Rugby World Cup 2023 –
Week Two Predictions
By Kaya 85
Opening weekend wins for the Boks, the French, Ireland, the Wallabies, the English,
Japan and Wales. Shattering losses for Scotland and Fiji. Every one of those teams
was impressive in some way.
The Springboks were intense and up for a real test match on Sunday – physical
rugby heavyweights who did not let Scotland punch above their weight. The French
XV were strong, efficient, and patient, weathering the All Blacks storm, then blowing
them away. Ireland was totally ruthless and relentless against the Romanian Oaks,
who were gallant but overwhelmed. Australia was fairly good all round, forwards and
backs alike. Fiji came so close and will be kicking themselves, because they forced
the Dragons into hundreds of tackles and just about deserved a win, but Wales stood
firm and with superior game systems and collective discipline outlasted the Flying
Fijians. Georgia looked good at times, Namibia too but they now have a mount
Everest to climb. In a tornado. With thunder and lightning and molten lava. Twice.
Argentina’s Pumas were the biggest disappointment of the opening weekend, but
hats off to England who, with only 14 men, played with utter focus and determination
to win convincingly. From a South African point of view, a satisfactory opening
weekend.
France vs Uruguay
France will give the rest of their squad a run on Thursday and without too much fuss,
amass a big win.
Prediction: France 67 – 6 Uruguay
New Zealand vs Namibia
Ouch. Sad to say, but pain is on the way.
Prediction: New Zealand 96 – 6 Namibia
Samoa vs Chile
Chile looked halfway decent against Japan for more than half their opening game. It
says a lot about the growing strength of their only pro club team, Santiago Selknam,
who make up 99% of their squad. How will they handle the explosive power of
Samoa?
Prediction: Samoa 48 – 21 Chile
Wales vs Portugal
Watching YouTube highlights of their route to the world cup you will see there is
plenty of skill, grunt and talent in the Portugal side, but how will their mostly amateur
team of disciples and newcomers fare against the rugby-mad nation of Wales, who
play the game from cradle to grave and moreover, have three decades of
professionalism on the Portuguese.
Prediction: Wales 65 – 11 Portugal
Ireland vs Tonga
Tonga will soften them up for us. The world’s number 1 ranked team will try to run
Tonga off their feet, but hopefully the Islanders will resist and break a few Irish ribs in
the process.
Prediction: Ireland 46 – 16 Tonga
Boks vs Romania
Rassnaber will give our whole gifted squad game time, so that the Boks will have
fresh legs against Ireland a week later. Romania will retrieve some honour and show
glimpses of what they can become as a rugby nation. The last time we played them
was back in 1995 when Kitch Christie gave Francois Pienaar, Joost van der
Westhuizen and the frontliners a rest while the second stringer under Adrian Richter
won a fairly tight encounter 21 – 8 in Cape Town.
Prediction: Springboks 60 – 14 Romania.
Australia vs Fiji
Fiji could have, should have, would have taken Wales down – but didn’t. Will they be
able to follow through against the Wallabies?
Prediction: Australia 30 – 28 Fiji
England vs Japan
This could be an interesting one, a very interesting one indeed. Japan’s Brave
Blossoms (should be Samurais) have the Kiwi triumvirate of Jamie Joseph, Tony
Brown and Johan Mitchell coaching them, the latter with fairly recent experience of
the England coaching set-up. They are very coherent, disciplined, and are bolstered
by more than a handful of fiery Tongans, Samoans, Kiwis (and a Saffa). Would a
Japan win even be considered an upset?
Prediction: England 27 – 33 Japan
@Kaya 85: We need your predictions for this week urgently, first game tonight!
@Kaya 85: Agree, cheering for Wales all the way!
But I suspect the Wallabies may take it – which will make this pool too close to call.
@Djou: @tzavosky: Fiji have some serious firepower … great win ! made my day. Now I will be rooting for a Welsh win over Aus …
@Djou: Yes, well done to Fiji. I have to say, they play a much more structured game than in the past (no more 15 man 7’s!) and it works for them.
Fiji did it! Could have won with a bigger margin.
Should have won against Wales too!
@Kaya 85: considering Alistair Coetzee is coacing them ,it’s a very good performance…
@tzavosky: very relieved Nam kept it under 80 or 90
@Kaya 85: Overestimated both teams (slightly). But to be fair to our neighbours, that heavy rain was unwelcoming. I mean, you can’t dive short and slide over the goal line on a Namib gravel plain like McKenzie did!
@tzavosky: guilty as charged…France had a few wobbles…I’m very pleased for Uruguay…tough mindset there…after there loose-head collapsed first 3 scrum I thought this would be a slaughter….Hope Namibia can do OK
@Kaya 85: You hugely underestimated Uruguay. What a valiant performance by the Montevideo boys!
@tzavosky: Remember that story very well. Incredible!
France, NZ, Samoa, Wales, Ireland, Boks, Fiji, England!
@Deon: Sad storie, vanoggend oor die draadloos daarvan gehoor. Sterkte aan die Mombergs, en veral die jongman.
@Kaya 85: Get hold of Miracle in the Andes, a personal account by Nando Parrado, one of the guys that walked across the Andes to get help. It’s a worthwhile read.
Van World Cup gepraat, Damien Willemse se 2016 Eerstespan spanmaat se hartseer situasie.
“My Stellenbosch” van die 70’s en 80’s het dramaties verander. Om van siek te word.
“Ons harte en gebede gaan uit aan die Momberg gesin. Benjé, sy pa Ben en oupa Jan het almal aan Paul Roos Gimnasium gemartikuleer. Benjé, ‘n kranige sportman is oor die naweek by die Van der Stel-sportklub deur rowers, wat die klub wou beroof, geskiet. Die skade van die skoot deur sy ruggraat het tot gevolg dat Benjé nie weer sal kan loop nie. Benjé het in 2016 saam met Springbok Damian Willemse (matriek 2016) in Paul Roos Gimnasium se eerste span gespeel. #prgliefde #prgoldboys #prgrugby #prgsedert1866”
@tzavosky: daar is n fliek oor dit gemaak ,sy naam is Alive …
@tzavosky: thanks for that reminder, so rugby goes way back in Chile and Uruguay, also remembering that those South American Jaguars teams of the 1980s under Hugo Porta had a few non Argentinians in their sides too
You know what, @Kaya, Chile is worth watching, they’ve got quite a few useful players. And I have to admit, I had tears in my eyes when they scored the opening try against Japan. Why? It reminded me that Montevideo’s Old Christians Rugby Club were on their way to play a game in Santiago when their plane crashed in the Andes way back in 1972, leading to the greatest human survival story ever. And indeed, one of the greatest rugby stories.
So pleased that both Chile and Uruguay are in this RWC!