Following a long wait, the 2019 Rugby World Cup is here and no build-up is complete without early predictions.
In this case, it’s to predict who the favourites are to lift the coveted William Webb Ellis Trophy come November 2.
Looking at Pool A where the host nation is lined-up alongside pool favourites the Irish, Russia, Samoa and Scotland, the big and interesting question here is to who will go through the quarter-finals with Ireland.
Samoa is unpredictable, much like the French, but can beat all the teams in the pool, except the Irish, on their day. The Scots have made big strides since the last Rugby World Cup and have a genuine chance to go through.
The deciding match will likely be the Japan vs Scotland tie on the last match day of the pool.
Pool B is a no-brainer. New Zealand and South Africa go through, meaning the tournament will likely come to an end at the quarter-final stage for both Pool A qualifiers. Moreover, this writer strongly believes that the loser in the much anticipated tie between the Boks and All Blacks will go on to win the tournament.
Whoever wins will not only have to carry the burden of high expectations, but will likely square up against Eddie Jones’ England in the semi-final. Meanwhile, the loser will likely face the Welsh where it gets interesting.
Although the Welsh are better than the English on current form, the English also have a solid team and valuable World Cup pedigree. Their coach, of course, is also a World Cup winner albeit not in a head coach capacity.
That being said, it’s a case of picking your poison for the Boks and All Blacks come semi-finals but because of the above-mentioned reasons, it’s probably safer facing the Welsh than the English.
Furthermore, should the Boks and their biggest foes square up for the second time in the final, it will be very difficult for the pool match winner to repeat a win in the final one imagines: it’s extremely difficult to defeat a tough rival twice in a short space of time. It’s just an old psychological element in sports – not just rugby.
The English are with Argentina and France in Pool C – the pool of death.
The French are a World Cup team but the Argentines’ inclusion in the Rugby Championship and the Jaguars’ inclusion in Super Rugby has taken Argentine rugby to elite status. I see them sneak in behind England.
Pool D sees the Aussies with the Welsh, Fiji, Georgia and Uruguay. The latter three will be happy that they made it to the tournament. The former two powerhouses will progress but won’t have enough to go all the way.
