Poetic Justice

Courtesy of two very different semi-finals this year’s World Cup final will see England, bidding for a second title, take on South Africa who will be competing for their third triumph. The last time these two sides met in a World Cup was back in 2007 where they played out this same fixture with the Springboks winning 15-6, a game not without its controversy. Since that day they’ve met twelve more times with South Africa winning eight of them, but perhaps crucially and most encouragingly, England have won the last two. England are the favourites; their performances so far have turned heads whilst South Africa have quietly gone about their business doing what they needed but no more. England’s victories have been born out of solid defence and exciting attack they’ve gathered speed getting better and better as the tournament progresses. Their victory over New Zealand perhaps unfairly described by many as a ‘surprise’ was brilliant, the score line flattering their opponents if anyone. ...

POOL A Ireland Prediction: Quarter-final World Ranking: 1 st Overview: The Irish finished the warm-up matches top of the world rankings but still aren’t everyone’s favourites. Preparations for the competition have been far from ideal despite rising to the top. A superb 16-9 win over the All Blacks in November 2018 proved that they could mix it with the best but since then there has been more negatives than positives. Two chastening defeats to England (in both competitive and ‘uncompetitive’ environments) and a comprehensive loss to Wales in the Six Nations suggests they are vulnerable. History is also against them; their past finals form has never seen them go further than the last eight and they’re far from guaranteed such a privilege in Japan. Joe Schmidt’s side face a group from which they should progress. Japan, Russia and Samoa should pose no major risk and its likely their opening game against Scotland will decide who takes the top spot. Their opposition in ...

RED ROSE RATINGS – ENGLAND 33 – 19 WALES               Date: 11 th August 2019               Location: Twickenham Stadium, London, England               Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France)               Attendance: 80,944 England began their World Cup run-in with a comprehensive victory over their old rivals. In the first of two clashes in two weeks against their neighbours a relatively experimental England commanded from start to finish. The victory not only would have given Eddie Jones’ side a great confidence boost, but it also denied Wales a chance to climb to the summit of the world rankings as preparations heat up. 15 – Elliot Daly (Saracens) – 6 Slotted a very tidy drop-goal on the move and looked eager ...