly always when the outcome is in doubt right down to the final minutes.
Capital
Roar Guru
Agree Kovana The Boks versus Leek eaters was a great match, and with a welsh gf - a lot of screaming at the TV and pride in their performance. I also liked the Japanese, they played really well and have a good balance of home bred and import to add a further dimension to their game. Close second would have been Malvinas II - Argies v The Old Dart. A good match, and Argentina certainly rattked them. Didn't see the Scotland game, or watch the US game - fell asleep, but I believe Scotland were pretty lucky.
Sage
Guest
Wales v Saffa's for me. I found it far more intriguing and some of the battles were epic. Not happy with the result but enjoyed it the most. How good did Warburton look. His body position was superb.