Bubulle's weblog

I was expecting to write more about the 7th Rugby World Cup, but real life, Debian work and running activities prevented me to do so..

Still, I watched several games and I can share my feelings now.

First of all, this is a tremendous organization from New Zealand. It seems that about the entire country is working on making this even a great success and I really appreciate to see a place I certainly have to visit some day receiving such wordlwide attention (OK, admitedly, mostly in the part of the world that understands rugby).

First round already gave several surprises even if the 1/4 finals were after all kinda expected (at least, the list of countries).

• New Zealand All Blacks is by far the most shiny team. They crushed all their opponents, including our French team, and were indeed brilliant. So, really, the challenge is: who can beat them?
• Australia and South Africa were about the same. Australia has been surprised by Ireland (one of the most exciting games of first round) and is apparently no longer the incredible team that scored over 60 points in France back in November 2010. South Africa has been strong and powerful during 1st round... but, indeed, not that impressive (I'm not fond of south-african game, anyway).
• Argentina was again great. They had to qualify in a quite hard pool and made it well. Funny to see that, at many moments, the 15 players on the field were players....that usually play in French club teams. They were even sometimes talking in French with some referees (either the excellent Romain Poite, from France, and the also excellent M. Rolland, the most french Irish referee)
• Wales has been serious and strong enough to qualify in a not so easy pool. Their rear lines are the most dangerous among qualified teams, along with NZ
• Ireland made an excellent pool game. Their win against Australia was really a surprise and a nice illustration of what "Irish fighting spirit is". I'm not always fond of Irish rugby organisation (provinces only playing4 to 5 really serious games in a season), but it gives results
• Scotland is really reviving. OK, they didn't qualify, but this team is now far from the very bad team they had during the 2000 years. Rear players as well as their 2m-tall front player (whose name I can't remember now) are excellent
• England. Ah, England..:-). Seeing our "best enemy" in rugby being not so good was kinda a pleasure for me..:-). I just feel sad to see Mister Johnny Wilkinson in not so good shape, because that player is really someone I have respect for. Others...I have less respect, sometimes, I admit (particularly this Ashton guy who I expect to crash in the grass, some day, when arrogantly diving when scoring a try). OK, that's England. Always running love and hate story..:-)
• Fiji, Tonga and Samoa weren't as decisive and challenging as they used to be. Out of these three "Pacific Islands" countries, the Tonga team was IMHO the best and their match against France was a monument of courage. They would even have deserved to qualify and we have to thank Canada for beating them..:-)
• Italy was a deception for me. Their key players are aging and they have hard times renewing the team. And now, definitely, having a good scrum is not enough.
• Among the "have no chance to qualify" teams, I have a good impression of Canada. With so few players in the country, it is amazing to see that they can build a team able to beat Tonga and to play a great game against France. Japan also made at least one excellent game against France. I haven't seen many others, sorry for that.
• And how about France? I have to say they have been very French..:-). The pool round was nearly a disaster with very few good spirit in this team, not even a good scrum and way too many imprecisions and approximations. Still, they qualified.

Which lead us to the following 1/4 finals (in parenthesis are my bets):

• Wales-Ireland (Ireland)
• England-France (England)
• Australia-South Africa (South Africa)
• New Zealand-Argentina (New Zealand)

If you know about the results, you know I screwed it nearly completely..:-)

The Welsh team played a great game against an uninspired Irish team. It has certainly been the best 1/4 final and they certainly deserve their win. Even though I usually tend to be supprotive of Ireland, I was very balanced here, and finally turned out to be in favor of the Welsh. We really have to fear them in semi-finals.

Australia-South Africa was theoretically the most exciting 1/4 final but finally turned out to be quite boring. Both teams insisted on playing mostly to occupy their opponents part of the field, more than trying to score, then relying on penalties to score. That was apparently the good tactics for Australia ad they also deserve their win against a South-African team where forward players were not as decisive as they sometimes are.

Argentina was again there and really there. It has been the only team up to now who lead score against New Zealand. And that was deserved. What a wonderful 1st halftime! Obviously, it was impossible for them to resist during second halftime and it slowly became obvious that the Blacks (saved during 1st half by the kicks of a very inspired Kiri Weepu) would finally manage to score tries. But, still, our argentinian friends, for instance the inoxydable "Super Mario" Ledesma, or the tireless Felipe Contepomi, were not here as a sacrificial victim.

What to say about England-France? First half was astonishing for us, of course. This is what we love (and hate) with our beloved French team. Definitely the team that can make surprises and, imho, the only one that can beat New Zealand if that has to happen (but also the only one that can be entirely crushed by them). The defeat against Tonga and the week that followed completely transformed them. A stunning 3rd row, defending each and every single bit of England trying to invade "la patrie en danger". Rear lanes with the magicians of Toulouse (Clerc and Médard) as the ideal finishers of magic play by Parra, Trinh Duc, Mermoz, Palisson (the good surprise of this world cup, Alexis). And, during second half, a trilling resistance to assaults of the British White Knights, concluded by this delivering drop-goal by Trinh Duc. For sure, with games like this, they can beat everybody and by everybody, I mean everybody. Remember Millenium Stadium in 2007..:-)

So, well. Australia-New Zealand and France-Wales. I know where my heart is balancing for both games. The Blacks and Les Bleus in final, thi is what we hope (and fear...), but both teams, particularly France, will have to first climb a quite big wall before reaching this.