Rugby World Cup 2011 Predictions - Gaze Through The Crystal Ball
Thursday 8 September 2011
The Rugby World Cup 2011 kicks off tomorrow and as a rugby analyst of some repute here is my brief guide and predictions for the Rugby World Cup 2011.
The Favourites - often the knock-out matches come down to the toss of a coin. England and South Africa in the past have produced effective percentages rugby which can be boring, but is difficult to beat when the referees decide to dominate proceedings. There are five teams with a genuine chance of winning the Rugby World Cup 2011.
France - I think that while France can beat any other team in the world on their day, I doubt they have the ability to win a tough Quarter Final (probably against England) and then back it up with a Semi Final and Final win. Player to watch: Cedric Heymans.
Australia - I think Australia has a young and exciting team and out of the top teams, both them and the All Blacks play the most exciting brand of rugby. For the sake of the tournament I hope they play the All Blacks in the final. They don't have heaps of depth but have some real quality that has developed during Robbie Deans's reign. They should make the final if they don't lose key players to injury. Player to watch: Will Genia.
New Zealand - Have the weight of expectation on them, but have a great mix of power and flair. Can they break their hoodoo of only winning the tournament once despite constantly being the Number 1 team in the world? Losing Dan Carter and Dan Carter would hurt. Player to watch: Israel Dagg.
England - England has tried reinventing themselves in the last season, but could well revert back to the tried and true effective style which has seen them make the last two finals. They will love having Jonny Wilkinson there. Player to watch: Manu Tuilagi.
South Africa - The Springboks won the last tournament and showed in their last game just how to win by playing percentages while gaining some confidence with a win over the All Blacks. They know how to win effectively using a strong kicking game. They will make the semi finals at least. Player to watch: Heinrich Brussouw.
The Best of the Rest
The Six Nations teams bring a known quantity to this tournament with Scotland having made it to the knock-out stages at every tournament. I am picking them to make the Quarter Finals. Ireland should make the Quarter Finals and are being touted as a dark horse for this tournament in some quarters. Italy would therefore miss out. Wales have a tough pool and could easily miss out on the knock-out stages.
Samoa, Tonga, Fiji and Argentina don't get a chance to play their full strength teams very often outside of Rugby World Cups because they play all over the world, so it is hard to know how they will fare.
With the tournament on their back-door step I am picking the Pacific Island nations to be tough to beat with their physical style. Argentina peaked in 2007 finishing 3rd, I don't think this team they have will make much of an impression.
Don't be surprised if Samoa with their Super Rugby and European based players with strong New Zealand roots claim second place over Wales in Pool D. That pool is tough and I feel sorry for Namibia who were one of the last nations to qualify for the tournament. Tonga and Fiji won't progress, but will earn respect in the process.
The rest of the teams will be making up numbers. It is great how the rest of the teams have one winnable match with the Georgia vs Romania, USA vs Russia and Japan vs Canada sure to be cracking matches.
Pool A
1st New Zealand
2nd France
Pool B
1st England
2nd Scotland
Pool C
1st Australia
2nd Ireland
Pool D
1st South Africa
2nd Samoa
Semi Finalists
New Zealand vs South Africa
England vs Australia
I would love to see a New Zealand vs Australia Rugby World Cup final, with the All Blacks winning, but in knock-out rugby at tournaments anything can happen.
Who are you predicting to do well and win the Rugby World Cup 2011?
rugbyworldcuptips.com
.jpg "The tournament will kick-off on 22nd August")
.jpg "England will be hosting the Rugby World Cup 2025")
.jpg "The ball for Women's Rugby World Cup 2025 has been unveiled")