World Cup: Potential Banana Peels

POOL A

1. Ireland (3)
2. Scotland (8)
3. Japan (9)
4. Russia (20)
5. Samoa (16)

An interesting group. Ireland are the clear favourites, with Scotland likely the next in line. However, Japan have been very competitive with the Scots of late. Their last two encounters, in 2016, saw the Scots prevail 26-13 and 21-16. given the attacking potential of this Japanese side, dropping over 30 points on both Australia and New Zealand since those tests, this could be the surprise package of Pool A. The Cherry Blossom's will be very keen to prove themselves on home soil and are a fiercely patriotic nation. Could this be their time?

Samoa's stock has plummeted in recent years, they've suffered losses to Tonga and the USA in recent times. Though we know their potential given their natural athletic abilities and innate attacking instincts. A team that is also known to for their disruptive behaviour off the ball. I seems unlikely that we'll see a resurgent Samoan side, especially given the tendency for their heads to drop when the game goes against them, or they don't have anything to play for. This could, however, be Japan's obstacle to progressing out of the group in the event that they do defeat Scotland. 

Russia are an interesting prospect for disrupting Samoa and Japan. A tough and hard-nosed team. They have very little experience against top tier opposition and that will likely show in their results against more fancied pool rivals.

POOL B

1. New Zealand (2)
2. South Africa (4)
3. Italy (13)
4. Namibia (23)
5. Canada (21)

This pool couldn't be clearer. Die Schwarzewelle and the Boks are the heavyweights of Pool B. Italy have beaten the Boks in the recent past, but this looks increasingly unlikely to repeat itself. A loss to Italy would be a colossal upset. You ever know what lurks behind the corner, but the likelihood of this pool playing out as expected is rather high. 

POOL C

1. England (5)
2. France (7)
3. Argentina (11)
4. USA (14)
5. Tonga (15)

Arguably the pool of death. England, France and Argentina are the heavyweights of Pool C, with England being clear favourites to progress as winners of Pool C. Argentina are something of a bogey team for the French. Both sides have been struggling for wins, but Argentina look the more rounded side. Outside of the big 3? The USA and Tonga. The USA has been trending upwards since RWC '15, where they were arguably the worst side in the competition. Inspite of their ranking, I don't believe they will pose a threat to the big 3. Tonga on the other hand are a ferociously physical side who may inflict some tournament ending injuries or pose just enough of a physical threat to throw a side off their game. If they can reduce a test into a fist fight, they can be tough to put away, as we saw in 2007 and 2011. The chances of an upsight appear slim, but if it's going to happen, Tonga look the better bet to inflict it. Tonga defeated France in RWC '11 19-14 and put up a fight two years later in Paris. The wildly inconsistent Frenchmen will need to take this game seriously. Tonga have a history of pushing more fancied opposition close in these group games, including two eventual champions. 

POOL D

1. Australia (6)
2. Wales (1)
3. Georgia (12)
4. Fiji (10)
5. Uruguay (19)

If all goes to plan, Australia and Wales will progress unscathed. It seems inconceivable that either nation will drop points against the lower standing trio. The last time Fiji tasted victory over a Wallaby side was 16-18 away in Sydney, 1954. They drew 3-3 in 1961, since that time, it's been one-way traffic. In 2007, Wales were stunningly knocked out of the World Cup by Fiji in the final game of Pool B, 38-34. They would go on to play the eventual champions, South Africa in what was a cagey game. It serves as a reminder to all not to let these running sides get into the game, when a natural running team such as Fiji start stringing a few good phases together they can be a handful. Last November Fiji defeated France at Stade de France, Paris. A stunning 14-21 victory for a first ever victory over Les Bleus. They will no doubt take that win as a reminder of their ability to take a scalp. 

Georgia are a robust forward orientated side. Their front rowers can stand toe-to-toe with anyone in world rugby. Their key player is arguably Lobzhanidze, their general and scrumhalf, guiding a rumbling pack. They have the tools to render the strike power of Australia and Wales a rather blunt instrument. The Wallabies have been known to crumble under intense physical pressure, though their newfound midfield muscle will likely give them the decisive edge they need. either way, this is that kind of fixture that can be reduced to a tense arm-wrestle. One Wales and Australia likely don't want or need. In RWC '07, a much fancied Ireland side, fresh off a loss to Argentina, almost came undone against Georgia. Ireland eventually prevailed, but it was an almighty scare. 14-10. The threat of a Georgian upset is therefore a genuine one.  

Uruguay are likely to finish bottom of Pool D. Lacking the personnel to really assert themselves at this level. 
* IRB Ranking As Of 20/08/2019

I'm thinking the biggest potential Bafana peel is Ireland......with guys like Furlong, Toner and O'Mahoney able to match the Boks' physicality up front. That means our backs will have to show up to the party. Of course we could always beat the first Bafana peel....New Zealand.

Funny, Jakeball won the World Cup. You never mentioned the lineup. 

1. Steenkamp
2. Botha
3. van der Linde
4. Botha
5. van den Berg
6. van Heerden
7. Rossouw
8. Skinstad
9. Januarie
10. Pretorius
11. Willemse
12. Julies
13. Olivier
14. Pietersen
15. Pienaar

Perhaps that had something to do with it, and the intense physicality of the Tongans. Nice of you to bring the details to light. 

You sound like a whinger who is upset because he isn't centre of attention.  

So you think Eddie master minded the 4 penalties by Monty and the clincher by Frans Steyn in the 2007 final. Or perhaps these tries in the semi: 'Argentina kept up the momentum up with a looped pass from Rodrigo Roncero but they were stung when Felipe Contepomi's pass was picked off by Du Preez, who raced 70 metres to score the opening try after seven minutes.' 'Steyn recognised South Africa had numbers wide left and the ball was quickly swung wide for Habana, who chipped into space behind the Argentina defence and turned on the after-burners to score the Springboks' second try.' 'Habana rubbed salt into Argentinian wounds as he picked off another intercept and raced 80 metres to score his second try of the game.' .........two intercepts and a whole bunch of Frans Steyn. Hard to spot these magical Eddie contributions. Muck stay down, the hole just gets deeper.