09/29/2011 12:26 pm

Everything is possible

DHL Global Rugby Ambassador, Sean Fitzpatrick, looks back at the past weekend of Rugby action.

 

If the first part of the Rugby World Cup was marked by a few surprises and some questions being asked about the top teams, I think the last few days has shown that the favorites – New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, England and Ireland – are beginning to crank up their acts.

Obviously as a Kiwi, I was delighted to see the All Blacks beat France 37-17 and to do it in some style. It's been a long, four-year wait since that French victory over the All Blacks in Cardiff in the last World Cup in 2007. Now hopefully we can stop talking about that and move on.

France looked good for the first ten minutes, but I never had any doubt that the All Blacks would come through and win. I also had to smile at the people who floated the idea that New Zealand should lose so they went through to the other side of the draw, avoiding Australia and South Africa until the final.

Actually I don't think the other side of the draw is going to be easier. You have in-form Wales and Ireland, who have shown they can beat anyone on their day. And England, whose 67-3 victory over Romania demonstrated they are getting stronger and stronger.

England looked to have put their shaky start behind them after playing indifferently against Georgia last week. Chris Ashton and Mark Cueto, who both got a hat-trick of tries, played well. England is certainly moving in the right direction.

So is South Africa, who had a fantastic 87-0 win against Namibia, and Australia who bounced back after their Irish defeat with a 67-5 win over the USA, though their big concern is the number of injuries they are collecting.

One of the big stories is the likely exit of Scotland, who now has to beat England to make it to the quarter-finals, after their 13-12 defeat by Argentina. And we should not underestimate Argentina. Don’t forget that they reached the semi-finals in 2007.

Ireland continued in the same vein with a good 62-12 win over Russia, but we should congratulate the Russians on scoring two tries. And Tonga beat Japan 31-18 and Samoa beat Fiji 27-07 in what is becoming a fascinating World Cup within the World Cup.

This week we have England vs. Scotland to look forward to on October 1. Samoa vs. South Africa this Friday will be interesting, too, but I expect the Springboks to win. And then the final match of the pool games, Ireland vs. Italy.

I don't think the Irish will slip up, but no doubt the two teams will be remembering how Ireland only beat Italy in the Six Nations by a Ronan O'Gara drop goal three minutes from time last February.

As they say, with Ireland everything is possible.

TM © Rugby World Cup Limited 2008.

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