AUSTRALIA 35, SCOTLAND 34: World Cup Quarter final

18.10.2015

HEARTACHE!

That was how Scotland felt after a last minute penalty goal by Australia saw them lose 34-35 in an exciting game at Twickenham. Scotland should have won this game. They deserved to. Australia were never allowed to settle by a tenacious Scottish side that could sense Australia were having an off day.

There were times when Australia were brilliant but if they make as many mistakes next week against Argentina as they did today they will not reach the final.

Scotland can be proud of their effort. The future for them looks good despite the heartache of today.

I do not believe Australia will repeat this performance next week. They will, like the All Blacks bounce back.

ARGENTINA 43, IRELAND 20: World Cup Quarter Final

18.10.2015

Argentina are into the 2015 Rugby World Cup semi finals after defeating Ireland in Cardiff. All the noise and the colour of the Irish supporters just could not pull the Irish up in this game. Argentina were dominant up front for much of the game and their backs were slick and quick. It was an exciting game to watch. Argentina have come of age.

WORLD CUP SEMI FINALS

17.10.2015
South Africa 23, Wales 19 at Twickenham (World Cup, Quarter Final 1)
New Zealand 62, France 13 in Cardiff (World Cup, Quarter Final 2)

Briefly
South Africa scored a brilliant try just before the end of the game to end Wales’ hopes of progressing towards the semi-finals. In a fast and ferocious game the result could have gone either way

AMAZING

That has to be said about the way the All Blacks totally dismantled a dispirited and outclassed French side. The result almost certainly ended the coaching career of Philipe Saint-Andre. This performance has certainly placed the All Blacks back in the favourite position to progress further when they take on South Africa next weekend.

RUGBY WORLD CUP: France v New Zealand Quarter Final 2

17.10.2015

Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)

Venue: Millennium Stadium, Cardiff

Preview
This is the game. There was always going to be the possibility that New Zealand and France would clash at this stage of the finals. There is such a long history between these two teams at World Cup finals.

France’s lead up to this game has not been impressive. A loss to Ireland in the final pool game has fuelled speculation of a rift within the French camp. This may well be so. But don’t let it put you off. France has the ability to turn this game on its head despite what has gone on before.

New Zealand has also not been that impressive but the teams own standards. There has been a lack of cohesion, too many errors and we saw Tonga hold and then push the All Black scrum off the ball! New Zealand rugby fans are concerned.

The time has come for the All Blacks to put it all together for the rest of the tournament or they could be packing bags for home tomorrow night.I expect they will win comfortably, out lasting the French in the second half.

Last Five Encounters
09.11.2013 New Zealand 26-19 in Paris
22.06.2013 New Zealand 24-9 in New Plymouth
15.06.2013 New Zealand 30-0 in Christchurch
08.06.2013 New Zealand 23-13 in Auckland
23.10.2011 New Zealand 8-7 in Auckland (World Cup, Final)

France last defeated New Zealand in 2009, the first test in Dunedin.

Previous World Cups
23.10.2011 New Zealand 8-7 in Auckland (Final)
24.09.2011 New Zealand 37-17 in Auckland (Pool A)
06.10.2007 France 20-18 in Cardiff (Quarter final)
31.10.1999 France 43-31 in Twickenham (Semi Final)
20.06.1987 New Zealand 29-9 (Final)

There is a wonderful history between these two teams at World Cups. Start with the final of the first tournament in 1987, the French comeback in 1999, France’s quarter final win in 2007 and that 1 point win to New Zealand in 2011.

France last Five P 5, W 4, L 1
11.10.2015 v Ireland L 9-24 in Cardiff (World Cup, Pool D)
01.10.2015 v Canada W 41-18 in Milton Keynes (World Cup, Pool D)
23.09.2015 v Romania W 38-11 in London (World Cup, Pool D)
19.09.2015 v Italy W 32-10 at Twickenham (World Cup, Pool D)
05.09.2015 v Scotland W 19-15 in Paris (World Cup warm Up)

New Zealand Last Five P 5, W 5
09.10.2015 v Tonga W 47-9 in Newcastle (World Cup, Pool C)
02.10.2015 v Georgia W 43-10 in Cardiff (World Cup, Pool C)
24.09.2015 v Namibia W 58-14 in London (World Cup, Pool C)
20.09.2015 v Argentina W 26-16 in London (World Cup, Pool C)
15.08.2015 v Australia W 41-13 in Auckland (Bledisloe Cup)

GWC Rankings
World Table: France 5th, New Zealand 6th

World Rugby Ranking Points
New Zealand 92.89, France 79.77

Prediction: Not this time! New Zealand comfortably, by 19. Score 33-14

TEAMS

France
15 Scott Spedding, 14 Noa Nakaitaci, 13 Alexandre Dumoulin, 12 Wesley Fofana, 11 Brice Dulin, 10 Frédéric Michalak, 9 Morgan Parra, 8 Louis Picamoles, 7 Bernard le Roux, 6 Thierry Dusautoir (Capt.), 5 Yoann Maestri,
4 Pascal Papé, 3 Rabah Slimani, 2 Guilhem Guirado, 1 Eddy Ben Arous
Replacements
16 Dimitri Szarzewski, 17 Vincent Debaty, 18 Nicolas Mas, 19 Damien Chouly, 20 Yannick Nyanga, 21 Rory Kockott, 22 Rémi Talès, 23 Mathieu Bastareaud
Head Coach: Bernard Saint-André

New Zealand
15 Benjamin Smith, 14 Nehe Milner-Skudder, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Daniel Carter, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Richie McCaw (Capt.), 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Samuel Whitelock, 4 Brodie Retallick,
3 Owen Franks, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Wyatt Crockett.
Replacements
16 Keven Mealamu, 17 Joseph Moody, 18 Charles Faumuina, 19 Victor Vito, 20 Samuel Cane, 21 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 22 Beauden Barrett, 23 Sonny Bill Williams.
Head Coach: Steve Hansen

RUGBY WORLD CUP: South Africa v Wales Quarter-final 1

17.10.2015

Venue: Twickenham

Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)

Preview
The first of the World Cup semi-finals is a huge game for both teams. South Africa started the tournament with a disastrous loss to Japan whilst Wales has reeled from one major injury crises to another. Despite this both teams have made strong efforts to reach this stage and deserve to be here.

Wales became the first nail in the English rugby coffin for 2015. Their stunning comeback in the second half showed this is a team with real character.

South Africa were in disgrace back home after their loss to Japan. An unthinkable result for the die-hard Springbok supporters of a proud rugby nation. They have pulled their game together and played some powerful expansive rugby to defeat Scotland and Samoa in pool play.

This is going to a bruising encounter. Both teams have a very physical approach to the game. I’m going for Wales because they will match the South Africa physical game but have a very young and enterprising backline. They will also have the vast majority of the Twickenham crowd behind them-a sea of red.

Last Five Encounters
29.11.2014 Wales 12-6 in Cardiff
21.06.2014 South Africa 31-30 in Nelspruit
14.06.2014 South Africa 38-16 in Durban
09.11.2013 South Africa 24-15 in Cardiff
11.09.2011 South Africa 17-16 in Wellington (World Cup, Pool D)

Previous World Cups
11.09.2011 South Africa 17-16 in Wellington (Pool D)

South Africa Last Five P 5, W 3, L 2
07.10.2015 v United States W 64-0 in London (World Cup, Pool B)
03.10.2015 v Scotland W 34-16 in Newcastle (World Cup, Pool B)
26.09.2015 v Samoa W 46-6 in Birmingham (World Cup, Pool B)
19.09.2015 v Japan L 32-34 in Brighton (World Cup, Pool B)
08.08.2015 v Argentina L 25-37 in Durban (Rugby Championship)

Wales Last Five P 5, W 4, L 1
10.10.2015 v Australia L 6-15 at Twickenham (World Cup, Pool A)
01.10.2015 v Wales W 23-13 in Cardiff (World Cup, Pool A)
26.09.2015 v England W 28-25 at Twickenham (World Cup, Pool A)
20.09.2015 v Uruguay W 54-9 in Cardiff (World Cup, Pool A)
05.09.2015 v Italy W 23-19 in Cardiff (World Cup Warm Up)

GWC Rugby Rankings
World Table: Wales 2nd, South Africa 7th

World Rugby Ranking Points
Wales 85.71, South Africa 84.58

Prediction: Wales by 2 points. Score 24-22

TEAMS

South Africa
15 William le Roux, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende,
11 Bryan Habana, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Fourie du Preez (Capt.), 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Schalk Burger, 6 Francois Louw, 5 Lood de Jager, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements
16 Adriaan Strauss, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Jannie du Plessis, 19 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 20 Willem Alberts, 21 Ruan Pienaar, 22 Patrick Lambie, 23 Jan Serfontein.
Head Coach: Heyneke Meyer

Wales
15 Gareth Anscombe, 14 Alexander Cuthbert, 13 Tyler Morgan, 12 James Roberts, 11 George North, 10 Daniel Biggar, 9 Gareth Davies, 8 Taulupe Faletau, 7 Samuel Warburton (Capt.), 6 Daniel Lydiate, 5 Alun Wyn Jones,
4 Luke Charteris, 3 Samson Lee, 2 Scott Baldwin, 1 Gethin Jenkins.
Replacements
16 Kenneth Owens, 17 Paul James, 18 Thomas Francis, 19 Bradley Davies,
20 Justin Tipuric, 21 Lloyd Williams, 22 Rhys Priestland, 23 James Hook
Head Coach: Warren Gatland

RUGBY WORLD CUP

I am at a antique fair in Latrobe, Tasmania this weekend. I’m not sure how much time I will have to cover these games.

17.10.2015
South Africa v Wales at Twickenham (World Cup, Quarter Final 1)
New Zealand v France in Cardiff (World Cup, Quarter Final 2)

Here are my predictions
Wales by 2 over South Africa. Score 24-22
New Zealand by 19 over France. Score 33-14

RUGBY WORLD CUP: Quarter Finalists Confirmed

17.10.2015
South Africa v Wales at Twickenham (World Cup, Quarter Final 1)
New Zealand v France in Cardiff (World Cup, Quarter Final 2)

18.10.2015
Ireland v Argentina in Cardiff (World Cup, Quarter Final 3)
Australia v Scotland at Twickenham (World Cup, Quarter Final 4)

Briefly
Here they are. Now we are down to the real business end of the 2015 Rugby World Cup. The eight quarter finalists are listed above.