Wales' scrum-half Mike Phillips is tackled during the 2011 Rugby World Cup pool D Wales vs Samoa match (AAP Image/AFP, Philippe Lopez)
Over a million fans have attended the group games in New Zealand, and they have been rewarded by a feast of rugby. Some classics, some only the real purists can enjoy, but no shortage of drama, and the odd surprise.
With one notable exception, the group standings finished as the pre tournament seedings had predicted. Only Australia’s loss at the hands of Ireland was a surprise, and that has left us with the Northern and Southern Hemispheres on opposite sides of the draw.
The pick of the final weekend’s games had to be England vs Scotland. While it featured very little of the expansive rugby that fans love to see, it was a predictably fraught affair.
One of the few world class players on show, Chris Ashton, was given one chance and he took it, however leaving it at that would be remiss.
Scotland came in to the game knowing that the pressure and expectation was on England and as they so often do, they played a canny game.
The Scots took advantage of England’s errors, dragging their enemies from south of the border into a tug of war in narrow channels, and a chess match with the boot.
As an England fan, it was torture for 75 minutes.
Jonny Wilkinson, the darling of 2003 and one of the finest players of his generation, or any for that matter, had an awful game. Sure, he missed some kicks but it was ] the nature of some of the misses that was most concerning.
Jonny has never been a reliable kicker from 50 metres plus and on Saturday he let his ego get the better of him, convincing Lewis Moody to allow him to have pot shots from beyond half way.
The correct decision would have been to pump the ball into the corner and exert some pressure on the Scots in their own 22 instead of wasting opportunities in a tight game with penalties that were never going to go over.
Moreover he continually took the ball so deep that the Scottish defence could easily snuff out any danger before the ball got to the back three, where the threat really lay, and it was a regression from his promising performance against Romania.
This brings me onto Martin Johnson. How can he wait until more than 70 minutes have elapsed to bring on Flood, and only then due to injury to Tindall?
Wilkinson was finally yanked after 75 minutes, With Flood in at number 10, England had one attack, the result? Seven points.
I can understand the England coach’s loyalty to Wilkinson, but if he starts against France next week, serious questions will need to be asked.
The team are already playing with out of form players in Moody and Tindall and they cannot afford to carry their no. 10 as well. The coach needs to realise this and make the correct decision.
Up front I thought the contest was enthralling. Craig Joubert seemed to have England’s number at scrum time, although I saw it as a relatively even until the last 15 minutes when England exerted dominance.
England need to learn how to adjust to referee’s interpretations in the scrum more quickly, as their penalty count will cost them.
Both teams were strong on their own ball at lineout time and in the loose things were also even.
Tom Palmer and Nick Easter had a strong impact when they came on, and ought to be in the starting XV next week, however in Palmer’s case he may fall foul of Jonno’s favourite, Louis Deacon, a solid player but surely not 1st choice at international level.
On Sunday Ireland showed they have developed a maturity not often associated with their performances at Rugby World Cups. Facing a tricky tie against Italy to secure top spot, they ran out easy winners, setting up a quarterfinal against Wales.
Speaking of the Welsh, they were very impressive in their thrashing of Fiji and on current form, they might be favourites to progress to the final on their side of the draw.
They are fearless, they have a good leader and a very dangerous set of backs combining size, pace and power. It will be great to see they experience of the Irish back line tested by the Welsh tyros.
In the front five the advantage must lie with the men from the Emerald Isle, however, Wales have a very exciting back row. If they can achieve parity in the tight, this could turn out to be a classic.
Despite the tragic injury to Dan Carter, New Zealand are still the favourites in my book.
The loss of Carter is a shame for all rugby fans. He is a true giant of the game and deserved the opportunity to showcase his talents once more on the world stage.
If we are lucky, he will still be on top of his game in 2015 when the next iteration of the Rugby World Cup comes along.
The All Blacks quarter-final against Argentina is the perfect chance for them to adjust to the loss of their playmaker.
The result is as close to a foregone conclusion as is possible at this stage of a tournament, allowing the All Blacks to get live game practice with their first choice back line being directed by Slade.
A boon for the All Blacks is the return on Kieran Read, a player I expect him to be their next skipper. He does the basics better than almost anyone else, will never let the side down, and is the glue that brings the team together through his tireless defence and link play.
The big test for the home nation will be the semi-final in their first real contest of the tournament, whether it is against Australia or South Africa.
For their sake I hope the fact they haven’t been tested under pressure so far won’t affect them. With the likes of McCaw, Mealamu et al to lean on I doubt it will.
France reversed into the knock out phase as only the French can. Had Canada managed to beat Japan earlier in the tournament, they would be the biggest name casualty on the way home.
Thankfully for Les Bleus they were in the weakest group (New Zealand apart) and are now in one-off games and so cannot be ruled out.
Their game against England will be fascinating, as both sides are under no illusions that they need to raise their games markedly after generally disappointing performances in the group stage.
The smart money must be on England given the off-field disarray in the French camp, although England are hardly having an easy time of it on that front either.
Last but by no means least the pick of the quarter-finalss pits Australia and South Africa together. South Africa will certainly fancy their chances, especially if they can reduce it into an arm wrestle between the two packs.
Australia will need to be competitive up front to allow their dangerous outside backs to damage the Boks.
Robbie Deans has some very difficult decisions to make in terms of selection. Berrick Barnes has played very well in his recent games, but how does he fit in?
Having him at 12 could be a defensive liability with Cooper at 10. But surely Cooper has to be in the side for his sheer game breaking ability?
Radike Samo is another interesting choice. Not out of place on the wing, but that was against Russia. The savvy kicking game of Du Preez and Steyn would change that.
Playing him at 8 would make more sense, but there is good logic that someone of McCalman’s ilk would be a better choice against the South Africans where solidity is key up front.
Finally spare a thought for the unluckiest team at the tournament, Samoa. They were terrific in all of their pool games and ran Wales and South Africa (two of the form sides of the tournament very close).
Had they been drawn in New Zealand’s or England’s group I am almost certain they would have progressed, and perhaps if they were in Ireland’s too.
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