RWC is not all black and white
Marshall runs the rule over top contenders during a bush break
● The rugby world has a problem, former All Blacks scrumhalf Justin Marshall sagely pointed out while sipping a smooth Merlot next to a glowing fireplace this week.
It is a pleasant problem however, albeit one that compromises his countrymen as perennial standard-bearers in the game.
“It will be an evenIy contested Rugby World Cup (RWC),” he said when asked who are likely to occupy the semifinal spots.
“Those teams don’t jump at me,” said Marshall near the banks of the Great Fish River. He, along with Bryan Habana, were the guests of Land Rover who this week marked one month to the tournament’s kick-off.
Attacking instincts
Marshall believes the field is tighter because most tier-one nations have embraced a more attacking approach since the last RWC. “You can ill afford to accumulate in threes, especially when you play the All Blacks.
“There is no way three years ago Wales, England and SA would kick for touch when they had a kickable option. They would have taken the soft option.”
The influence from southern hemisphere coaches Warren Gatland (Wales), Joe Schmidt (Ireland), Eddie Jones (England) and Scotland, who had Vern Cotter before Gregor Townsend took over, may have something to do with the shift in mindset. “It may be coincidence but the positive attitude is better for the game,” said Marshall.
Though no northern hemisphere team made it to the semifinals in 2015, Marshall believes that won’t happen in a hurry.
The teams who have embraced a more attacking style however may have to fight instinct when they arrive in the knockout stages of the tournament.
“At the RWC there are no bonus points. You just have to find a way to the finish line.
“The detriment to that is that you are shying away from what has made you successful. For Wales to go that way would be catastrophic. They have found a good recipe. It is well balanced.”
He believes, given their recent successes at the RWC, the All Blacks are best equipped for striking a balance between traditional strengths and finding pragmatic solutions.
“They have been to the coalface before and they are not going to be daunted by being in a RWC final,” said Marshall.
The All Blacks however haven’t had things their own way of late. Their star has dimmed somewhat with just three wins from their last six Tests.
“I am not concerned about the All Blacks but I am thinking that in terms of preparation I would prefer if they were feeling a little less confident and slightly more on edge if they were still getting the results.”
The resurgence of the Springboks has grabbed his attention. The 81-times capped player believes they have restored their rivalry with the All Blacks and that Kiwis are generally enthused by this development.
“It needed a change of mindset and it needed someone to say ‘yes, that was successful (the conservative style that won the Boks the 1995 RWC) but the game has moved on’. It also required a coach that had the balls to pick players that could play that way. I think the way SA’s Under 20s have come through is paramount to that.”
He is cagey about the importance of the All Blacks’ match against the Springboks on the opening weekend of the tournament. “They can both still be in the final. I think that game benchmarks the tournament. I know what New Zealand has (in their pool) after the opening game and there is nothing to worry them. Come quarterfinals, they’ll meet either Ireland or Scotland.”
He agrees come the semis, all bets are off.