2019 RWC quarters
EYES will be on Japan tonight and tomorrow night as the 2019 RWC quarters kick off. The first quarter-final is between Australia and England.
The past five clashes between the two have produced some breathtaking moments and have gone in England’s favour.
Last year England beat Australia (37-18) while in 2017 England thrashed Australia (30-6). In 2016 Australia and England met four times with England winning all four (37-21, 44-40, 23-7 and 39-28 respectively).
Australia last defeated England in 2015 during the RWC pool A clash (33-13).
The second quarter-final is between the defending champions the All Blacks, who have won the Webb Ellis Trophy thrice, and Ireland, who is yet to taste victory but went into the RWC as top seeds. The past five clashes have seen some mixed results.
Last year Ireland stunned NZ (16-9) while in 2016 the sides met twice with Ireland winning one in USA (40-29) and NZ winning in Irish soil (21-19).
In 2013 NZ outclassed Ireland (24-22) while Ireland suffered a thrashing in Waikato in 2012 (60-0).
The All Blacks have named the likes of Moody, Laulala, Taylor, Retallick, Whitelock, Savea, Read, Cane, Aaron, Mo’unga, Reece, Bridge, Lienert-Brown, Goodhue, Barrett, Cles, Tu’ungafasi, Ta’avao, Todd, Perenara, SBM and brothers Scott and Jordie to take on the likes of Healy, Rory Best, Furlong, Henderson, Ryan, O’Mahony, Van de Flier, Stander, Murray, Sexton, Stockdale, Henshaw, Ringrose, Earls and Kearney so it’s going to be a mouth-watering clash.
The third quarters will be between two Six Nations giants France and Wales. France has just beaten Wales once dating back to 2017 (20-18) while the Dragons have won in 2015, 2016, 2018 and last year (20-13, 19-10, 14-13 and 24-19 respectively).
The final clash is sure to bring Japan to a halt as Michael Leitch’s men face South Africa.
Japan has already shocked the world by qualifying for the quarters and beating teams like Ireland and Scotland so they will have huge crowd support.
Japan and South Africa have played each other two times only and share the winning ratio. Japan beat South Africa in 2015 (34-32) while this year prior to the RWC the ‘Boks thrashed Japan (41-7).
Therefore, I’m predicting England, the All Blacks, Wales and the Springboks to make the semis. My best wishes to the darlings of rugby — the All Blacks.
Go All Blacks, it’s time to show the world that we mean business and that we are capable of defending the Webb Ellis Trophy!
RAJNESH ISHWAR LINGAM
Nadawa, Nasinu