RWC 2007 Quarterfinals Sat 6 Oct
Match Previews Featuring Australia, England, New Zealand and France
The stage is set for the 2007 Rugby World Cup quarterfinals. Previewed here are Australia v England & New Zealand v France.
The Australians take on the defending champions England and are hoping to avenge the Final from 2003. In the other match, two heavyweight contenders in New Zealand and France will duke it out to see who progresses.
Australia v England, 1400, Marseilles, France
In a repeat of the 2003 World Cup Final, the Wallabies head to Marseilles with hopes of destroying English dreams. England have struggled so far in their pool matches only really finding solid form against the Tongans. Jonny Wilkinson is back in form both in general play and with his kicking game and the English seem to grow as a team whenever he is in the lineup. Winger Paul Sackey had a fantastic outing against Tonga and will need to be marked closely by the Wallaby outside backs. The English pack is always dangerous and if the Wallabies do have a weak point, their forward play is perhaps it – look for the English pack to try and assert some early dominance and territory, putting Wilkinson within kicking range.
The Wallabies are missing key playmaker Stephen Larkham after a freak infection following surgery however youngster Berrick Barnes has filled in admirably. How he steps it up against the experience and world class of Wilkinson will surely affect the Wallaby chances. If the Wallaby engine room can supply their backs with quality ball then England could be in real trouble. With a star-studded backline led by captain Stirling Mortlock, the Wallabies will look to capitalise on their shaky English counterparts. Since the draw was announced, the Wallabies have been building for this game and a whole nation is eager to extract some revenge for that dark night in November 2003.
Prediction: Wallabies by 12
New Zealand v France, 2000, Cardiff, Wales
An unexpected turn of events has seen France qualify second to Argentina in Pool D and the result is a rare away match in the quarterfinals for the host nation. To top it off, they are matched up against the far and away number one side in world rugby, the All Blacks. After a shaky start with a shock loss to the Argentines, the French have steadily improved and are starting to really hit form at the right time. The forward pack, led by iconic figure Sebastien ‘Sea Bass’ Chabal, has given the backs plenty of ball to hone their running and kicking game. The backline perhaps isn’t as world class as past French backlines but still has the audacity and flair to match it with any side on any given day.
Kiwi minds will be trying not to think about the debacle of the 1999 World Cup semifinal where the French stole the match from under their noses with one of the finest periods of rugby in a long time. The All Blacks have looked so dominant over the past few years it is hard to imagine any team can match it with them. They are strong in every facet of the game and have no apparent weaknesses. Richie McCaw in the pack and Dan Carter in the backs lead the team by example and the world class backline is given ample quick ball by the tenacious rucking and mauling of the forwards. The All Blacks have been gaining solid momentum and the only thing going against them is perhaps a lack of quality pool matches as a precursor to this much-anticipated quarterfinal.
Prediction: New Zealand by 17
Further information regarding the Rugby World Cup including lineups, results and stats can be found at the official site for the tournament.
RWC Quarterfinals Sunday 7 October.
