What I did expect was a tough battle against two titans of world rugby as they duked it out for the honour of becoming the first ever four-time world champion.
What we got was certainly the latter part but not quite the former. Whilst the score read 12-11 in favour of the Springboks, only the All Blacks turned up to play. They were the only side that regularly attacked and the only side to actually score a try (it would have been two but I’ll come back to that).
South Africa, on the other hand, did the same as they did against England and France. They didn’t really attack and instead tried to force as many penalties as they could to which they gained their 12 points.
It’s an odd change in tactics given they’re so famous for their fast-paced, fluid and bold style of rugby. We saw it in the pool stages but where the All Blacks just played more and more like themselves at each stage of the competition, South Africa held back. A lot.
Many said it was a great final but I felt cheated. I felt cheated because I suspect foul play. The red card for Sam Cane so early in the match was something that’s been see many times throughout the tournament and I truly believe it was him just going for the tackle whilst Jesse Kriel changed direction and lowered himself. Not one commentator called out potential foul play on Kriel’s part and were all in favour of Cane getting sent off. It was certainly feasible that Kriel directed his head into Cane’s shoulder looking to get him sent off. It certainly happened.
We then had a suspect knock-on brought to referee Wayne Barnes’ attention within 90 seconds of New Zealand scoring the first try of the match. Aaron Smith had crossed the line thinking he’d just given the All Blacks a much needed boost when it was struck off by the TMO’s despite Wayne Barnes saying there was no knock-on. Footage showed No. 8, Ardie Savea, slightly tapping the ball forward but only after a South African hand had intervened. Whilst Barnes acknowledged the Springbok infringement and awarded New Zealand a penalty (which was missed) the try should have remained as the referee had already made an on-pitch decision. I do not think it’s correct for the TMO’s to interfere when the referee has already stated he’s happy with the flow of play. For me, that was the second piece of suspicious activity.
The third came from Faf de Klerk who was indeed faffing about with the All Blacks No.1 at a breakdown when he more than ample space to run around the man and get the ball. Yet, a penalty was awarded.
The final suspicious thing that happened came was Springbok, Eben Etzebeth. Four times!
One, this beauty right in front of the referee on All Blacks captain, Sam Cane, minutes before his own red card. Etzebeth went unpunished.
Two, for running passed the New Zealand scrum half during a ruck and causing an obstruction which was not penalised.
The third was for being clearly offside during a ruck.
And fourth was for a high-diving tackle at head height.
Now, if the TMO’s are so eagle-eyed that they can deny an All Black try for a teeny-tiny tap of a ball, they can certainly get involved when a near-as-dammit 6′ 7″ Springbok plays fast and loose with the rules and the physical health of his opponents.
The Rugby World Cup official Youtube channel has this final as the “Most DRAMATIC Rugby World Cup final ever”
Wasn’t Lying
I’d say it was one-sided with the all-English officials being in favour of South Africa. Yes, they got their penalties and yellow cards but this final was not in the spirit of the game of rugby. It had a very ominous air of Formula One about it. To the untrained eye, it was a spectacle, but to those who look beyond there was something artificial in how things played out.
New Zealand would have certainly won had Richie Mo’unga converted their try and had Jordie Barrett scored that penalty in the last ten minutes. But even then, there was something uncharacteristic with how those kicks were executed.
And then the strangest thing was that this was three finals matches where South Africa won by a single point.
Against a rampant France, odd penalties were given to disrupt Les Bleus and against a cool yet conservative England, more odd penalties landed in favour of the Springboks.
And here, at the final in 2023, certain curious behaviours goes unchallenged if committed by a Springbok compared to an All Black.
The last time I remember odd decisions affecting the path to a World Cup final was in 2015 when my beloved Scotland were denied a place in the semi-finals against Argentina over a dubious decision made by the referee after a lineout. An alleged knock-on saw Australia awarded a penalty and Australia went on to face Los Pumas then the All Blacks in the final.
The winning margin that night? One point.
Had Scotland been allowed to win, they’d have beaten Argentina and faced off against the All Blacks in their first ever final. However, I suspect World Rugby wanted Australia in there to increase viewing figures.
And so too, I think South Africa were granted clemency to set up an historic final. The All Blacks didn’t help help as they held out against Ireland then steamrollered Argentina. The Springboks, however, should not have won against France or England but I suspect World Rugby deemed neither team worthy of bumping up the viewing figures and raising the profile of the sport around the globe.
You’ll have noticed I’ve not spoken much about the actual rugby. That’s because there wasn’t much rugby being played. Instead, I fear the Rugby World Cup is succumbing to the temptations of higher viewership’s and the cash that follows.
I pray the Six Nations and Rugby Championship do not follow suit.
Well…I was half right with my predictions. Argentina did indeed win by magicking a couple of tries from thin air and taking Wales by surprise; Ireland and the All Blacks was one of three finals we deserved; England against Fiji was touch and go but I did predict English discipline would see them through; and the French gallantry just about got them within touching distance of a first World Cup, only for the Springboks defence to hold up and force an error at the death.
The quarter finals went largely as I expected then. We had two games with four teams that really shouldn’t have been there and two games with four teams that really did but, ideally, should have progressed to the semi-finals to give us two serious, heavyweight matches before the final.
So, a quick summary of each of the four quarter finals:
Wales v Argentina
I said in the previous post this was the only actual quarter final. Upon watching it, we got two sides whose past forms were capable of something befitting a World Cup battel but whose current forms just aren’t up to the standard required at this stage in the tournament. I did think both sides would step up and give something more but, instead, we got more of the same. Neither side were particularly disciplined and the flow of play wasn’t really there. Essentially, the game was one by the side that made the least fumbles and could hold on to the ball the longest. That happened to be the Pumas. Even their breakaway try at the end seemed little more that Wales not paying attention enough. High-scoring, yes, but not high entertainment.
Ireland v New Zealand
Jesus.
If World Rugby was watching this match, I hope they took notes on how to not mess up for 2027. The first of two gladiatorial battles last weekend and there was so little between the two sides. There really isn’t much more to say other both sides gave it over 100% which was deeply impressive that they could dig in deep and still bring more out. The difference being, I think the All Blacks gave it 135% to Ireland’s 130%.
That 5% difference?
Why, dear God, did Johnny Sexton kick those two penalties to the corner when he could have given Ireland 6 guaranteed points instead of, maybe, 5, 7, 10, 12, 14 or none? As it turned out, Ireland got the latter and I think that showed poor judgement and a lack of respect for the opponent on Sexton’s part. If he’d kicked the six, Ireland would have likely won by two and not lost by four. The man retired, hailed a hero and legend, yet no one’s called him out for costing his country a place in their first ever semi-final. Shameful.
England v Fiji
It was good to see Fiji get this far and really bring it to England who remained largely unchanged in their approach. Where Fiji tried to be blistering, powerful and fluid, England remained solid. That was it. Nothing fancy. They were there, they moved the ball around and Fiji’s lack of discipline cost them once again. Like the other quarter-final that shouldn’t have been, high scoring but not the battle worthy of this stage in a World Cup.
France v South Africa
Repeat the first paragraph of Ireland v New Zealand to yourself and add the monstrous French attack. Right from kick-off, France had the Springboks on the back foot. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a side spring such a violent and bold amount of attacking play right from the start. And it wasn’t the only time. France kept at it but, like the All Blacks, the Springboks defence is that bit more capable of holding out against even the strongest of attacks. And, like Ireland, France were forced into an error at the death which cost them a final chance. Unlike Ireland, Les Bleus took their point scoring opportunities however they came hence there was one point in it. Truly spectacular to watch and should have been semi-final number two. Maybe next time.
The Semi-Finals
Argentina v New Zealand
This one went as I expected. I’m just surprised the All Blacks didn’t put over 50 points past Los Pumas. Argentina were nowhere and were made look third-rate. Their defence was strong, at one point withstanding 17 phases of All Black attack before crumbling, really their defence and attack were merely delaying the inevitable. They lacked any real strategy on how to tackle this monumental match and were put to the sword over and over. This was a pool game not a semi-final.
England v South Africa
Bloody Hell! As a Scot, I was rooting for South Africa, and, like Scotland of old, they made it very difficult to watch. But, I doth my cap to England. They didn’t impress in the pool stage or the quarter-final but they turned up last night and gave the Springboks Hell. The rain helped too and I found myself asking several times throughout the match, why-oh-why don’t the Springboks train in the wet? They were made to look very amateur whilst England look clinical and intent on putting South Africa out the tournament just to spite their critics.
But whilst England maintained their discipline and solidity, they severely lacked ambition instead choosing to kick points and try and hold a lead rather than attack and attempt to score tries to gain a bigger lead whilst simultaneously suppressing Springbok hope and ambition. And it was precisely this conservative approach that cost them. Being eight points ahead is nothing when you’re against a side like South Africa who did indeed got a very well deserved try after several muscular attempts to force their way over the English line. It took to the 68th minute but South Africa put themselves in touching distance.
And Pollard. Unlike Sexton, this man should be hailed a hero and legend for keeping absolutely cool in order to drive that penalty well beyond the posts and giving South Africa that one-point lead with two minutes left. England swapping Farrell for Ford in the hope of a drop-goal was confounding. The Springboks had possession and did Steve Borthwick really think bringing another kicker on was going to help when the first task was to get the ball off the Springboks who’d just stolen the lead. It baffled me and, ultimately, proved fruitless since the Springboks did hold on to kick the ball out the park and claim a place in the final.
But that was a semi-final. England pushed South Africa and yet, despite not being their best, the Springboks held on to their belief in themselves and forced a win to meet the All Blacks next weekend and for only the second time at a World Cup final.
The Final
I have nothing much to say. Both sides are the only triple World Champions and both are more than capable of beating the other. This was the third and final permutation of a worthy final for 2023. The other two would have been historic in their own right regardless of who won. If it was Ireland or France, they’d be only the second northern hemisphere sides to win the cup whilst being the first time for themselves. For New Zealand and South Africa, it would the first time one nation has won the cup four times. Either match would have been not only one for the books but a sight to behold. We have the latter to look forward to and I sense it will be beyond special.
Best of luck to both teams and future congratulations and commiserations to victor and loser.
As a footnote, England have proven themselves worthy of third best. Argentina should be sent home to rethink their entire way of playing rugby.
It’s quarter finals day of the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France and I thought I’d write a post on the completed pools stages and share my thoughts.
Pool A
France: The French have played some magnificent rugby particularly against New Zealand and Italy making both sides look far lesser than they’re capable of. The skill, determination and flair are all present but what remains is their instability. The match against Uruguay demonstrated this when they struggled not only to win but failed to get a bonus point victory. Meanwhile, the All Blacks and the Azzurri got the job done more convincingly.
New Zealand: How the mighty All Blacks were humbled by Les Bleus on the opening match. But they are the All Blacks and they came back and put in damning performances against the rest of the pool. Against Italy, they took the World Number 11 and made them look like part-timers. Uruguay and Namibia were mere training exercises. France were a blip but the All Blacks are in fighting shape once again.
Italy: The Azzurri have been showing promising signs of progress over the last 2-4 years but France and New Zealand have reduced them to amateur wannabes this World Cup. The side that’s threatened to overturn, and sometimes beat, the French was nowhere to be seen and has likely retreated off into some vineyard. Will they be seen again? We’ll find out in next year’s Six Nations.
Uruguay: Showed some real heart and grit against overpowered opposition yet struggled to beat Namibia. Maybe a case of throwing too much at the big games and not focusing on the realistic prospect of victory against a peer. They showed potential to be on a similar level to their South American brothers, Argentina, in a decade or so. Let’s see.
Namibia: Like Uruguay, they showed a lot of heart and spirit but didn’t have as much of the grit or will to fight against superior opposition in the same way. Unlike Uruguay, they did keep some energy for their main game and damned near won but Uruguayan grit ensured they faltered. Still playing basic rugby with no signs of progress from the last World Cup.
Pool B – The Pool of Death
Ireland: What can be said about the Irish at this point? They kept their cool against the Springboks, devastated Romania, outplayed Tonga and choked out Scotland. They have strategies and tactics for every style of play and back that up with skill, discipline and talent. World Number One for a reason. World Champions? Only Ireland can stop themselves at this point.
South Africa: Acting like Ireland’s badly behaved brother at this point. The Springboks have skill and talent in abundance. They play with a lot of belief because they’ve delivered so many times against tough opponents. But unlike the Irish, they see no problem in playing dirty which cost them victory in this pool. That and their inability to kick their penalties. If they keep it up, tomorrow will be their last day in this World Cup.
Scotland: I could write a whole blog on my country about how the timing of the draw had given us a deeply improbable task. Having three of the world’s top five in one pool in any sport’s World Cup is always going to look unfair but should have also given fans the prospect of some exhilarating matches. It didn’t. Well, not when Scotland were playing. Gregor Townsend should have known that Ireland and South Africa would stamp us out and prevent us playing our game, which they know to be dangerous. Unfortunately, Scotland had no plan on what to do against South Africa and we were snuffed out scoring a measly three points. Against Ireland, we played our game for twenty minutes and got two converted tries. Imagine if we played for the whole eighty against both? A lot of positives but if Scotland are going to move beyond number five, we need to come up with ways to play against teams that will shut us down. Why didn’t Finn Russell precede George Ford and just keep kicking drop goals against the Springboks when he saw it was a stalemate? One of many questions I think will go unanswered.
Tonga: Entertaining. Passionate. Fired-up. Physically tough. Tonga, like their Pacific Island brothers, love nothing more than running into you. Unfortunately, they haven’t added much else to their game beyond that. They are extremely good at mowing down the opposition but that’s no good when the opposition is extremely good at avoiding you. As entertaining as it is watching fifteen big men knock a lot of other men down, it’s one-dimensional. Tonga have traditionally lacked tactics, strategy and discipline which have stunted them. No change here.
Romania: Never gave up but were hopelessly outmatched and outgunned in this pool.
Pool C
Wales – The Welsh have been on a downward trajectory the last few years but, for this World Cup, they seem to have regained their mojo. Against Fiji, they played the kind of fast and flowing rugby they’d become synonymous for albeit without the same level of skill and discipline which damned near cost them them game if it weren’t for Fiji’s lower skill and discipline levels. Not much else can be said about Wales since they had no real competition. This afternoon will be the first real test.
Fiji – Like Tonga, only more precise and with more variety to their game. Heavily entertaining to watch and have come here vastly improved. However, despite throwing everything at Wales, they cost themselves the game; they only just beat a poor Australia and were beaten by the poorest team in the pool, Portugal. The lack of discipline has manifested in inconsistency. They have the skills, the talent and the motivation to win but they are their own worst enemy. Second in a weak pool isn’t much to shout about.
Australia – Never have I seen the Wallabies in such dire straits. They look like they’ve forgotten how to play one of their national sports. A lot of blame has been placed on Eddie Jones’ shoulders but he’s barely in the door. Meanwhile, the Australian government has pulled a lot of sports funding over the years meaning there’s not as much state investment going to rugby. Its impact is evident and I fear the Wallabies downward spiral may have just begun unless something miraculous happens.
Portugal – Unlike Australia, Portugal has been investing in taking rugby out of its universities and into the public. Their performance this World Cup has shown they’ve laid a solid foundation upon which to build. Unlike the other members of this pool, Portugal can use this as a platform to test the fruits of their labours with no pressure of expectation. And my, how they delivered. Wales weren’t allowed to run all over them; Georgia couldn’t edge them out; Australia failed to obliterate them; and Fiji couldn’t beat them. Portugal have arguably been the biggest surprise and most improved of the lower-ranked teams this World Cup. I look forward to seeing them in 2027.
Georgia – At this point in their development, expectations are growing. A few years ago, there were demands to have Georgia replace Italy in the Six Nations by the virtue of their performances against the Azzurri. At the time, they’d have deserved a chance but now, I’m not so sure. The weakest team in the weakest pool is no advertisement of progress. Georgia will have to lay low and do some serious development before they open their mouths about the Six Nations again.
Pool D
England: Like Wales, they seem to have found some of their mojo again but there’s been nothing in this side that says they deserve to be in a Quarter Final. Again, the timing of the draw has given England this chance of a fairly easy path to a semi-final. They have shown no drive to win but their discipline and sheer stubbornness has seen them top this group. If they get to the Semi-Finals, they will be blown out the water as they are lacking in every other area just now.
Argentina: I seriously thought Los Pumas would have topped this group given the state of the opposition. I was wrong. Lacklustre against a lacklustre England and allowing themselves to be beaten by the boot of George Ford, Argentina have not been all that convincing save for being the only team to actually whip Chile where the others didn’t. They struggled against Samoa and their last game against Japan looked like a game of club rugby on a Sunday afternoon. Which it was. Against Wales, they will have to tap into older form if they are to progress.
Japan: The Cherry Blossoms have not been in full bloom this World Cup. They’ve gone backwards somewhat from their surprise win over the Springboks in 2015 to topping their group in 2019, Japan just haven’t been able to put together a convincing display in a pool of teams that haven’t been convincing. Once, they were a breath of fresh air. Now, I think Japan needs to seriously consider how they want to move forward as a rugby nation.
Samoa: Too many similarities with these Pacific Islanders. Almost beat Argentina, England and Japan but their lack of discipline and variety cost them. Gave Chile too many points when they should have run all over them.
Chile: South America’s Namibia this World Cup. I actually forgot they were in it, they made that much of an impression.
Quarter Finals
In less than an hour, Wales will take on Argentina in the first Quarter Final and this is where the nature of the draw will highlight the issues with not only the draw but the current state of World Rugby. We have four teams that are not playing anywhere near their capabilities and we have four that that are operating at near-maximum capacity. Unfortunately, the first four are in two Quarter Finals together and the other four make up the two Quarter Finals. This will make the Semi-Finals something of a farce if the weaker teams don’t show up which would then mean the Final should be an occasion.
This is how I see each of the next four games:
QF1: Wales v Argentina – An Actual Quarter Final
QF2: Ireland v New Zealand – A World Cup Final
QF3: England v Fiji – A Summer Test
QF4: France v South Africa – A World Cup Final
Only one of these fixtures should be taking place at this stage in the tournament. One shouldn’t be happening at all and the other two should be the last game of the tournament.
By making the selection back in 2020 using 2019 rankings, World Rugby allowed too much time to pass for change to happen. And change did happen. Ireland became Number One , Scotland became Number Five whilst England, Australia, Wales and New Zealand took tumbles.
Had the draw been done a year ago, the top 12 would have been spread like this:
Pool A – France, England and Australia
Pool B – Ireland, Scotland and Japan
Pool C – South Africa, Wales and Samoa
Pool D – New Zealand, Argentina and Fiji
Using the IRB World Rankings from 3rd October 2022, already the pools are more balanced and would have given us more exciting games as the lower ranked teams would raised their game to take on the higher ranked ones. While the teams that would top each pool would be clear, the second team to qualify would not be so clear as the mid-ranked teams would have to ensure they held off the lower-ranked ones who would be more determined to try and win.
By holding the draw so soon after the last World Cup, we’ve been given a tournament that’s delivered little in the way of spectacle.
Moving to the Quarter Finals, I think we’re going to get two types of game; QF’s 1 and 3 will be fast flowing, frantic, high-scoring and entertaining whilst QF’s 2 and 4 will be tough, low-scoring, physical and serious.
We will lose two worthy competitors whilst two mediocre teams get to progress to a Semi-Final. It’s unfair and has denied the teams and spectators any kind of dazzling spectacle.
As to who I think will win each game:
QF1 – As much I’d love my Celtic brothers to win, I think Los Pumas may edge them out.
QF2 – I’d love both to to win but that’s not possible. I think there’ll be so little in it but Ireland will just sneak the win.
QF3 – Neither deserve to be here but on virtue of their pool games, I’d like Fiji to win but reckon English discipline will win out.
QF4 – Like QF2, we have two very similar teams. Both rightfully deserving of a place in the Final but I suspect the Springbok’s inability to kick a penalty will be seized by French gallantry.
Thoughtful Meanderings 