There are more games in the World Cup this week and none of them are worth watching for me. Maybe Australia v Fiji, and England v Japan. The other games are training exercises.
France v Uruguay, on Friday 15th, Sept.
France were ruthless in their win over a poor All Blacks team, who again, like in the game against South Africa, gave away penalties time and time again. Their discipline is terrible.
I said in an article 12 months ago, the NZ side will not win this World Cup, and probably finish 4th or 5th,which will be their worst World Cup result, EVER.
France by 50 points. They will be there at the finish of the competition as well.
All Blacks v Namibia ,on Saturday 16th, Sept,
Well the All Blacks will finally get a win this week. They have been ordinary so far with mistakes, injuries, and discipline all letting them down. I have said for a long time they have picked some players who should not be there, plus, Foster the coach is not up to the job. Never was.
I watched a lot of these players in Japan,2019,at the last World Cup, and they are still making the same mistakes now, as they did four years ago. They have been great servants for the game ,but are past their best. Ethan Blackadder has been called up from the NPC competition in NZ, and will probably get a run. They need more like him. Hard nosed, take no prisoners style of play.
All Blacks: Beauden Barrett, Caleb Clarke, Anton Lienert-Brown, David Havili, Leicester Fainga’anuku, Damian McKenzie, Cam Roigard; Ardie Savea (capt), Dalton Papalii, Luke Jacobson, Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Nepo Laulala, Samison Taukei’aho, Ofa Tuungafasi. Reserves: Dane Coles, Ethan de Groot, Fletcher Newell, Scott Barrett, Tupou Vaa’i, Aaron Smith, Richie Mo’unga, Rieko Ioane.
Good to see Mckenzie get a run at 10,with Roigard starting at 9 in his first All Black start.
Big Sam Whitelock will achieve something very special indeed at Stadium de Toulouse on Saturday (NZT) when he no doubt leads the team out to earn his 148th test cap for the All Blacks.
That will put the 34-year-old Crusaders lock level with the great Richie McCaw as the most capped All Black of all time, and the equal second highest in international rugby (it will also be his 21st RWC appearance, just one short of the record held by McCaw and Jason Leonard). This will be the third meeting between the All Blacks and Namibia, all at World Cups. The New Zealanders prevailed 58-14 in London in 2015 and 71-9 in Japan in 2019.
Namibia: Cliven Loubser, Gerswin Mouton, Johan Deysel (capt), Le Roux Malan, Divan Rossouw, Tiaan Swanepoel, Damian Stevens; Richard Hardwick, Prince Gaoseb, Wian Conradie, Tjiuee Uanivi, Johan Retief, Johan Coetzee, Torsten van Jaarsveld, Jason Benade. Reserves: Louis van der Westhuizen, Desiderius Sethie, Haitembu Shifuka, PJ Van Lill, Adriaan Booysen, Max Katjijeko, Jacques Theron, JC Greyling.
Referee: Luke Pearce (England).
Blacks by 50 points
Samoa v Chile, on Saturday 16th,Sept
Chile were very brave against Japan last start ,but I think Samoa will be to good here. Maybe a bit rusty for starters as this is only there second game in this tournament, after a narrow loss to Ireland, but should win by 25 points.
Chile surprised me at how good they were .They have speed, talent, and size, and will only improve as they get more experience.
Samoa: Duncan Paia’aua, Danny Toala, Ulupano Seuteni, Tumua Manu, Nigel Ah-Wong, Christian Leali’ifano, Jonathan Taumateine; Steven Luatua, Fritz Lee, Taleni Seu, Theo McFarland, Chris Vui (co-capt), Michael Ala’alatoa (co-capt), Seilala Lam, James Lay. Reserves: Sama Malolo, Jordan Lay, Paul Alo-Emile, Sam Slade, Jordan Taufua, Ereatara Enari, Lima Sopoaga, Ed Fidow.
Chile: Inaki Ayarza, Santiago Videla, Domingo Saavedra, Matias Garafulic, José Ignacio Larenas, Rodrigo Fernandez, Marcelo Torrealba; Raimundo Martínez, Clemente Saavedra, Martín Sigren (capt), Santiago Pedrero, Pablo Huete, Matias Dittus, Tomás Dussaillant, Javier Carrasco. Reserves: Diego Escobar, Salvador Lues, Esteban Inostroza, Javier Eissmann, Alfonso Escobar, Ignacio Silva, Benjamin Videla, Pablo Casas.
Japan were reasonable in their first game and won comfortably, but I thought there was to much aimless kicking the ball away, especially by the halfback. Good sides will punish you when you give them easy possession. They will face England next so I would put the kicking away a little.
Wales v Portugal, Sunday 17 Sept, Wales by 30,
Ireland v Tonga, Sunday 17th Sept, Ireland by 30,
Ireland: Hugo Keenan, Mack Hansen, Garry Ringrose, Bundee Aki, James Lowe, Jonathan Sexton (capt), Conor Murray; Caelan Doris, Josh van der Flier, Peter O’Mahony, James Ryan, Tadhg Beirne, Tadhg Furlong, Ronan Kelleher, Andrew Porter. Reserves: Rob Herring, Dave Kilcoyne, Finlay Bealham, Iain Henderson, Ryan Baird, Craig Casey, Ross Byrne, Robbie Henshaw.
Tonga: Charles Piutau, Afusipa Taumoepeau, Malakai Fekitoa, Pita Ahki, Solomone Kata, William Havili, Augustine Pulu; Vaea Vifita, Sione Talitui, Tanginoa Halaifonua, Leva Fifita, Sam Lousi, Ben Tameifuna (capt), Paula Ngauamo, Siegfried Fisi’ihoi. Reserves: Sam Moli, Tau Koloamatangi, Sosefo Apikotoa, Semisi Paea, Solomone Funaki, Sione Vailanu, Sonatane Takulua, Fine Inisi.
South Africa v Romania,17th Sept, S.A. BY 50,
Australia v Fiji, Monday 18th Sept, Australia by 5 ,
England v Japan, Monday 18th,Sept,England by 18.
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