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Sideline Sid Sports correspondant & historian www.sunlive.co.nz |
Sideline Sid believes that the more that things change the more that they stay the same.
While it is 24 years since the first Rugby World Cup in New Zealand (and Australia), it is remarkable that the same semi-finalists have emerged as in the inaugural RWC, albeit in different scenarios.
Back in the days when the RWC was an all amateur affair, New Zealand made the final stanza defeating Wales on one side of the draw, with France squeezing out Australia in the other last four match.
However, South Africa never played in the first RWC, sitting on the sideline courtesy of a being unable to compete because of an international anti-apartheid sports boycott.
History has repeated itself for England which was dumped out in the quarterfinals in 1987 – again being on the way home, after the first post section game in this tournament.
While France has had a far from easy ride this tournament amid reports of the team being in disarray – they always play one real blinder in the RWC with England on the receiving end on Saturday night.
Six of the 1987 last eight, were again were in the quarterfinals this time around.
For the record, in the inaugural tournament New Zealand put Scotland to the sword, Australia swept past Ireland, France proved too strong for Fiji and Wales defeated England.
How quickly the frivolity of the round robin pool play disappeared, with the start of the cutthroat section of the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
Dramatic action took centre stage in all four encounters over the weekend, with hardly a spare seat in the house.
The first early evening match-up in Wellington saw the Irish and Welsh supporters in full voice.
However, Wales grabbed the ascendancy in the second spell, to leave the Irish supporters crying into their Guinness later in the evening.
While the final score line of 19-12 was relatively close, the unpredictable French simply outplayed and out muscled England.
With Wales and France sitting in the wings awaiting their semi-final match up, all attention on Sunday turned to the southern hemisphere playoffs.
The colossal struggle between Australia and South Africa was a Rugby World Cup classic.
While South Africa put real pressure on the Australians, they had trouble converting the advantage into points on the board.
After finally grabbing a one point lead in the last quarter, a stupid Springbok mistake cost the South Africans dearly, as James O'Connor calmly slotted the resulting penalty goal – with his side then holding on to take out the winner take all encounter 11-9.
There were also plenty of anxious moments for the All Black supporters at Eden Park, against the Puma's. While Piri Weepu had no worries with kicking nerves as he slotted seven from seven penalty goal attempts, Argentina played out of their skins to trouble the AB's for three quarters of the match.
The game was played at real pace from the opening whistle, with big hits coming throughout. While the final score line looked relatively comfortable, the smell of victory only came in the final quarter.
Who is going to win the 2011 Rugby World Cup?
So what can be read into the four quarterfinal victories – very little as the four semi-finalists face off with clean slates.
Based on the RWC to date, who is going to win the big prize of the Webb Ellis trophy – the Rugby World Cup winner will come from the classic Battle of the Tasman, when the team in Black square off against the team in Gold at Eden Park next Sunday night.
Can the ABs win the big prize – yes, but they will have to be at their very best against the enemy from across the ditch.
If the All Blacks defeat Australia, who will they meet in the RWC final? – who cares, as the RWC will be ours if we beat the Aussies.
Go the All Blacks