Rugby World Cup – Saturday quarter-finals preview
And so to tomorrow morning’s [UK time] two Rugby World Cup quarter-final matches – England v Australia and Ireland against New Zealand.
We asked our experts to provide their predictions:
SANDRA McDONNELL:
Eddie Jones is a world-class coach and a particularly driven one who takes no prisoners.
The rugby scribes, who (like all members of the press) tend to bend to whichever way the wind is blowing, have been sniping at him ever since the England chariot hit a rough patch two season ago and are currently flapping about him dropping George Ford, who so far has been one of the players of the tournament.
For me, Eddie’s reasoning runs like this:
Firstly, Ford, a diminutive man, is defensively vulnerable against big units especially at the beginning of a game and Eddie doesn’t want to give the Aussies the chance of a foot-hold in the game – hence he’s picked Farrell at 10.
Secondly, Eddie wants Slade – an outstanding all-round centre who finally came into his own in the 2019 Six Nations but has suffered a series of injuries ever since – in his starting fifteen.
Should Slade get crocked again, Farrell will switch to 12 and Ford will come in at fly half.
Alternatively, if and as the game breaks up in the second half, Eddie will probably bring Ford on anyway for his flair and creativity.
The slight issue with Farrell – Eddie’s captain – is that he’s been off-form so far, hardly helped by being subjected to late tackles in successive games. Farrell undoubtedly needs to have a big game.
For England to prevail their defence has to be strong, which I think it will be.
The upfront battle is not going to be pretty unless and until England begin to get on top – this is going to be a key factor in the contest. Discipline and getting on the right side of the French referee is another.
Australia have blown hot and cold in the run up to the tournament – both beating the All Blacks handsomely and being thrashed by them – but have enormous potential if only they can unleash it, which they’ll be trying their utmost to do.
One of their vulnerabilities – for both coach Michael Cheika and their squad – is a slight inferiority complex when it comes to playing England.
This could actually play out either way – they’ll be absolutely determined to win for both their traditional reasons as well as Cheika’s desperation to beat Eddie for the first time in seven meetings, but if England gain and retain ascendancy the second stanza could be a very long one for the boys from Down Under.
As for the Ireland v New Zealand game, I feel in my bones that the All Blacks will have too much of an all-court game and sheer rugby nous for those in emerald green.
My predictions:
England and New Zealand to win, 29-7 and 36-12 respectively.
GRANITE GRANT LOGAN:
I’m really looking forward to both these games.
Without being biased towards the Southern Hemisphere teams, I can see both of them winning.
If Australia hit their straps I can see that game going right down to the wire.
They’ve got a range of top players who so far this season, except in small passages, have yet to really ‘fire’ but for my money in this game they’re going to be playing for their lives, especially those who retire after the tournament like David Pocock.
Will England be able to take the heat? They’ve got some excellent players in key positions but I’m not so sure.
John Mitchell has got their defence well-organised but I’ve yet to see it under sustained pressure – and I mean really sustained pressure.
If the Aussies can get their noses in front by half time my waters tell me that they’ll pull further away as the game goes on.
My prediction: Australia by 27 – 15.
As for the second quarter-final tomorrow, I cannot see past an All Blacks victory.
Steve Hanson has picked what – bar in one or two places – is his current top side.
I wouldn’t be disrespectful to Ireland, especially since they’ve beaten the All Blacks twice in the recent past.
However, Joe Schmidt has recently opted for a restricted power-based style of game and I don’t think the All Blacks will be caught out again.
You don’t win the World Cup by stopping your opponents play, you have to play on the hoof and out-score them.
I think the All Blacks will do that comfortably tomorrow but I’m not going to predict the score.
