If England fail to beat Australia on Saturday...it means this much punted English side and one of the so-called favourites has lost all 3 against NZ,SA and (if) Australia. This could make them even more dangerous in the build up next year...hurt sides, smarting from pride and disappointments invariably start jacking themselves up...they say a wounded lion/cape buffalo is more dangerous than a normal one...maybe a bad symbolic example as humans suffer more from pride and egos than the physical.
As I said before Pool A has got 3 possibles England/Wales/Australia...one has to leave..who knows? as we have seen in the past...it could be any of these.
Pool B and C is plain sailing for both SA and NZ...Scotland is the toughest contestant for us and NZ have only to contend with the Pumas and in pool D France and Ireland have to cross swords for 1st and 2nd place...the order really does not matter.
The sad thing is that England/Australia or Wales has to send one home...a very fearful prospect...which means all 3 will be sharp and highly motivated and battle honed...SA and NZ will not be...just really come out of practice matches but injuries can happen against anyside especially with tough spoilers like Samoa but can happen in any match...
The 1st and 2nd winning sides in pool A will be more geared up for quarters/semi and I believe fired up for a final.
Weaker opposition does not help...because you slip gears in this wonderful contest.
I really expect England to make it because they have the most to lose and this English side is a good one certainly the best since Martin Johnson's one.
