All Blacks and Springboks likely finalists but Pumas and England will be no pushovers. – By TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE. (eLanka Sports editor)
It was one of the best defensive exhibitions in Rugby as The All Blacks and Ireland engaged in a memorable quarter final that delivered what the best teams in the world can produce.
The heart stopping World Cup quarter final lived upto all expectations as two of the world’s best, locked horns and gave Rugby fans what should have been a World Cup final.
In a game where no quarter was given and none got, rugby fans were treated to a unrelenting battle that went down to the wire before the never to be written off All Blacks held on in a nerve wracking encounter by four points knocking out the world ranked number one team. Unlike in the past, where New Zealand always entered the World Cup favourites to win but were eliminated in the final or before, the All Blacks travelled under the radar and gave the Irish an insight as to what happens when premeditation goes awry.
It was a tough grind especially among the forwards with record breaking 25 and 30 phases stifled be outstanding and tenacious defense from both sides.
New Zealand pulled it off with a marginally better backline that has always been razor sharp and potent, and despite being a man down twice, managed to fill the void with desperate counter offense.
While the crushed Irish will reflect on what might have been, the All Blacks will have to refocus and prepare for another physical challenge by the Argentinean Los Pumas. The stakes are high, and unless they stay tuned in, back-to -back World Cups will be a bridge too far.
From an Argentinean perspective, beating the All Blacks and making their first World Cup final will achieve many plusses. It will undeine their status as a new powerhouse in world rugby. And for coach Michael Cheika, an avenue to return to Australia as Wallabies coach for unfinished business.
On the other side of the ledger South Africa’s Springboks broke French hearts by eliminating the home team in another titanic confrontation.
In a bruising encounter, the Springboks outlasted a passionate French team showing pride and expectation, but falling short of giving something for their fans to cheer about. They nearly delivered that expectation.
Written off after a less than dominant six nations campaign, England made a desperate scramble to the semis with a heart stopping win over a resurgent Fiji. A dropped goal and a penalty sealed Fijian hopes of a historic semi final and dreams of rivalling their Sevens counterparts who have ruled the shorter format of the game.
This World Cup has delivered more or less what was expected, apart from the Fijian ascendency and Argentina’s rise to fame.
Japan, Australia, Ireland, Scotland and Wales will reflect on better days as the head home to take in what could have been. While some of the other qualifiers will look at what they need to do to stay competitive.
Hard as it is to predict, an All Blacks, South Africa final looms large in my mind. It will be a humdinger if they meet.
