The Rugby World Cup is a tournament that has historically been dominated by the southern hemisphere’s big three sides since its inauguration in 1987. New Zealand (three), South Africa (three) and Australia (two) have combined to win all but one of the nine renewals of the competition thus far, with England’s success in 2003 the sole victory for a side north of the equator.
While the Wallabies disappointingly crashed out in the pool stage for the first time ever, the All Blacks and the Springboks are still in contention to get their hands on the Webb Ellis Cup for a fourth time. Ireland and France are amongst the Rugby World Cup favourites, however, and both have already given some indication that momentum might be shifting to the northern hemisphere sides.
That said, let’s take a look at some of the warning signs we have already seen in France and why we are of the belief that we could see a northern hemisphere world champion for just the second time in Rugby World Cup history.
France 27-13 New Zealand
After suffering a shock defeat to Argentina in the opening game at the Stade de France when they last hosted the Rugby World Cup in 2007, the pressure was on France to get off on the right foot this time. There was added weight on their shoulders as Les Bleus entered the tournament as the favourites with this bet calculator, while they had to face off against three-time winners New Zealand.
It must be said that this current crop of All Blacks isn’t the strongest we have ever seen grace the rugby pitch, but the consensus was that it would still be a tough opening game for France in Paris. So it proved, as Mark Telea scored the first try of the game for New Zealand just 90 seconds in and Les Blues had to come from behind twice to eventually win 27-13 thanks to a flurry of late points.
A second try from Telea early in the second half made it 13-9 to the All Blacks, but a Damian Penaud try put France ahead in the 55th minute and the hosts pulled clear thanks to two penalties from Thomas Ramos and another French try — this time from Melvyn Jaminet with just two minutes left on the clock.
Wales 40-6 Australia
Another rugby powerhouse who are not firing at the minute, the struggles of two-time World Cup winners Australia have been well-documented for a while now. The Wallabies finished bottom of the Rugby Championship earlier this year and that wouldn’t have left high hopes for Eddie Jones’ side in France.
However, not many would have predicted Australia would perform as poorly as they have. The Wallabies opened with a run-of-the-mill win over Georgia, but a 22-15 loss to Fiji left them in danger and a 40-6 defeat to Wales means Australia have exited the World Cup in the pool stage for the first time ever.
Jones’ side were let down by their discipline as Gareth Anscombe kicked six penalties and a drop goal for 23 points on top of three tries from Gareth Davies, Nick Tompkins and Jac Morgan. Australia were restrained to a mere six points thanks to two converted penalties from Ben Donaldson.
South Africa 8-13 Ireland
A game that had rugby fans rubbing their hands in anticipation, the two best teams arguably in the world right now went head-to-head in Pool B. South Africa are the defending champions of the Webb Ellis Cup, while Ireland are the number-one ranked side on the planet — what’s not to love?
It was a nervy affair at the Stade de France, as you’d expect given the circumstances, but Ireland edged out the reigning world champions with a 13-8 victory in Paris. A Manie Libbok penalty gave the Springboks the lead six minutes in, and that is how the scores remained until Ireland’s Mack Hansen got over for the first try of the game in the 33rd minute.
Cheslin Kolbe fired South Africa back in front with a try 11 minutes into the second half, but a Johnny Sexton penalty restored Ireland’s lead. The boys in green had to soak up the pressure of a Springboks onslaught, but did so with great aplomb, and a Jack Crowley penalty sealed the victory three minutes from time to lift the roof off the Stade de France.
