With the rugby world cup final this weekend I thought I would have to preview it and also write about how the tournament has been to date. This weekend the All Blacks take on the French in the showpiece finale whilst the Aussies take on the Welsh for the bronze prize.
The semi finals were exciting but in very different ways. France vs Wales was low scoring but no one would have predicted Wales to play the way they did with 14 men after they lost their captain, Sam Warburton, in the first half. As for the sending off I am with the majority that this was only a yellow card offence at most and believe it spoilt the game and ruined Wales chances. In saying that Wales were inches away from pulling off one of the best results in World Cup history and had plenty of chances for a drop goal attempt towards the end. If they had have taken these chances we could be looking at a very different final.
The other semi final was total domination by the All Blacks. They were out to set a marker against their old foes and did so in the first 10 minutes. The All Blacks may be known for choking but they were never going to choke in their old backyard against the enemy and dominated the rest of the game. To be honest they probably should have won by more.
The tournament in general has been, in my eyes, the best world cup so far. Smaller nations in the rugby fraternity have closed the gaps on the more dominant forces. Romania gave Scotland a scare, USA pushed Ireland all the way and just when all the big guns thought they were safe from a potential embarrassment Tonga beat France to confirm how much the gap is closing.
Before the world cup not too many pundits gave the Northern Hemisphere teams a chance and believed the trophy would fall into the hands of one of the Tri Nations teams, probably in an All Blacks v Aussies final. This World Cup proved that the gap between the hemispheres is also closing with Ireland beating the Aussies (putting a spanner in everyone's final prediction ha) and Wales coming so close to beating South Africa.
The 1/4 finals were all closely fought games even the Argies against the All Blacks as they pushed them further than any team to date. Then as discussed the semi finals were brilliant in different ways. Some teams have really helped make this tournament with Wales, Ireland and Argentina winning a lot of fans. Wales have played some terrific rugby and may actually have blown one of their best chances of winning a tournament as despite a young team you don't know how it will perform in 4 years.
Hopefully the final this week can cap of a brilliant tournament. In the final are 2 teams in contrasting form. The All Blacks are yet to lose and the French have lost twice, once to the All Blacks in the pool stage. From this alone you would be predicting an All Blacks win which would be reinforced by how the teams have played throughout the tournament. The All Blacks have looked slick and stylish as we have come to expect but they have added a new dimension to their game. They now have intensity, hard work and from their semi final clear drive and focus to complete the job at home.
The French on the other hand have been stop start and really stuttered their way to the final. The French are the most unpredictable team, one day they can blow you away and the next they are mediocre to say the least. Funnily after the group match against the All Blacks, a friend said my bet with him that the All Blacks would win the tournament is looking good to which I replied don't be surprised if that is the final. The reason for my prediction is I knew France were going into an all northern hemisphere side and on their day are capable of beating anyone.
This is why in the final I do not believe it will be an All Black onslaught as many predict. I am sticking with my prediction that the All Blacks will win but I cannot see France playing that badly in a final. I think the All Blacks will win by 5-10 points with a fitting Richie McCaw as man of the match and player of the tournament. I think the forward battle will be immense as France have forwards who on their day can match the All Blacks intensity and drive. However I believe the French backs will struggle to curtail the likes of Nonu, Jayne and Dagg who are in blistering form at the minute.
The Wales v Australia match may actually be the best game of the tournament as both teams play open and fast running games so I am expecting a high scoring affair. I think Wales have done magnificently to date and this will just be one hurdle to far for them as Australia will be out to prove a point after last weeks hammering to the enemy.
All in all the tournament has been fantastic with some hard hitting, intense and skill packed rugby matched with the beautiful setting of New Zealand and its warm and friendly people. In my eyes it would be fitting that the All Blacks win the trophy as lets face it, they are the best team in the world for the last number of years and deserve it. However you don't always get what you deserve in sport!
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