Team Profile: England
The world champions’ disastrous descent down the IRB rankings table since 2003 has been well-documented, but there is no escaping the fact that England have been the worst World Champions ever.
That is not to say they didn’t deserve to lift the Web Ellis Cup, just that several factors - such as leaders retiring, injuries to key players, club v country crises, hopeless management decisions and a short-sighted governing body - have led to their downfall ever since.
Brian Ashton, the head coach, has been in place for less than a year and for one reason or another, team selection has been erratic and we end up going into a World Cup not really knowing what the starting line-up will look like - a far cry from 2003.
However, all of these things will not stop us hoping. Maybe, just maybe it will all come together at the last minute. Phil Vickery, the captain, Lawrence Dallaglio, Jonny Wilkinson, Mike Catt and Josh Lewsey should form the backbone of the team, and all were present on that glorious night in Sydney.
Perhaps newcomers like Danny Hipkiss and Tom Rees can provide the spark to ignite England into a fearsome attacking force once again, and maybe if giants like Andrew Sheridan and Simon Shaw keep the pack on the front foot, we will se the team going forwards.
England face a crucial group-stage showdown with South Africa on September 13th, but the Springboks appear to be streets ahead in terms of quality. Samoa will also provide a gruelling test, but England must surely be able to beat the Pacific Island minnows. Wales or Australia will be waiting in the quarter-finals, and both are beatable, but only if England raise their game another level. If they get to the semis, then who knows? Anything can happen!
However, England just don’t seem ready. As one of the Sunday papers noted, it’s not like the World Cup is a surprise. England have had four years to prepare, but that time has been frittered away, and now we must follow their campaign more in hope than expectation.
Team Profile: Wales
By Stuart PeelWales must be cursing the World Cup’s 4 year cycle. In 2003, the seeds were sewn for a Welsh revival in a spectacular, if ultimately unsuccessful, display of attacking rugby against the All Blacks. A new generation of exciting young talent were poised to re-establish Wales as serious contenders for honours and 2007 was viewed with huge optimism. This came to fruition with the Grand Slam of 2005, a campaign in which they showed flair to beat the French and blood and guts to defeat the despised English. Had the World Cup been played then, a semi final could have been a distinct possibility.
Fast forward 2 years. Mike Ruddock has been unceremoniously dumped; Wales have managed just one victory from each of their last two 6 Nations campaigns; they have won 4 of their last 16 internationals; they have been thrashed by England and France in their warm up games. Gareth Jenkins has waxed lyrical about playing the ‘Welsh way’, but victories are the currency through which international teams are measured and at the time of writing, Jenkins does not have much in the coffers. Once again they appear to be travelling to rugby’s global tournament more in hope than expectation.
A gloomy picture all round then? Well no. Wales remains the spiritual home of attacking rugby and, as shown in 2005, they have players who can be unstoppable when they hit their straps. Shane Williams remains one of the most lethal broken field runners in the game; Dwayne Peel is arguably the finest 9 in the world at present; Gareth Thomas leads from the front; and they have back row options including the ever-improving Alan Wyn-Jones, the resurgent Colin Charvis and the wonderful Martyn Williams. These are players who on their day can tear any team apart.
And then there is James Hook. Hook is one of the finest young talents in the world game and has taken to international rugby as if it is the easiest and most natural thing in the world. He is a nerveless kicker, a fine organiser and ghosts through gaps which don’t even appear to exist. How Jenkins utilises Hook could have far-reaching consequences for Wales’s chances. It is likely that he will play 12 outside the returning Stephen Jones (recently relieved of the captaincy burden) but it is only a matter of time before he inherits the 10 jersey for the long term.
Much of the focus on Wales has surrounded who is not in the squad as much as who is. To my mind, Gavin Henson is not a huge loss. He has never really pushed on at international level and so far is remembered on the pitch purely for one big tackle on a schoolboy and a well-struck penalty goal. Ryan Jones could potentially be a bigger loss but he has hardly played for 2 years anyway.
The draw has also been kind to Wales. Australia are the only one of rugby’s top powers who would not overpower the Welsh in the front five where they are both weak. Wales have a good chance and if they win that crucial pool match then who knows what may happen. Lose, and the quarter final is likely to prove the end of the road once again. One thing is certain though – we will be entertained.
Team Profile: Italy
The Italians are passionate about sport - football, formula 1, you name it. Rugby? Er, not so much…
Despite coming from a football-mad nation, the Italy rugby team’s profile has been improving and has been helped by significant improvements on the pitch in recent years. Since joining the (then) Five Nations in 2000, the Italians have normally competed with Scotland for the Wooden Spoon, but in 2007, the Azzurri recorded their first ever Away win in Edinburgh, and then defeated Wales in Rome for back-to-back victories.
Italy has taken part in every Rugby World Cup, and took part in the first ever World Cup fixture - they lost 70-6 against New Zealand in 1987 - but have since grown in stature as a rugby-playing nation. The public now takes more of an interest, and some of their rugby players are becoming minor celebrities.
Not least Alessandro Troncon - Italy’s most prolific player, who will add to his 95 caps at this year’s World Cup in France, which will be his fourth. The talismanic scrum-half learned his trade alongside the legendary Diego Dominguez, and is now the stand-out player himself with more caps than any other player.
The Bergamasco brothers - Mirco and Mauro - will also be difficult to miss. They both play for Stade Francais, with Mauro on the flank and Mirco in the centre both offering a potent threat in attack. The Italians play a very physical game, with big, hard-running forwards and uncompromising backs. They have a tendency to strangle the life out of the match, slowing the game down and hoping to pick up points whenever they can, whilst preventing the opposition from building a lead.
The 2007 edition represents Italy’s best chance of reaching the latter stages of a World Cup. Although they are drawn with clear favourites New Zealand, their main rival for a runners-up spot is Scotland - a team they have beaten three times in the Six Nations.
If they qualify from the Pool, they will face France, Ireland or Argentina in the quarter-finals, and so it’s not inconceivable that we will see Italy in the semis (although it would be quite an upset!).
Team Profile: France
By Rob Douglas
Ah, les Francais… Bof. Where to begin: the World Cup hosts (for the most part); the reigning Six Nations Champions; Gallic flare; the double recent vanquishing of England at a canter; brilliant one minute, grossly incompetent the next; ‘that try’ by Saint-Andre in the Grand Slam decider at Twickenham in 1991; Sébastian ‘the Anaesthetist / Attila / Jesus / Rasputin / Hannibal Lecter Chabal, the unlikeliest of French sex symbols… Whoever you are, as a rugby fanatic or an interested neutral, the French team cannot fail to intrigue. But can they cope with the expectations of a country reaching fever pitch and inherit the Jules Rimet trophy from Les Rosbifs?
There are no shortages of stumbling blocks along the way, not least the French temperament. No-one doubts that virtually any French team of the last two decades has been capable of elevating their play to stratospheric levels above and beyond the reach of any other. At their best they are untouchable, as witnessed during the remarkable comeback which blew the All Blacks away in the semi-final at the 1999 World Cup, a match in which even the most blinkered of beret wearers had subconsciously written them off. Yet, in the final it would be flattering to describe their performance as mediocre, essentially handing the title to the less-fancied but far more composed Aussies in what should have been a classic encounter.
Four years ago they travelled Down Under more in hope than expectation and having never really got out of second gear throughout were found wanting in ferocious Sydney conditions by an England team and a certain young man’s boot when it came to the crunch of the last four. Are they capable of finally finding the winning formula and emulating the achievement of their oldest rivals thereby keeping the trophy in the Northern Hemisphere?
If not, it certainly won’t be for lack of strength in depth. Only New Zealand can boast similar competition in every position. Indeed, hypothetically if both France and the All Blacks were to enter two teams to this World Cup, it’s not inconceivable that all four teams (provided there were no injuries of course) would occupy the four semi-final berths. I don’t think that even Bernard Laporte, the arch-tinkerer who moves into President Sarkozy’s Cabinet as Secretary of State for Sport after the competition, knows his first choice starting XV.
The leadership and experience of Raphael Ibanez, Fabien Pelous and Serge Betsen forms the backbone of the pack and the team. Their settled front row is fearsome; they have an embarrassment of riches in the back row and the back three; Pierre Mignoni and Jean-Baptiste Elissalde both have pace and tactical nous at the base; any of the fly-halves in the squad can control a game well and release the flyers outside him; and in Yanick Jauzion and Damien Traille you have a centre axis both massive and majestic. And then you have Chabal. Immovable object, irresistible force – call him what you will, in a tight game with twenty minutes on the clock, fifteen exhausted opposition players will all endure a collective buttock clench as this primeval caveman joins the fray.
Pitted in Pool D, the ‘Group of Death’, perhaps we will see France’s true colours when they take the field against a spirited Argentine side more than capable of an upset. If they can successfully negotiate their way past the South Americans and a struggling Irish side, they will stroll to the semis, most likely to meet South Africa, or potentially England once again. Expect titanic clashes from here on in, but if Laporte’s last act as the longest serving coach in international rugby is to be a successful one, he must find the team combination which can carry the pressure of a nation and avoid the self-destruct button inherent in the French rugby-playing psyche.
A fantastic and very unpredictable competition lies ahead, and if ever that French cockerel is to rule the roost, now is the time.
Team Profile: Tonga
Although rugby is the national sport of Tonga, their tiny base of players means they struggle to compete on the international stage. The IRB estimates that Tonga has in the region of 800 registered players, compared to some 716,000 in England.
Nevertheless, Tonga has competed at four Rugby World Cups, and the brutal power and pace will have Pool A rivals taking notice. Realistically, the Tongans do not pose a threat to England and South Africa, but they will offer a physical challenge not to be taken lightly.
Coach Quddus Fielea has named an experience squad for their World Cup campaign, which begins against USA on September 12th. Second row Inoke Afeaki will appear in his third World Cup, whilst Ephraim Taukafa, Viliami Vaki, Pierre Hola, Tevita Tu’ifua and Sukanaivalu Hufanga also featured in 2003.
Their preparations have gone well, having beaten Auckland B last week, and then defeating Edinburgh at the weekend. Vungakato Lilo impressed with two tries against Auckland, whilst forward Hale T-Pole scored one himself and looks a certainty to scoop the ‘Best name at the World Cup’ prize.
The Pacific Islanders will be targeting the USA game for a victory in France, and have been helped by the schedule organisers - USA will have had a tough game just four days previously against England. However, Samoa and the big two in that group should prove to be a test too far.
Watch this video below from the 2003 World Cup that saw the battle of the Hakas.
Team Profile: Australia
As the only team ever to win the World Cup twice, Australia can never be discounted as contenders for rugby’s biggest prize – Rob Douglas assesses their chances at this year’s competition.
The current odds on Australia winning the world cup are 10-1 or 11-1, making them fourth favourites. After a few seasons of under-performing this seems fair, despite their current world ranking of second, behind only the omnipotent All Blacks (whom they actually beat in Melbourne in the Tri Nations earlier this year).
However, let’s analyse this objectively. We’re talking about the only team to reach three world cup finals, winning two of them. This is a team loaded with big match performers, from captain Stirling Mortlock in midfield to George Smith and Nathan Sharpe upfront. In George Gregan and Stephen Larkham they boast the most experienced half back combination of all time, and with finishers like Drew Mitchell and Mark Gerrard lurking out wide, this is a team which seems to tick all the boxes. Add to this the power brought by Lote Tuqiri on the wing and David Lyons from the back of the scrum, as well as the versatile subtlety of Matt Giteau, the menace oozing from the men in Green and Gold is all too apparent. Even their perennial Achilles heel in the front row has been stablised and, whilst never going to win them any matches, it is unlikely to cause any defeats.
On the evidence of Wales’ recent form, the Wallabies will cruise their group matches and a place in the semi-finals is likely the reward for success against either the Springboks or the limping Chariot. History suggests that in these knockout stages the infuriating Australian sporting mentality with which English sports fans are all too familiar will provoke over-achievement.
The All Blacks remains the bookies’ favourites but they have certainly lost some of their infallible aura and strut of late, arguably falling into the stereotypical trap of peaking between the big tournaments. It goes against the very core of this patriotic Pom to say it but by October the smart money may be on the last team to beat the Kiwis.
Team Profile: Romania
Romania is one of the strongest teams in the second tier of world rugby, and have taken part in every World Cup so far. They compete in the European Nations Cup with the likes of Portugal and Georgia - and ususally win it.
The 1980s and early 90s saw the best period for rugby in Romania as they recorded victories over Wales, Scotland and France, a draw with Ireland and a narrow defeat by the All Blacks. However, since the dawn of professionalism, player numbers have dwindled with many seeking employment in France and Italy. Indeed in 2001, the Romanians suffered their heaviest ever defeat when they lost 138-0 to England at Twickenham.
Coach Daniel Santamans has named seven players in his squad that play in the French Top 14 or the Guinness Premiership in England, while several others play in France’s second division. The Oaks traditionally employ a forward-dominated gameplan, using their big Eastern European brutes effectively, and this is where their most well-known players are to be found. Their captain Sorin Socul plays for Pau, whilst other recognisable names include Cezar Popescu of Agen, Petru Balan of Brive and Ion Paulica of Bath.
‘The Oaks’ will line up in Pool C at this year’s tournament alongside New Zealand, Italy, Scotland and Portugal, where they will be looking to improve upon their record of only one win at any World Cup. This may represent their best chance of reaching the latter stages of the event, given that (behind the All Blacks), they are in one of the weakest groups.
However, I’d expect to see a fourth place finish in the pool after beating Portugal for their only win.
Team Profile: South Africa
The 1995 champions gave the All Blacks a run for their money in the Tri-Nations, and here Marcus Leach assesses their chances at this year’s World Cup.
However their lack of a world-class fly-half could be a problem for them. It is an area that the national team and the provinces have struggled in of late, and need to fix quickly, but big Butch James does not seem to be the answer. The problem, of course, leads to no creativity in their backline that leaves them annoyingly predictable for their die-hard fans. Unless an intercept try gets handed to the likes of Jean de Villiers, expect the Boks to use their forwards to do all the dirty work.
When you have a side with the forward resources to get through tough games, you need a back line to boot. If the Boks really are to challenge then the backs will need to shine. The young backs will be looking at veteran full-back Percy Montgomery’s wealth of experience to guide them along – the highest point-scorer in South African rugby will need to be on top of his kicking game with that golden left boot.
Monty will be ably supported in his efforts to influence the team by captain John Smit, who has proven to be the heartbeat of the Springbok side. And just like in the human body, if the heart stops beating - the team falls apart. Smit is a natural born leader and balances his play and captaincy role tremendously well. The 29-year-old Smit has a record 65 Test caps as hooker and a record 42 as Bok captain.
No team would be complete without their young stars, and the Boks have their fair share. Though a bit too erratic for his own good, the rising star is without doubt Francois Steyn. Steyn has already played at fly-half, full-back and wing for South Africa and has made an impact at every position he has played - scoring a try on debut. His enormous boot has seen him kick drop-goals from 50 meters out against England and win a match against Australia thanks to another piece of magic from the touchline. And he’s only 20-years old! See that dropped goal against Australia below.
And so to the man who brings it all together, Jake White. A former high school teacher, White has been in charge of the Bok set-up since 2003 and has taken the side from zero to hero since then. He was named the IRB Coach of the Year in 2004 for his efforts in taking South Africa to Tri-Nations glory in the same year. There is no doubt he has the technical and tactical know-how to guide his side to glory, and with Eddie Jones on board as a technical advisor expect a dangerous coaching partnership.
South Africa have proved they are capable of beating the All Blacks, which if you want to win the World Cup is an essential, but do they have what it takes to get as far as a clash with New Zealand? On paper the answer is yes, providing they do not suffer any injuries. However in reality it seems as if the Boks are not quite there yet, especially if they lose key players. Expect them to make the semi-finals but falter when it really matters.
Team Profile: Fiji
For a country whose population is around 1 million, Fiji’s rugby team are hugely successful. Indeed, it is one of only a handful of countries in the world where rugby is the main sport.
On top of their problems with such a small population, they face the challenge that many of their top players are lured overseas to Europe, New Zealand or Australia by relatively high salaries. Fijian-born men playing abroad include Joe Rokocoko and Sitiveni Sivivatu, the All Blacks’ wingers, and Lote Tuquiri now of Australia.
Nevertheless, ranked 12th in the world, Fiji will be no walkover at the Rugby World Cup where they will line up in Pool B alongside Australia, Wales, Canada and Japan.
In 1999, the Fijians defeated Argentina, but were unlucky to lose to France after some controversial refereeing from Paddy O’Brien - they were then beaten by England at the playoff stage. Fiji came close to another scalp in 2003, going down 22-20 to Scotland after beating Japan and the USA. This year they will be targeting their match with Wales for an upset as they strive to reach the quarter-finals for the first time.
Fiji is renowned for its prowess on the World Sevens circuit, with names like Waisale Serevi and Sireli Bobo synonymous with Fijian running magic. With that in mind, a key player to watch at the World Cup will be scrum-half and captain Mosese Raulini, who plies his trade in the Guinness Premiership for Saracens. Sadly, Fiji’s flying winger, Rupeni Caucaunibuca, will not be on display in France as he is currently serving a ban for using cannabis - see his try below against France in the 2003 tournament.
Team Profile: Scotland
by Justin Aylward
There was once a time when a trip to Edinburgh to face the Scots was as appealing a prospect as a having a bath with a hungry shark. But enough about William Wallace. Times have changed, and in today’s rugby world, Scotland have faded from the challenging, passionate team they were in yesteryear to become a ramshackle team of whipping boys with a lack of potency or ability to challenge even the second tier teams of world rugby today.
The problems manifested in the national team are a product of a deeper misalliance. Fractious contra-temps between the clubs and the national union are no stranger to European rugby at the moment, but Scotland have failed to draw the reconciliations that the likes of France and England have accomplished, and instead have seen negotiations stall, resulting in the closure of a number of the top-flight Scottish clubs. Furthermore, the remaining clubs such as Edinburgh have experienced a haemorrhage of their best players, further weakening the roots of the Scottish game; Chris Patterson being the latest to flee to fairer shores after agreeing a contract with Gloucester. He follows the likes of Chris Cusiter (Perpignan), Scott Murray (Montauban) and Simon Taylor (Stade Francais).
The result of this disharmony has been evident in the cracks of the national team for a number of years, but never has Scottish rugby been in the turmoil in which it currently finds itself. A loss at home to Italy in this year’s 6 Nations was perhaps inevitable in time given Italy’s rising ascendancy and Scotland’s demise, but for even the staunchest of supporters this spectacle must have helped highlight the withering ability of the national side to win games of top-level international rugby in today’s environment. The structure of Scottish rugby is now such that it is depressingly unlikely that we will see many new talents bred and moulded into world-class players by a system that has not so much given up the ghost, as it has gone home, locked the door, thrown away the key, and left the ghost to its own haunting devices.
So where does this leave Scottish chances in the Rugby World Cup? The pool stages see them pitted against New Zealand, Italy, Romania and Portugal. We can safely say the match-up against the mighty Blacks won’t even be a contest, but one would hope the games against Romania and Portugal are a foregone conclusion. So that leaves the Italy game – will Scotland prevail or will we witness a recurrence of March’s Murrayfield mockery?
An Italian team full of confidence following their encouraging performances in the 6 Nations will provide a formidable opponent, especially with the likes of Serigo Parisse and Alessandro Troncon dominating from the base of the scrum. In contrast, Scotland do not have a solid team of players who have cemented their places, nor a notable core of experience from which any platform can be built, exemplified by a lack of fluency of results in recent internationals. Frank Hadden admittedly has a thankless task, but recently stating that this team is the best ever prepared Scotland side to go into a World Cup is slightly optimistic at best.
Perhaps the best way to summarise Scotland is the amount of hope they lay on the narrow shoulders of Chris Patterson. Used at fly half, wing or full-back, he possesses a spark that could ignite an explosive run and kick-start some momentum for the team. However, too much responsibility and hope lies on one man, especially one who when matched up against serious teams such as the All Blacks, will be treated like a toddler in a bear-pit. Today’s international rugby is all about size and power; Patterson has neither. A jinking runner he may be, but players such as Rockocoko, Howlett, Sivivatu and Gear have those qualities in excess, plus the sheer speed and strength that makes them some of the most awesome attacking prospects around. Unfortunately, Scotland’s glimmer of hope may well be snuffed out and spat back into the black abyss.
Were I a betting man, my money would be on Scotland not making it past the group stages; a sorry prospect for a country whose national and international rugby is very much in turbulent times.
Recent Comments