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 Familiar format Top teams all advance once more
Posted: Sunday October 17, 1999 05:15 PM
LONDON (Reuters) -- Unfocused and fragmented in the first fortnight, the fourth World Cup returns to a familiar format for the knockout stages. Twenty teams have played 30 matches in five countries during the past 16 days culminating with the final round of group matches on Saturday. Wales, Australia, South Africa, France and New Zealand have automatically qualified for the quarterfinals; England, Scotland and Ireland are likely to join them from the playoffs. Seven of these teams entered the quarterfinals in the inaugural 1987 World Cup, six were present in 1991, and seven again in 1995. South Africa was absent in 1987 and 1991 for political reasons. If it had competed in the first tournament, the quarterfinal line-up would almost certainly have been identical to this year's grouping. With the gap between the genuine World Cup contenders and the others as wide as it was 12 years ago, the group stages had a predictable sequence of mismatches with the only upset coming in pool D where Samoa beat the nominal hosts Wales. Even this was no real shock as the Samoans had similarly defeated Wales eight years ago, although the present Welsh side is significantly stronger than the demoralized 1991 XV.
New Zealand vs. England best matchThe best match of the group stages was provided by New Zealand and England, and the two teams may yet meet again in the final in Cardiff's Millennium Stadium on November 6.New Zealand prevailed by 30-16 and three tries to one, with Jonah Lomu transforming the game midway through the second half with a try illustrating why he remains the sport's biggest attraction. The atmosphere at Twickenham was electric, recapturing much of the excitement of the 26-26 draw between the two teams in 1997, and the standard of play was impressively high. For both sides, October 9 was a key match and the result was a comparatively easy route to the final for the All Blacks and a difficult path for England. New Zealand repaired to Cannes for sunshine and relaxation, England to prepare for a playoff against Fiji at Twickenham on Wednesday then likely clashes against defending champions South Africa followed by Australia in the semifinals. The All Blacks will probably play Scotland, which has yet to win a match against them, then meets France if it can lift itself sufficiently to beat Ireland in Dublin.
All Blacks best side of tournamentThe All Blacks were unquestionably the side of the first round and are 1-2 favorites to become the first team to win the Cup twice.It was given a searching examination for an hour by Tonga, played outstandingly well against England and showed the depth of its squad by resting 11 first-choice players and still running up more than 100 points against Italy. Proof that all 30 members of its squad can play test match rugby was the most satisfying aspect of the Italian game for the All Black management. Strength in depth has not been a feature of the 1995 champions South Africa, which has not looked convincing in its group played in front of disappointing crowds in Scotland. It also appears to have internal problems following the abrupt sacking of its captain Gary Teichmann before the tournament. Australia has three-quarters every bit as classy as New Zealand's and a better scrumhalf in George Gregan. Its problem is injuries, with two first-choice front-row forwards out of the tournament and concern about its captain and lock John Eales. England has been comfortably the best of the five home nations, although its deficiencies on attack were cruelly exposed by the All Blacks. It retains a self-belief often missing from British teams in the past although in a now brutally physical game it has a daunting two weeks in front of them starting with the robust Fijians on Wednesday. Wednesday's other two playoff matches feature Scotland against Samoa at Murrayfield and Ireland versus Argentina in Lens. The quarterfinals follow at the weekend.
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