RWC2011-observations of the story so far

So far in this RWC,one of the factors for concern is the turnaround time for Tier 2 sides.
That it is patently unfair is undenieable,also the potential effects on Tier 1 grouping.
Further is the agenda that 3rd placed sides in each group get automatic qualification
to RWC 2015.Which has lead to fieding weaker teams to try to ensure this versus each
other.The effect has been to give away cheap points,and inflated scores to tier 1 sides.
Discounting aside,the matches between themselves only Samoa,and Argentina have
made consistent problems for the 9 tier 1 sides.
In the first round everyone was saying,wow the gaps really closed BUT by Rounds 2/3
this has proved not to be the case .Mainly due to the turnaround factor perhaps
Japan,Tonga,Canada,and Fiji have performed amongst them selves but Tier1 were
too strong,USA,Russia,Namibia,Georgia, Romania have been Gimmes for Tier 1.
Having watched Samoa v Fiji I was terribly disappointed it was like 2 NH Club sides
battling it out.Samoa had the scrum most of the time,and Breakdown area Fiji the
lineout.Wales will easily take Fiji,the Boks beat samoa by 20.
It is clear when Tier 1 side met Tier2 sides first up results were closer.
The significant results Wales narrow loss to Boks,plus beating Samoa.
England beating Argentina,Argentina beating Scotland,Argentina were marginally
better than England and lost.Scotland were marginally better than Argentina but lost.
Ireland beating Australia was huge but Italy is THE crunch match for rest of this Rounds
The Boks were dire by there standards versus Wales but did enough to win.
Injuries forced changes,high scores versusFiji and Namibia fool no one.When at
full strength will it be back to the old RWC formula.
Australia have put together 10 minutes good Rugby v Tier 1 sides struggled otherwise.
Big scores versus gimmes prove nothing,injurie with players coming in may actually
stregthen the side,they could still top there group.
The All Blacks have yet to put out there full strength side,but it was near it that
had a good win v France.Injuries mean game time for some of the stiffs v Canada.
The 2 opposed training runs mean little in the wider scheme of things.
France were good in parts in the 3 games so far,may get it together v Tonga.
It is really too soon to speculate further but seems likely Argentina and Australia
will form a SH side,with the rest in a NH side.
We are still none the wiser final will be one of 3Ns v one of 6Ns,because with
the best will in the world.Cannot see Argentina beating BOTH Qf and SF winners.

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