We have all been enjoying a great festival of rugby during the first phase of the World Cup with the prospect of more to come, but this week we had a reminder of the pain that is just below the surface in New Zealand.
While we applaud the tries, share the joy of the fans and look forward expectantly to the climax of the tournament, it’s difficult, certainly for a Kiwi like myself, to forget the Christchurch earthquake and the Pike River mining disasters. New Zealand is quite a small country and most of us know someone who has been affected.
This week Eight All Black players and coach Graham Henry visited the earthquake-devastated Christchurch red zone and saw where buildings once stood and were told which areas were ear-marked for future demolition. They paused at the Bridge of Remembrance, which will be saved as a symbol of the earthquake.
With New Zealand’s match against France looming this weekend as the biggest game of the tournament to date, former Wales captain Colin Charvis believes the clash between the hosts and the side that’s proved their World Cup nemesis, could well be a preview of the October 21 final.
Speaking exclusively to Sport24 and the Laureus Foundation, Charvis made the point that “suddenly (after the Australia result) we are guaranteed a southern hemisphere team in the final – unless France beat New Zealand this weekend. So a France-New Zealand final looks very possible. But maybe Wales could sneak through!”
Laureus at the Rugby World Cup: Sport helps to heal a nation
Ireland have a wonderful team on paper based on two very successful and professional provinces. The real question is why they have done a so badly in previous Rugby World Cups, not why they have done well this time!
In the past Ireland have set too much store on the build-up and have peaked too soon - so have other sides. This time it looks like they might have timed it right (as shown by the 15-6 win over Australia).
They have obvious stars, O’Driscoll, the locks, Heaslip and Kearney, but O’Brian is the man who has really set the side alight. He is the genuine article and will be a world star soon.
I called the result before the game in the Backbenchers pub near the Parliament Building. The place went mad.
The Aussies have a wonderful side but there are a few worrying signs. Some of the youngsters look a bit arrogant and changing the skipper on the eve is not cool. Don’t write them off but they will need real leadership.
It all starts in the quarter-finals. Who can win three finals in a row? New Zealand, Australia, South Africa? Take your pick.
Fiji was a potential banana skin and South Africa came through very well. We are on the up.
What a weekend! Ireland’s brilliant 15-6 win over Australia has set the Rugby World Cup alight.
One of the favourites has been taken down for now! And more significantly, because of the way the draw works, it has virtually guaranteed a northern hemisphere team will be in the final which will make for a wonderful north v south battle.
