Six teams can win it in a brave new world
ENGLAND, IRELAND, WALES IN MIX BUT TOUGH DRAW HAS CURTAILED SCOTTISH HOPES
RUGBY is belatedly poised to cast off its old- school blazer and tie and lay on a carnival in a new frontier. Enjoy the spectacle — it has been a long time coming.
This needed to happen. A sport rooted in familiar territories and traditions is being dragged into the modern era, in the search for a truly global dimension. Japan’s primary focus is on preparing for next year’s Olympics in Tokyo. That is clear from billboards which far outnumber those trumpeting this World Cup.
But locals are embracing the occasion and have already shown a willingness to support visiting teams, as well as their own Brave Blossoms, with noise and colour.
Everything feels fresh and different — and these are not adjectives often levelled at elite-level rugby. The stadia are impressive. Conditions will be challenging amid the heat and humidity of most cities, but the game has been stuck in a rut, so it’s worth a bit of discomfort. mfort.
The decision to bringng the tournament to the Far East may have been en founded on a search h for new ‘markets’ but it is also a sign of broadening horizons. That should be applauded.
World Rugby are often a target for antagonism ,, sometimes with justification, but credit edit where it is due. The governing body haveve taken steps to improve World Cups. The investment in coaches and support staff for smaller nations has been a success and the Pool schedule is now fairer, with the haves and havenots all facing one tight turnaround, instead of the old system when the strongest sides had the easiest ride.
What awaits could be intriguing and epic. Predictability has been a problem in the past but the expectation is that it will not be this time. As many as six sides could claim the Webb Ellis Cup — New Zealand, South Africa, England, Wales, Ireland and Australia, in that order.
The draw has not been kind to Scotland and, even if they defeat Ireland and top Pool A, it’s difficult to see Gregor Townsend’s men getting the better of either New Zealand or South Africa at the quarter-final stage.
Eddie Jones’s England should avoid a calamitous campaign, to add to those in 2011 and 2015. Reaching the semis this time would represent a pass mark, but they would be disappointed with that. They have grand ambitions, as they should, with the depth of talent and resources at their disposal.
Wales are in the same category. A long winning run prior to last month’s warm-ups and a core of experienced Lions have fired optimism and they have a promising path through to the last four.
As for Ireland, they know that South Africa or the All Blacks will confront them in the quarter-finals — as well as their own entrenched mental hurdle at that first knockout stage. The doomsday scenario is that they choke again.
Tomorrow, the World Cup will be ignited with a ‘Super Saturday’ of fascinating fixtures. First, Fiji will pursue an historic upset against brittle Australia. Soon after, France versus Argentinag will set the tone for a threthree-way qualification tussle in Pool C, before New Zealand take on SoSouth Africa. Many sesee the Springboks as favourites, but t hat may be a premature elevation. They are in the hhunt thanks to the ssalvage operation overseenov by Rassie ErasmusEr but New ZealandZea are still the team tto beat. What ththe tournament and the sport really needs is for a challenger, or challengers, to rattle the established order and capture the sense of a brave new world of expansion and diversity. It needs Japan to gatecrash the quarterfinals on a wave of home support, or Fiji to spread shock and awe and reach the last eight.
Or maybe it needs an established nation to revive. How wonderful it would be to see France become contenders again. The game is poorer without them occupying a seat at the top table.
In every sense, it is time for the sport to be refreshed and energised by positive upheaval. Most of all, it is time for rugby to open its eyes and outlook, and stop operating as a cosy, closed shop.
Let this be the World Cup which accelerates a gl obal t r ansformation. If it f orces boardrooms to recognise what lies beyond their borders, they may be brave enough to take the game f orward i nto a new era of opportunity.