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The 2011 Rugby World Cup, hosted at the ‘Stadium of four million people’, gets underway on Friday when the hosts, New Zealand, take on Tonga. The catchphrase emphasises the enthusiasm for the sport that the local residents demonstrate.
While the country will find it difficult to match the magnitude and attendance figures of the previous events in France and Australia, the hosts hope to more than make up for that with a homely welcome, not too dissimilar to the ethos of Bahrain.
The neutral will be hoping the Kiwi national team is successful and that the event helps the country to re-establish itself following the earthquake that claimed the lives of 182, followed shortly by the Pike River Mine disaster where 29 miners were killed.
History is not on the side of the All Blacks, who seem to start every World Cup as favourites only to find a way of falling short. That is unless you count the last time they hosted the World Cup, back in 1987, when they triumphed over France with a 29-9 victory.
I should clarify that, when I refer to the All Blacks, I am talking about the traditional New Zealand line-up and not the ‘away strip’ for an England team clearly looking to ruffle the feathers of the Kiwi population.
The hosts rarely succeed in the Rugby World Cup, with the exception of the inaugural New Zealand team and the superb South Africans appearing in their first World Cup in 1995 at a time that helped re-write the history of the nation.
However, hopes are again high for the current New Zealand team, based around the well known figures of Richie McCaw and Dan Carter, possibly the two greatest players in their respective positions of their generation.
Carter is the most dangerous fly-half in world rugby, his all-round game creating problems for the meanest of defences, although the effectiveness of McCaw will depend on the leeway he is provided by tournament referees in the rucks and mauls. If he is restricted and penalised, the Kiwis will look to warrior Brad Thorn to provide inspiration.
The All Blacks also have a strong tradition of producing some of the most exciting and dynamic inidivuals, most notably with Jonah Lomu. The one to watch this year could be the maverick and unpredictable Sonny Bill Williams.
Their main rivals in Pool A will be the unpredictable French, embodied by their head coach, Marc Lievremont, who is prone to making eccentric and frequently erroneous decisions.
The French will look towards Fabrice Estabanez at centre or Trinh-Duc to release a pacey back line, although surely it is the never-say-die attitude of hooker, Dimitri Szarzewski that should be their inspiration to help overcome their inconsistencies.
Making up the numbers in Pool A are Tonga, Japan and Canada.
Pool B should be led by an England team that has been desperately trying to find a formula for success in the warm-up matches. Scrum-half Ben Youngs has been the driving force behind an English resurgence, although a recent injury has left him short of match practice.
Similar concerns surround the form of captain Lewis Moody, without whom England appear to lack other enforcers. The English hopes centre around Samoan-born Manu Tuilagi who has proven more powerful than any of their forwards in the gym although, as the youngest member of the squad, may succumb to the pressure.
England typically build their play around a powerful set of forwards. This year’s crop match, physically, anything they have offered in the past, although lack the skill and tactical nous of the side that lifted the Webb Ellis Trophy in 2003 on their last World Cup visit to the Southern Hemisphere.
Scotland and Argentina should compete for second spot while these teams will look to rest key players against Georgia and Romania.
The most likely challengers to the Kiwis will be their main rivals, Australia, as proven last week with a stunning victory. The green and golds will have high hopes following the performances of Quade Cooper and Will Genia, whose dynamic running with ball in hand makes them dangerous runners on the break, particularly off ruck turnovers.
While they should have no problems qualifying from the group stage, they will face an intriguing match against an Irish team that will look to build pressure through controlling phases and playing for territory.
Back-row forwards Jamie Heaslip and Sean O’Brien have been the form players for Ireland and will look to break the first line of defence and keep the Australians on the back foot. If the Irish slip-up, expect Italy to be hot on their heels.
The tightest looking group on paper appears to be Pool D, with South Africa favourites to win, although Wales, Fiji and Samoa will look to de-rail them, although none of these are expected to make it to the semi-finals. The Springboks will use their brutal physicality and relentless driving play to try to retain the trophy they claimed in Paris four years ago.
Morne Steyne will look to kick penalties and his prolific ability from range will keep any opposition defences’ honest. The pack will be driven by Schalk Berger, Bakkies Botha and the talismanic Victor Matfield, although, following a tiring Tri-Nations series that left six carrying minor injuries, they will need to also look to the younger generation, particularly the forbidding Pierre Spies.
If you are looking for an underdog to support, try Georgia, which has just benefitted from a donation of $40 million to help develop facilities. They also possess the wonderfully named Mamuka Gorgodze – nicknamed Gorgodzilla! Argentina also made it to the semi-finals last time around and could do well if forwards are allowed to dominate.
This World Cup promises to be a fascinating tussle between the new rules introduced over the last 18 months that are designed to favour the ball-carrying nations of New Zealand and Australia, and games played at night that will produce wet, dewy conditions that will play into the hands of the teams looking to kick and play for position and possession within the forwards.
However, with the pace and physicality of the modern game, it is likely to be the team with the fewest injuries to key players, or the squad with the most talent, that succeeds. New Zealand do look best equipped to succeed.
The quarter-finals start on October 8 with the final on October 23. Book your seat for the highlights at Bahrain Rugby Club.
