Can the Rugby World Cup provide any shocks?

The Rugby Union World Cup isn’t renowned for its surprise results and a few of the smaller nations competing could get some real hammerings.

While it’s probably not the most difficult of tasks to stake on who the eight quarter-finalists will be, which of the lesser sides could spring a surprise during the tournament?

Proving a nuisance

Last year, Uruguay proved to be a thorn in the side of England’s hopes in the Football World Cup. The same is unlikely to happen in the Rugby Union version as the South Americans face the prospect of tackling Australia, England, Fiji and Wales. This is their third appearance in the World Cup finals and their first since 2003. That year they conceded 243 points in games against South Africa, Samoa and England (who beat them 111-13).

Fiji have twice made it through to the World Cup quarter-finals reaching the last eight in 1987 and 2007. That quarter final appearance in 2007 came about after coming second in their group with notable victories over Wales and Japan before losing 37-20 to South Africa in the last eight. The last few years have seen Fiji’s form slump, though. The 2011 World Cup saw them knocked out in the pool stage including a 66-0 defeat by Wales. Their last big win was a narrow victory over Italy last June.

Likely shocks?

If there are any major surprises it could be in Pool B where South Africa and Scotland face Samoa, Japan and the USA. Samoa have twice made it through to the last eight but the last time they did so was back in 1995. The Southern Hemisphere side have twice beaten Italy in the past couple of years and in 2013 had a 27-17 win over Scotland. In the last World Cup they only lost 17-10 to Wales, so can definitely cause sides problems.

The USA are actually the reigning Olympic Rugby Union Champions, but that was way back in 1924! Since then they have never managed to become a force in the sport. They have only ever beaten Japan (who have won one of their 24 World Cup matches) and Russia at the World Cup finals but have run a few teams close in the past including a 19-18 loss to Fiji in 2003 and 25-21 to Samoa in 2011. They might not cause any shocks but might be worth a bet in handicaps.

Argentina could prove to be the team that causes a surprise in this World Cup. They are second seeds behind New Zealand in Pool C and, while I can’t see them beating the All-Blacks, the Pumas should easily get past Tonga, Georgia and Namibia. That should set up a quarter final against either France or Ireland and, if on top form, Argentina are more than capable of a shock. In fact, the South Americans beat hosts France twice in the 2007 World Cup and defeated Ireland too on their way to finishing third in the tournament. The last competition saw Argentina beat Scotland and lose 13-9 to England. Recent years have seen them playing more against the top teams and they beat Australia, France and Italy in 2014.

Tonga actually beat France in the last World Cup and would have reached the last eight but for a shock 25-20 loss to Canada. In 2007, they beat Samoa and only lost by five points to South Africa.

Pool D should see France and Ireland comfortably qualify for the last eight. Can Italy finish third though?

Their pack should cause teams problems, as it did for long periods against Ireland in their recent Six Nations clash (before Ireland’s late points hall saw them win 26-3), but they have twice lost to Canada in the past, while Romania defeated Canada last November and have a number of wins over the Italians. If you’re looking for reasonably close games in the pool stages, then this group could have a fair few.

The Rugby Union World Cup isn’t renowned for its surprise results and a few of the smaller nations competing could get some real hammerings.

While it’s probably not the most difficult of tasks to stake on who the eight quarter-finalists will be, which of the lesser sides could spring a surprise during the tournament?

Proving a nuisance

Last year, Uruguay proved to be a thorn in the side of England’s hopes in the Football World Cup. The same is unlikely to happen in the Rugby Union version as the South Americans face the prospect of tackling Australia, England, Fiji and Wales. This is their third appearance in the World Cup finals and their first since 2003. That year they conceded 243 points in games against South Africa, Samoa and England (who beat them 111-13).

Fiji have twice made it through to the World Cup quarter-finals reaching the last eight in 1987 and 2007. That quarter final appearance in 2007 came about after coming second in their group with notable victories over Wales and Japan before losing 37-20 to South Africa in the last eight. The last few years have seen Fiji’s form slump, though. The 2011 World Cup saw them knocked out in the pool stage including a 66-0 defeat by Wales. Their last big win was a narrow victory over Italy last June.

Likely shocks?

If there are any major surprises it could be in Pool B where South Africa and Scotland face Samoa, Japan and the USA. Samoa have twice made it through to the last eight but the last time they did so was back in 1995. The Southern Hemisphere side have twice beaten Italy in the past couple of years and in 2013 had a 27-17 win over Scotland. In the last World Cup they only lost 17-10 to Wales, so can definitely cause sides problems.

The USA are actually the reigning Olympic Rugby Union Champions, but that was way back in 1924! Since then they have never managed to become a force in the sport. They have only ever beaten Japan (who have won one of their 24 World Cup matches) and Russia at the World Cup finals but have run a few teams close in the past including a 19-18 loss to Fiji in 2003 and 25-21 to Samoa in 2011. They might not cause any shocks but might be worth a bet in handicaps.

Argentina could prove to be the team that causes a surprise in this World Cup. They are second seeds behind New Zealand in Pool C and, while I can’t see them beating the All-Blacks, the Pumas should easily get past Tonga, Georgia and Namibia. That should set up a quarter final against either France or Ireland and, if on top form, Argentina are more than capable of a shock. In fact, the South Americans beat hosts France twice in the 2007 World Cup and defeated Ireland too on their way to finishing third in the tournament. The last competition saw Argentina beat Scotland and lose 13-9 to England. Recent years have seen them playing more against the top teams and they beat Australia, France and Italy in 2014.

Tonga actually beat France in the last World Cup and would have reached the last eight but for a shock 25-20 loss to Canada. In 2007, they beat Samoa and only lost by five points to South Africa.

Pool D should see France and Ireland comfortably qualify for the last eight. Can Italy finish third though?

Their pack should cause teams problems, as it did for long periods against Ireland in their recent Six Nations clash (before Ireland’s late points hall saw them win 26-3), but they have twice lost to Canada in the past, while Romania defeated Canada last November and have a number of wins over the Italians. If you’re looking for reasonably close games in the pool stages, then this group could have a fair few.