The gap in global rugby is indeed closing if this weekends results are any yardstick. The Poms squeaked home pathetically against the Argies, the Sweaty Jocks peeped home over the Fijians, the Welsh parped in against the Samoans, the Frogs croaked triumph over the Boks, the All Blacks beeped a dull win over the oily Itai’s, the Oyrish and Ockers agreed on a draw and the Mustangs nailed HKFC Select (with a bonus point). No real upsets but most games closer than you’d expect.
Why is this? Is this more a case of the top tier teams playing below their normal peaks and the second tier teams playing more disruptive football? Can we even call the Argie’s second tier? They came 3rd in RWC 2007. The Italians have played some famously disruptive rugby but never really disrupted the result. There doesn’t appear to be a dominating country at the moment; a country that smashes all comers consistently. The World Cup holders, South Africa, have lost two tour matches to club sides, crashing to Leicester and Saracens, proving that the titles of “RWC Champs” and “Best Team in the World” are two very different things. Akin to holding the titles Miss Universe and Miss Porn Universe at the same time.
As the gap diminishes, it becomes increasingly difficult to pick the final 8 in RWC 2011 – let alone pick the eventual winner. I raise this point because all bookies currently have New Zealand as the overwhelming odds-on favourites to win 2011. This is surely a conspiracy by William Hill and Tom Hall to apply more pressure on us chokers?
Based on NZ’s current form and our RWC performances over the past 20 years, it surprises me that can NZ still be such enormous favourites? Have they not heard about the C-word? I guess the only thing in NZ’s favour right now is that it’s not clear where the threat will come from. South Africa and England were both in woeful form in 2006 but met to contest the 2007 RWC final. South Africa hammered the AB’s 3-0 in this year Tri Nations but are suddenly not looking so sharp in Europe. Can it really be blamed on the stoned Rastafarian that put in such an appalling version of their quin-lingual anthem in Toulouse? I hope so. NZ is recruiting our most stoned talents to audition for the role of SA national anthem 2011. Full credit to the French though.
I think the biggest surprise over the weekend was Canada being smashed 46-8 by the Japanese. The Cannooks really have been disappointing in their progress after showing so much promise in the early 90’s as an improving rugby force. Must be them beady little eyes and the flapping heads.
The Mustangs were in dazzling touch in the weekend, smoking HKFC Select. Any team that can boast seven separate, and equally qualified, touch kickers must have a merciless rotation policy. Te Rau, Troy, Jay, Sean, Reiby, Ted the Baker and some new bloke all had pokes for line. It was great to see Horse 2.0 back in action for the Valley after several years wandering the Earth ala asphyxiationist David Caradine in Kung Fu.
A blistering solo effort in the first few minutes by Te Rau “Tipoki” Brown (the Baddest Toe Poke in town) set the stadium alight as he stepped and swerved through the entire Scum backline.
It wasn’t until the final five minutes when Lee the Chook powered over for two late tries that the Tangs had finally broken HKFC Select, Pale, the referee and the cheating score board operator. Ted the Baker came close to a baker’s dozen but loafed two conversions. Game over, get the beers in Pale. Back of the net.
This weekend, pick of the round would be England v All Blacks. The AB’s should bounce back from the Italy game with key dudes back onboard and, well, we’ve all heard about the current Pommy form. Everybody’s expecting a good thumping and I spose the English media would see anything less than a 30 point margin as a positive for MJ and his gumbies. Perhaps the English should just put out a club side against the AB’s?
The French should see off the Samoans but will be desperately hoping for not too many decapitations ahead of next weekend’s match with NZ. I might put a cheeky punt on the Itai’s against the Boks, the Welsh might struggle against the Pumas after their narrow victory over Samoa, Ireland should smash Fiji and the Jocks may as well not bother against Wobblies.
And now… singing the Sooooth Afreeekan national anthem…. Starvin’ Pravin.
Boozer
Nov 18