QUARTER FINAL REVIEW: NEW ZEALAND V FRANCE

New Zealand, and any other team, hate preparing for big games against France, as they are so unpredictable. The normal rumours of French player rebellion against the coach have been circulating this week, which is just how the French will want it. New Zealand, with the most capped international squad ever (experienced or old?) have been quietly going about their business. With the strongest squad and players with the best basic skills of any nation, you don't need to get too stressed about a RWC QF. They can also play "what's in front of them" better than any other team and put players in space to score points. Ben Smith is a journeyman, but one that NZ coaches have turned into the most effective player in the world - watch him tonight, he never take a wrong option and always creates space for others, a thing of beauty.

So this should be a comfortable win for the All Blacks, but as the French have demonstrated in previous games, especially in the friendly against England, that they have an outstanding front five, and any team with such class as Dusatoir and Picamoles in the back row is going to be a threat up front. And France have replaced Basteareaud with Dumoulin in the centre so will plan to run at the NZ backline and put them under pressure. Freddic Michalak is a true enigma, who can be embarassingly awful or sheer genius, but he is one of the few to unlock the NZ defence. Let's hope he has his game head on, and France throw everything at New Zealand, if so, this could be a belter.

The matchday squads have been announced

New Zealand: Ben Smith; Nehe Milner-Skudder, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Julian Savea; Dan Carter, Aaron Smith; Wyatt Crockett, Dane Coles, Owen Franks, Brodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Jerome Kaino, Richie McCaw (capt), Kieran Read.

Replacements: Keven Mealamu, Joe Moody, Charlie Faumuina, Victor Vito, Sam Cane, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Beauden Barrett, Sonny Bill Williams

France: Scott Spedding; Noa Nakaitaci, Alexandre Dumoulin, Wesley Fofana, Brice Dulin; Frederic Michalak, Morgan Parra; Eddy Ben Arous, Guilhem Guirado, Rabah Slimani, Pascal Pape, Yoann Maestri, Thierry Dusautoir (capt), Bernard Le Roux, Louis Picamoles.

Replacements: Dimitri Szarzewski, Vincent Debaty, Nicolas Mas, Damien Chouly, Yannick Nyanga, Rory Kockott, Remi Tales, Mathieu Bastareaud

Any score prediction? I think it will be tight but NZ by 7.

BORIS CITED IN JAPANESE CLASH

Boris Johnson was cited today for shoulder charging a young Japanese player during a touch game.
He once visited Australia, so has been let off with a retrospective yellow card and no further punishment. The boy was unhurt.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-34530932

ENGLAND BLAME GAME IN FULL FLOW

Like that epic series, Game of Thrones, the power struggle in English Rugby continues, as various fingers are pointed in various directions as to why they failed to qualify for the QF. A lot of people want to blame it on poor Sam Burgess, with Gareth Chilcott highlighting that his move to Union has affected the careers of over a dozen players from those selected in England squad, not selected in squad and even in Bath back row. Hindsight, being wonderful. it is clear that Sam now needs more time at club level learning to play at centre or blindside flanker, but as suggested in OATH a few weeks ago, even though the RFU distanced themselves from the final negotiations of his move to Bath, it was obvious that they were instrumental in starting the process, so have to share some of the responsibility for its failure. In essence, I think Lancaster was told to pick him, which isn't a great position to be in for a national coach.

England Rugby review? You know nothing John Snow

It appears that some key areas of concern like not selecting overseas players are off the table as part of the review, as is the effectiveness of Ian Ritchie and his administrators at RFU, especially in their decision to both, appoint Stuart Lancaster in the first place, and to extend his contract by six years recently, despite the fact that England have not won anything, even though they are the Man City of the global game.

As discussed before, the English system of transferring fantastic youth players into adult internationals needs improving, and the emphasis needs to change from size and physicality to skills. In summary they need to practise less lineouts and scrums and play more touch rugby.

Rumours that Sepp Blatter may help the RFU oversee the review to ensure fair play are unconfirmed.

WORLD RUGBY HAS DECIDED THE FINAL ALREADY

I have been trying to rein in my emotions writing this blog, but the decision to ban two Scots for five weeks, ruling them out of the entire tournament is a farce. It is as if World Rugby has decided it wants the top two ranked teams in the world in the final already, so is removing any realistic opposition to New Zealand and Australia over the next two rounds. The fact that the citings were declared in the first place was surprising, even more so was the decision by World Rugby to appoint an Australian to review the evidence (who play Scotland on Saturday). A kangaroo court was inevitable (ouch!).

Skippy then takes an inordinate amount of time to make up his mind, only declaring at 2130hrs on Tuesday, leaving Scotland only three days to regroup and replace two key players. It's a joke. Ross Ford has 93 caps to his name, and his battle with Stephen Moore would have been great (his replacement has only two caps), but, at his age, has now played his last RWC game. Jonny Gray, Richie's brother, by contrast is only 21, but is already a true leader in the side, calling the lineouts and having a tackle count as high as anyone.

Citing official contemplates navel

There is something awry here. Of all the players banned during RWC 2015, all the players banned for more than one week are from Tier 2 nations. I also fail to understand why messrs. Hooper and O'Brien were only banned for one week for Australia and Ireland respectively for clear violent conduct, not three weeks like the two Scottish players (reduced by two for good record). Pocock was given just a retrospective yellow card for kneeing an opponent in the back so is free to play on Sunday (remember Aus v NZ final). Maybe they have better lawyers? It smacks of a Big Four World Rugby cosy stitch up (yes I do think that). The second tier teams have consistently been up against it, not just from citings, but also from ridiculously short game turnarounds and rubbish refereeing. The decision to not award Tonga a penalty try against New Zealand was absurd - everyone knows NZ kill the ball under pressure all the time relying on the officials not having the balls to make the tough call. The fact that Richie "Untouchable" McCaw has so few yellow cards backs this up (plenty of stud marks on his back though).

We all know Scotland would have struggled to overcome Oz even with a full squad to choose from, but those who have forked out £150+ for a ticket at Twickers this Sunday (including myself) now face a mismatch . World Rugby have obviously had the shock result box firmly ticked by Japan against SA, and now want business as usual resumed. Another heroic Scottish defeat beckons.

QUARTER FINAL PREVIEW: SOUTH AFRICA V WALES

This one will prove to be a bruising encounter, with SA possessing the biggest pack in the competition, whereas Wales, despite their injuries, have shown physically they can compete with the toughest teams overcoming England and Fiji in the Group of Death and not conceding a try in a narrow loss to Australia. Injury wise, SA have only lost Jean de Villiers, whereas Wales have lost almost a whole backline, with Liam Williams the latest casualty, being replaced by Eli Walker of Ospreys.

The South Africans have announced their squad, with JP Pietersen back on the wing to accompany Habana, and with Matfield injured, the mountain that is Lodewyk de Jager keeps his place in second row.

Backs: Willie le Roux; JP Pietersen, Jesse Kriel, Damien de Allende, Bryan Habana; Handre Pollard, Fourie du Preez (capt).

Forwards: Tendai Mtawarira, Bismarck du Plessis, Frans Malherbe, Lodewyk de Jager, Eben Etzebeth, Schalk Burger, Duane Vermeulen, Francois Louw.

Replacements: Adriaan Strauss, Trevor Nyakane, Jannie du Plessis, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Willem Alberts, Ruan Pienaar, Pat Lambie, Jan Serfontein

The Welsh have put Tyler Morgan in the centre with Roberts, with North and Cuthbert on the wings. In the back row, Dan "Tree Cutter" Lydiate is fit again, so Tipuric moves to the bench, and Jenkins is back in the front row, with Bradley Davies on the bench despite a very broken nose.

Backs: Gareth Anscombe (Cardiff Blues), Alex Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues), Tyler Morgan (Newport Gwent Dragons), Jamie Roberts (Harlequins), George North (Northampton Saints); Dan Biggar (Ospreys), Gareth Davies (Scarlets).Forwards: Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Scott Baldwin (Ospreys), Samson Lee (Scarlets), Luke Charteris (Racing 92), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Dan Lydiate (Ospreys), Sam Warburton (Cardiff Blues, capt), Taulupe Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons).

Replacements: Ken Owens (Scarlets), Paul James (Ospreys), Tomas Francis (Exeter Chiefs), Bradley Davies (Wasps), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), Lloyd Williams (Cardiff Blues), Rhys Priestland (Bath Rugby), James Hook (Gloucester Rugby).

Any score prediction? I think Wales will win this one by five points!

WEEKEND REVIEW: QF DECIDED

Quick review of the key games over the weekend. Ireland's performance the highlight overcoming a brutal France to avoid the AB's in next round but suffered key injuries to three first pick players.  Scotland won their 7's match against Samoa to make the QF thanks to Laidlaw's kicking and cool head under pressure. What a game though with 7 tries in total and each team having a further try disallowed. And finally Wales who even with a two man advantage could not breach the Australian defence so now face SA in QF. What a QF weekend in prospect...and England not even involved. Thoughts on who will make up SF welcome.