WELL, WELL, WELL, what have we here?
A first round of pool games without a single big upset, that’s what.
However, one matter that roared to the fore like a sizzling half-back breaking through a row of lumbering forwards, is that the rugby world’s “puppies” are beginning to stand up to the Big Dogs — and they’re beginning to growl. Loudly.
First, tiny Romania frightened Scotland in Invercargill, after which Fiji had to fight to the last whistle to put Namibia away in Rotorua. Then lightweight Japan put enormous pressure on France, while Argentina showed their mettle against England.
That the Pumas took England by the scruff of the neck and almost bit their collective head off was not such a big surprise, as they had already done the biting-off-of-England-head thing three times before in the past five years — but those were in friendly internationals, which just are not of the same intensity and importance as any Test match.
Romania was the team that stood out — or rather, fought it out — against what is supposed to be a mighty Scotland. They dominated the “Men-not-in-Kilts” in all aspects of the game and, at a stage, when they led 24-21 in the second half, even had a sniff at victory. The Scots fought back valiantly, however, and a penalty-kick by fullback Chris Paterson saw them draw level. After that, winger Simon Danielli crossed the tryline twice in the last five minutes to ensure a Scottish victory of 34-24, which gave the Scots the vital pool-stage win. Romania’s next game is against Argentina on Saturday and Jenny predicts a smasher of a match between two aggressive and increasingly physical rugby “puppies.”
In Auckland, not-rated but doughty Japan sowed panic under France’s cocky cockerels, who seemed rattled like they had not been seen for a very long time. The French managed to compose themselves to an extent and won 47-21, but this was only after tries by Lionel Nallet, Pascal Pape and Morgan Parra in the last 10 minutes, when the brave Japan had, unfortunately, run out of enough steam to stop the men from the country of wine, cheese and baguettes. France dominated in the early stages and had a physical grip on the match, but simply could not dampen Japan’s enthusiasm for tackling, rucking, mauling and running. Scrumhalf James Arlidge, formerly from New Zealand, was Japan’s hero and points machine: He scored all of their 21 points! Japan next face the mighty All Blacks on Friday. Although a first-class upset is not on the cards, New Zealand did not convince in their opening match against Tonga, and Japan could throw a spanner or two in the works of the rugby powerhouse.
Namibia is, according to the International Rugby Board’s rankings, the 20th best rugby-playing nation in the world. Notwithstanding, the men from the desert were so intimidating and threatening that Fiji, even in the last 10 minutes of their match, asked Seremaia Bai to kick for points to put them as far ahead as possible. This gave the islanders a 17-point cushion, after which left-winger Naipolioni Nalaga thundered over the tryline to lend luster to Fiji’s flattering winning score of 49-25. Namibia started the game exceptionally well, with a long-distance penalty and three drop goals by flyhalf Theuns Kotze in the first 15 minutes, but Fiji were just too good, and strong, with the ball in hand. This gave Vereniki Goneva four opportunities to wrap up movements by crossing the tryline — opportunities that the massive right-winger did not let go begging. Fiji next face reigning World Cup champions South Africa on Saturday, and Jenny won’t be too surprised if the Springboks would have to work very hard for a win.
The Argentine Pumas also missed a shock victory over England by the skin of their teeth. More would probably have been made of the matter, had it not been that the match delivered a shocker of a different nature: It can boast a World Cup record for appalling kicking.
Never before had so many goalkicks been missed by so many: a grand (the word is used sarcastically) total of 36 points! On the other hand, the Pumas, with their mix of almost-over-the wall veterans and never-before-heard-of youngsters that battled in the front row like men possessed, kept Martin Johnson’s side on the back foot until the very last minutes of a scintillating match. It was only a try by replacement scrumhalf Ben Youngs, which Jonny Wilkinson managed to turn into a seven-pointer after missing 15 points earlier in the match, that saw England collect the vital points for the win. And that is what counts in a World Cup’s pool stages: a win. Argentina are probably looking forward to their next clash, against Romania on Saturday, which they are sure to convert into a vital win.
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