All Blacks a sharp reminder as eyes lift to World Cup
The World Cup takes centre stage for the next month as World Rugby announces its recommendation for the 2023 host this morning, two days prior to news of more imminent interest, the match schedule for the 2019 tournament. There is little doubt matters on the field over the next five weeks will have a bearing on events in Japan in two years’ time.
Fittingly, as back-to-back champions, the All Blacks set the tone for this whirlwind of activity as they worked off jet-lag with vigorous Dragon-boat races up the river on arrival for their tour at their Teddington base on the banks of the Thames.
It is up to the rest of the global game to show they have no desire to be left trailing in their wake again, up the creek without a paddle, as most of the contenders have been over the past eight years. The match schedule for Japan is released on Thursday and will invite scrutiny as to who might prevent back-to-back champions New Zealand making it three in a row. Given England are slated to meet them in the semi-finals, were both to go through unbeaten to that stage, the competition needs to be fierce right across the board.
The All Blacks may have lost twice this year for the first time in Steve Hansen’s time as head coach dating back to 2012, but they again dominated the Rugby Championship. They will be smarting from their results this year – two losses and one draw is sub-par by their standards. France, Scotland and Wales have a chance to take a chunk out of them.
Given New Zealand have travelled north without seven of their front-line players, such as lock Brodie Retallick, props Joe Moody and Owen Franks, as well as full-back Ben Smith, it would be tempting to write that they are vulnerable. Tempting and stupid.
To judge by their demeanour yesterday, they are intent on righting that record. And if that match-day competition promises to be sharp-edged and full-bore, it will do well to match the graft and craft, the sheer bloody-minded determination and input of expertise, that has gone into the three bids for hosting rights to the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
Ireland, France and South Africa will be casting anxious glances at computer screens this morning as World Rugby releases the name of the preferred candidate.
Their nomination is not binding on the council members, who will actually give the decisive vote on Nov 15 but, given that the
recommendation will be supported by a 220-page document of data in support of the verdict, it will take something of substance for a delegate to go against it. There are 39 votes available among the various unions and regional bodies and everyone has the right to vote as they see fit. This is the first time such an extensive process has been put in place. World Rugby believes it is unique for any governing body to subject itself to such rigorous, transparent, semi-independent procedures. The rationale for the decision will be made public.
A 20-strong team of World Rugby and external experts have pored over every last detail of each bid, considering factors such as stadiums, finance, transport infrastructure, training facilities, hotel capacity and local engagement, across a spectrum of criteria from the political stability of a country to the state of the toilets. From the geo-political to the (literally) bog standard, everything has been marked.
Each bid has merit. Ireland is the left-field candidate. It has government backing for the £120million fee to be handed to World Rugby for hosting rights. It is the outsider for the reason Ireland has never hosted such a big, mainstream global event, and it will be hard to match the £150million France is proposing to offer World Rugby as a minimum.
But here is the thing. World Rugby was right to take a risk in giving the 2019 Rugby World Cup to Japan. It is a new frontier for a sport that considers itself global, yet invariably only reaches out to a constituency based on old Empire, France and the Pacific territories. Ireland, of course, presents a traditional base in that regard, yet to invest it with the status of World Cup host would send a signal that the game is truly inclusive.
Of course, France and South Africa would be splendid hosts. That was proved in the Nelson Mandela power-dressing-on-thepodium event of 1995, the most compelling World Cup of my experience, and the fabulous job France did in 2007. Whoever does get the nod, and it’s a tight contest to call, will have earned it. If the competition on the field across November proves as fierce and riveting, we are in for a treat.