Pool C would have to be considered one of the weaker pools in the Rugby World Cup.
World Cup pool previews:
– POOL A
– POOL B
That is if you’re talking about depth and potential winners.
If we’re being serious, there’s only one winner coming from this pool – and that’s the mighty All Blacks. Their biggest rivals will be Argentina, but beyond that it’s hard to see anyone in this pool rivalling the darkness.
Let’s take a look at the teams.
New Zealand
They are the defending champions, the number one ranked team, have possibly the best player to ever play the game, the best player currently playing the game and arguably the best flyhalf to play the game.
If that doesn’t make for a recipe for victory, we really don’t know what does.
However, New Zealand were shown to be vulnerable away from their Eden Park fortress earlier this year, with the Wallabies getting the better of them in Sydney in the first Bledisloe Cup match 27-19.
They repaired things for the second Bledisloe and took a comfortable victory, and cemented their favouritism for the 2015 Rugby World Cup along with the number one ranking.
Their path to the quarters isn’t too tricky, with their biggest test to be first up against Argentina.
Beyond that, they should cruise into first place.
It gets a little tricky when they get to the quarters, however, where a likely clash with either Ireland or France awaits.
Hot favourites to walk away with the 2015 crown. It’s New Zealand’s to lose.
Song summarising the fans’ feelings pre-tournament
They will be praying all their players stay safe, after watching five hundred fly halves get injured in 2011. Fans will no doubt be endlessly playing this video the All Blacks did with Air New Zealand.
Argentina
We saw enough in Argentina’s victory over South Africa earlier this year that not only can they play a spoiling, forward-oriented game, but they also have backs that can do a bit of damage.
You can’t help but feel that their years in the Rugby Championship has strengthened this squad, and makes them eminently qualified to play above their eighth ranking and pull off a few upsets.
The semi-finals would be a great achievement for this group, and realistically they shouldn’t have too much difficulty getting out of this pool in second place.
After playing the All Blacks, they face Georgia five days later, then have plenty of time to recover for their clash with Tonga.
That will be the decisive game for the Pumas, and the one they will have to make sure they don’t melt down in, letting Tonga into the quarters ahead of them.
A win against the Springboks and some combative performances against the Wallabies and All Blacks, however, point to this not being the likely scenario.
With a quarter final against Ireland or France beckoning, this is the Pumas’ chance to go deep in a Rugby World Cup again.
Being in a group with the All Blacks helps too, as it will probably shift a bit of the focus away from them during the pool stages.
They won’t let their homeland down.
Song summarising the fans’ feelings pre-tournament
Tonga
Fearsome haka. Fearsome forwards. Fearsome backs.
Looking at Tonga’s squad, everything about this group just looks fearsome. There’s a reasonable degree of experience in the squad, considering many of the Pacific nations don’t get too many opportunities beyond the competition they play with their neighbouring islands.
Nili Latu leads the team with 40 caps, and along with the likes of Western Force second rower Steve Mafi, will no doubt take a rather aggressive approach to imposing themselves on games.
The question will not be about talent. It will be about whether this team has had enough football together to put doubt in the minds of New Zealand and, more importantly, Argentina.
You would back them to get over Namibia and Georgia with the backs at their disposal, but matching it up front with the Pumas is going to be a real challenge.
They have been dealt a bit of a rough fixture, with an 11-day break between their games against Georgia and Namibia, before they have to play Argentina five days later and then New Zealand, again with a five-day turnaround.
It all rests on that Argentina game for them.
The joker in the pool, so to speak, and will no doubt put on a show.
Here’s Tonga’s squad named for the Cup.
Forwards:
Tevita Mailau (Perpignan), Alisona Taumalolo (Grenoble), Soane Tonga’uiha (Oyonnax), Halani Aulika (London Irish), Sila Puafisi (Gloucester), Elvis Taione (Exeter Chiefs), Paula Ngauamo (Mont de Marson), Aleki Lutui (Ampthill RFC), Tukulua Lokotui (Beziers), Joeseph Tiuneau (Dax), Steve Mafi (Western Force), Opeti Fonua (Leicester Tigers), Hala T-Pole (Otago), Nili Latu (Newcastle Falcons), Jack Ram (Auckland Blues), Viliami Ma’afu (Oyonnax), Sione Kalamafoni (Gloucester)
Backs:
Sonatane Takulua (Newcastle Falcons), Samisoni Fisilau (Jersey RFC), Sosefo Ma’ake (Havelu Bulldogs), Kurt Morath (Biarritz), Latiume Fosita (Doncaster), Sione Piukala (Perpignan), Siale Piutau (Yamaha), Viliami Tahitu’a (Northland), Fetu’u Vainikolo (Oyonnax), Telusa Veainu (Melbourne Rebels), Tevita Halaifonua (Gloucester), William Helu (Edinburgh), Vungakoto Lilo (Montauban)
Song summarising the fans’ feelings pre-tournament
Georgia
While we can make a strong case for the other three teams in this pool, Georgia sit squarely on the precipice of irrelevance.
We’ve seen in previous World Cups that they can bring a strong scrum to the tournament, and this can cause all sorts of problems for more-fancied teams.
Tonga will be the match they are focussing on, in the hope that they will be able to jag a sneaky second spot ahead of them or Argentina and move into the quarter final stage of the Rugby World Cup in the first time in their history.
The hope seems faint, however, with Argentina likely having the measure of them in both the backs and the scrum; nullifying their greatest weapon while more than matching them out the back.
It’s all about that Saturday, 19 September against Tonga. Win that, they have a hope, particularly if they beat Namibia by plenty.
Song summarising the fans’ feelings pre-tournament
Namibia
They’re the lowest-ranked team heading into this Rugby World Cup, and let’s be honest, things could get pretty ugly.
Let’s hope they don’t get too ugly, like when they lost 142-0 to Australia in 2003.
There’s no doubt their focus will be squarely on their match against Georgia, which they will see as the most winnable of the four.
It comes eight days after their game against Tonga, so they should be well rested, and in peak condition to get their first victory in their country’s World Cup history.
With only a handful of professional players, and loss against Argentina’s second XV not too long ago, you fancy that a single victory for Namibia in this tournament would be worth more than a World Cup finals appearance for many others.
Let’s hope for something inspiring from them.
Song summarising the fans’ feelings pre-tournament
Do your country, proud, lads.
dsat24
Hes probably already injured but Shag cant work out how to tell everyone.
taylorman
Roar Guru
One factor about pool C is I full expect Carter to be injured out of the tournament by the end of pool play, if not in the first knockout. Probably during training.
Super-Human
Guest
The last thing I want as an AB fan is for Argentina to throw it. Doubt they will. We need a close tough game, with a good scare. If you move through the group too easily, our form could be off when facing France or Ireland - then it is home time again.
Super-Human
Guest
I think Tonga then Samoa are the most brutal, especially against each other or NZ. It's an Islander thing. Smashing each other is just the thing to do. This is 100% the reason I hate having Samoa or Tonga in our pool in WC's. Someone is bound to get hurt, sometimes Samoa and Tonga forget to play the game. Too busy trying to destroy NZ with hits.
dsat24
Guest
While the other one is the pool of death this one will be the pool of breath (saving), with thrown games likely vs the ABs and Tonga and Arg to duke it out to go thru. There'll be nothing to see here.
Patrick Effeney
Editor
I just meant in terms of potential winners. I just don't see the Argies winning the Cup!
Harry Jones
Expert
Come on Namibia!
IceBlue
Roar Pro
Enjoying this set of articles :). One thing I would dispute is that this is one of the weakest pools. I would argue it is simply one of the most straightforward. Looking at this from the perspective of the top team in each pool, Argentina is probably weaker than the second-best teams in Pools A and D (not by as much in D), and is stronger than, say, Samoa in Pool B. Tonga is comparable to all the third best teams, with the exception of Wales. Georgia is certainly comparable to Canada or Japan, although weaker than Fiji. Namibia is probably the softest out of the comparable teams, but it doesn't really make much difference at this point to the top teams. So, I doubt any team outside of Pool A would take the chance, if offered, to swap one of their opponents for their Pool C counterpart.
The Battered Slav
Guest
True, but I'd say that playing Fiji is like a demolition derby, in that you'll be hit hard but never know where it'll come from or when it will happen. Playing Georgia is more akin to getting trapped in farm equipment, and you just keep getting churned around and around by the blades. I'd rather take the demolition derby personally!
Shane D
Roar Rookie
Not really sure that the english pack or the Fijian team are especially well known for their gentle style of play there Slav!
The Battered Slav
Guest
This has to be the most bruising pool in the cup. Whoever progresses (i.e NZ and probably Arg) will be bound to have some injuries and niggles going into the knockouts. Spare a thought for Namibia, seriously, playing the ABs, Argies, Tongans and Georgians in the space of a few weeks. I know they breed them tough in that part of the world, but I really don't envy the men from Africa, particularly their forward pack. Brutal brutal brutal. Would prefer the pool of death to the pool of injury any day.
Nobrain
Guest
Sorry, Petty inn and Alemanno out. Senatore inn and Isa out. My mistake.
Nobrain
Guest
Injuries will play a role in every team, but it is not the same playing Fiji, Samoa , Georgia ,or Tonga than playing Scotland, Uruguay or Japan. The brutality in which those four aproach the game is not the same than the later.
Nobrain
Guest
If you know Hourcade he will play the best he has in every game, he thinks that his team can upset the ABs, if there are no last minutes injuries the team will be de following: Ayaerza, Creevy, Tetaz Chaparro, Lavanini, Alemanno, Fernandez Lobbe, Isa, Matera, Cubelli, Sanchez, Hernandez, Bosh, Imoff, Cordero, Tuculet.
kiwihaydn
Guest
I'm not questioning the Argentinians commitment or ability, but wonder if strategically they may be better to rest some players against the ABs, then focus on beating the other teams with a full strength team to secure second place in the pool.
moa
Guest
NZ,Tonga & Georgia will certainly give Los Pumas a good workout! If all goes according to plan then Argentina wil be match-hardened bthe time the 1/4 final rolls around. Like every squad--injuries will play a role. I love the author's understated "comfortable victory" to describe the 41-13 pasting at Auckland! Like the Scoville Scale that reaches into the millions,a 5 tries to 1 win is a lowly "comfortable" (a glass brimming at just over half full),with other,more flamboyant measures yet to be dusted off....
Nobrain
Guest
Not having to play ABs after the pool games are over is a big advantage to any team, but Argentina must go past Georgia and Tonga before going in to the quarterfinals . Not easy to maintain the same level of concentration and spirit after facing the ABs, and that is exactly what you need to win those two matches. Those two matches will also pay a heavy tax in injuries since they have to be two of the most demanding teams in physical terms. Ireland and France in the 1/4s is a 50/50 and then anything is possible , but my biggest fears are Georgia and Tonga. Never The Pumas have come so prepare to a RWC, but they have to maintain the mental endurance and an unlikely win over the ABs can even more damaging that a lost by a small margin.