RWC07 3 v 6.

Here at Rockstar Journals our attachment to RWC France 07 has been as contemporary as playing rugby in cotton jerseys and our predictions have been less accurate than Wayne Barnes’ positional play.

Tell me all about Treadstone Sydney!

To some up the events that unfolded since game 1 in early September, I struggle to find the loquacious aptitude to describe it as anything beyond an ‘Upset’. My reticence however was not echoed by Mr Syd Millar (head of the IRB) as he reckons it’s the most successful RWC ever. I would loath to be described as the sour support but can’t avoid asking upon which yardstick he measures success.

Money wise from live audience? Then I am sure it has been the most successful. Every venue has been packed to capacity and then some. Money wise from TV audience? I am sure it is the highest watched rugby competition ever. Which admittedly doesn’t say much since it is only the 6^th RWC and the majority of the nations that play have only developed enough in the last decade to even get satellite signal.

Nevertheless, economically the IRB must be giggling like Tony Spreadbury at ruck time, all the way to the bank. However, whether it has been the best rugby spectacle I have my doubts. Actually the truth hiding behind that statement is that all World Cup Rugby turns into a banal display of ‘we’re to frightened to lose decision making’. It is trite knowledge that the side that makes the fewest errors usually wins, but the result it that game plans are now centered on giving the ball away to allow the other side to make the errors as opposed to keeping it and trying to score.

Step 1: Win 1st phase. Step 2: Set up a ruck. Step 3: Let JW kick the points.

I personally watch rugby to see sides play fast, skillful, intelligent and brave rugby. Sides that forego possession in favour of territory and then just defend are not the sides that take up the most minutes of the highlight channels allotted viewing quota, they do however take up the evening news as they’re the ones that lift the trophy.

Think Blue Bulls Currie Cup success. Think England 2003…think last Saturday and Sunday and think toward Saturday night in Paris...!

Step 4: Defend the lead. Step 5: Celebrate like World Champs. Step 6: Take it home..!

The English (7)* France (5) quarter final was possibly the most boring game I have ever seen. Both sides played good rugby and made few errors, with France unfortunately making more than the Poms, but it was fakkin boring. It was like watching two aussie rules teams warming up. “Hey mate, Ai’ll stend one end of the SCG and you stay here en we can kieck it to each other…”

You might now speculate that the South Africa (3) Argentina (4) quarter cannot be criticized in the same manner since SA scored 4 tries. Unfortunately, I can cut and paste the above paragraph in here except just substitute in ‘made many errors’ where it says few.

Both sides adopted the ‘let the other side lose it approach’ except neither were ‘clinical’ enough in that game plan. [‘Clinical’ used to be an ACT Brumbies word referring to an attacking game built on accuracy and precision but now is euphemistically used by front row captains who are describing the last 80 minutes where they told their flyhalves to kick.]

Argentina lost cause they made more mistakes than the South Africans. Obviously, pressure can force mistakes (see Jake White rush defence manual 2005) and converting opposition mistakes into points does require effort but the facts are undeniable. Loose Argentine pass = Fourie Du Preez bags 7 points. Argentina counter attack badly off a terrible Juan Smith clearance kick, got turned over, SA spread it wide to where two props were defending 3 backs, and bye bye Habana, 14 points. Pichot’s infallibly bad service to a drifting inexperienced stand off who scones it, SA pounces repeats the unbelievably complex Eddie Jones pass the ball down line whilst unopposed drill, Daniel Rossouw, 21 points. Argentina attacking with abandon, reckless pass under, bye bye Habana 2, 28 points.

Yes four tries and besides Schalk turnover in the 2^nd try none were proactively created by SA. The 1^st and 4^th were unnecessary passes whilst the 3^rd was Pichot’s appalling pass off perfectly clean ruck ball.

I am not having a go at SA here though but rather at semi final rugby. I am not trying to highlight the inadequacies of the tournament so as to play it down and hence revoke some of the pain I feel that the best side in the world won’t lift the cup but the facts are incontestable:

Only two of the top 4 seeds made the semis!
Only one of the top 4 seeds made the final!

None of the top two sides did.

If SA win the top ranked side they will have played held number 4 spot (Argentina). [ the others: Samoa 10, England 7, Tonga 14, USA 15 and Fiji 12.]

If England win they would have beaten side 2 and 5, lost to 3 en route and will be the only side to have retained the trophy and the only side to have won the tournament whilst not going unbeaten…

However, SA can move into the number 1 spot on the IRB ranking if they beat England by 1 point, and the English can if they beat SA by 15 points. Very interesting.

*the numbers in brackets are the pre-RWC official IRB standings...