Rugby Heaven 24

That time is upon us again.
When Rugby Union’s greatest compete for that William Web Ellis trophy.

Four years of planning, practise culminating into 45 days of nail biting and heart stopping moments.

So let’s get down to it then, which team will lift the William Web Ellis trophy on the 9 of October 2011.

If history is anything to go buy, and I for one believe it is, it will be the team that do NOT play the most attractive rugby, but the team who manages itself better and does only what is necessary.
As sad it seems this is the facts, World Cup rugby is all about management.
Of course if you do not have a team with enough skill, talent and experience.
All the management in the world will not help. So which teams falls in this category then.

All Blacks
This is a side with enough skill, flair and talent to beat any side with there eyes closed. This is also a side who does not know when they are beaten.
Clearly the bookies favourite, but then that’s where the problem lies.

I am going to stick my neck out and say they will not win it.
Why I hear you say, because they simply do not play the kind of rugby to win a World Cup. They play there absolute hearts out every single match and this is the problem. In a World Cup you can potential face any of the top 5 teams in the World within a matter of days. No matter how good you are this takes a lot out of and even the best players in the world will feel the strain.

The question then begs will the All Blacks hold back if they need to, if the can resist that urge they might lift the Cup they feel they deserve more than any other team.

Australia/France
I have combined these 2 teams as I feel they are in the same boat.
No matter in what state French and Australian rugby is you always get the feeling they change a match in matter of seconds.

Australia’s performance against the All Blacks in the Tri-Nations shows the quality they even though I feel they might be a bit light in the forward department.

I haven’t seen enough of the French this to give an informed opinion, but then we know what they are capable of, besides I have yet to see a bad French side.

England
They have really shown the English Bull Dog spirit in that last World Cup to reach the final against all odds.
They are never a side to discard, but I can’t help but feel the World Cup have come a bit to early for them.

Springboks
An “old” team, in rugby terms that is, but a wise team I feel.
They seems to stick to there same rugby that served them well through the years.
Forward dominance and once they have control of the match they start using the backs although sparingly that is. Which I think is a winning recipe for the World Cup.

Although I can’t help but feel this World Cup might be one push to far for some of the “old” wise men.

With all due respect to our rugby brothers in Scotland, Wales, Ireland and Argentina. I feel that the All Blacks/Australia/France/England and South Africa will be this year's real contenders.

Now this is where I stick my neck out, who will do it on 23th October 2011.
My team must be Australia, and here is why.

Australia just knows what to do to win when it really matters as simple as that. 

Let the games begin.

And good luck to all the players, the RUGBY GODS be with you.