
Less than a month to go to the start of the Rugby World Cup and this fine group of players will be representing the country. Photo: All Blacks Facebook page.
- By Kevin McCarthy
We’re now in the Salon phase of building up to the World Cup.
Not the salon of 17th century Paris, stuffed with philosophers, social climbers, and poets, and some dreadful musical ensemble, although sometimes the Breakdown show has elements of that, without wigs.
No, in rugby terms, the salons – ranging from ex-players to journalists, to keyboard worriers, and the people who can’t help answering Stuff polls – are poring over the pre-season entrails
If team X minus their A players loses to team Y at full strength, does that mean team Z is now favourites in Pool H , and the quarters. What if however, Z loses to X this weekend? And which team is where in its preparation, Will Team T run out of gas or will Team U be horribly and fatally rusty.
And is that the real Team V game plan? Surely not. It’s so 2022.
In short, if anyone wants to have a crack at predicting the 2023 World Cup based on this data set, you’re a braver person than me.
However, I do feel confident making some glib assertions:
- The All Blacks are in as good a place as we can hope for, albeit carrying a crocked lock.
- Never use Australia as a benchmark. Especially Eddie Jones’ Australia.
- The Boks rematch in Twickenham is going to be weird. Does winning matter? Yes! No! Maybe!
- France and Ireland still deserve to be regarded as the best teams in the world until they’re not. Spoiler alert – New Zealand may get to find out twice, for our sins.
- This will be the best ever World Cup, something said of every World Cup, and sometimes true.
Plenty more to chew over in the next couple of weeks. Meanwhile I’ve spreadsheeted my work roster against the match schedule. Looking good for catching most of Georgia’s matches so far.
But I don’t have the heart to map anything past the quarterfinals. I can’t figure out if this is premonition, prudence, or a need to conserve ink and paper.
++++++++++++
Well, I am sure Palmerston North is boring if you come from Spain. I’ve been to Spain, as has Daniel, and we both can assure you it isn’t boring.
The Wellington Lions may have thought it boring too, although I am sure they were very interested at the 66th minute mark against Manawatu – locked at 6-all.
Against a team that went winless last year, this was shaping as an ultimate down trou for the Shield holders
This was much more a good old-fashioned NPC arm wrestle, the plucky home team putting the cocky city slickers in their place.
Even the red card head shot from Turbos lock Josh Taula had a retro feel, sparking as it did an all in brawl.
If only the Spanish football players had been there to witness this – and marvel at the bucketheads. How could you call that boring?
+++++
The Lions quickly move on, to play Otago in Dunedin on Saturday afternoon.
Their match is for the Mike Gibson Memorial Trophy.
Their team is expected to be named later today at some point.