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Where does the Rugby World Cup go from here?
What happens next? Not just for France who must now accept that their fairytale is over. Not just for South Africa who march on with a semi-final against England to contend with next week. But for rugby, for the World Cup and for the English language that must now find a word that packs even more of a punch than ‘epic’.
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Last night’s clash between Ireland and New Zealand set a high benchmark. It was arguably a better exhibition of rugby. Both sides were more accurate and made less mistakes than France and South Africa and provided stacks of content for coaching manuals.
But Saturday’s match was confined within the parameters of the sport. Sunday’s slugfest between the tournament’s hosts and the defending champions was elemental. Time itself seemed to bend around it. It was as if all that was and all that will be was condensed in a fish bowl to the north of Paris and nothing beyond the concrete walls of the Stade de France mattered.
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It was the speed that shook the senses. No, it was the droves of human catapults that hurled themselves into contact as if their bodies were made of some unbreakable ore. Or maybe it was the skill or the physicality or the sheer bloody chutzpah from both teams. Knockout rugby is supposed to be characterised by at least a degree of caution. This had none.
Fair play to them, and first a word for France. On another day, on a parallel timeline, they win this at a canter. Cyril Baille, Charles Ollivon, Jonathan Danty and a few others played something close to the games of their lives. But it was Antoine Dupont who attracted attention like a black hole.
Is there a better player in our sport? Not likely. Not when he has the ball on a string and the world in his palm. If anyone deserved to win a rugby match it was France’s bruised leader. Except not even he could turn destiny to his will.
Instead it went the way of the Springboks who should have been buried long before Eben Etzebeth carried half the population of France on his shoulders to score a bulldozing try late in the piece. Le Bleus had their chances to put this game to bed. At least they would have against any other side.
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Perhaps it’s the self-fulfilling mythology that the Springboks so tightly cling to that compels them to chase lost causes and scramble like zealots whenever their line is breached. Maybe it’s just good coaching, or a sense of brotherhood fostered by two World Cup cycles together. Maybe it’s for the hungry boy in Zwide or KwaMashu. Maybe it’s none of that or all of it. Whatever the reason, the South Africans managed to keep themselves within a score as waves of royal blue crashed on bottle-green rocks.
They gave as good as they got, though, thanks largely to Etzebeth, Franco Mostert, Pieter-Steph du Toit and Bongi Mbonambi who provided grunt round the fringe and stood firm in the face of relentless pressure. That gave their backline something to work with and when the ball went down the line the Springboks landed blows of their own.
A word for Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel. Both centres have had their critics. The former has been slammed for being one dimensional and for his apparent inability to pass. The latter is often derided for disappearing in big games and for only knowing how to rampage like a mindless Viking berserker on a blitz defence. Both put in almighty shifts, hammering Danty and Gael Fickou as well as providing some delicious soft touches – grubbers off the toe, popped passes off the shoulder, runs through half gaps.
Then a word for Cheslin Kolbe. A man who charged down a conversion in a game decided by a single point. It’s not an unheard of action. Every so often a speedy winger catches a ponderous kicker off guard. But for it to take place in a contest of this magnitude only makes the narrative more compelling.
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To single out a single moment would be impossible. Even Fabien Galthie couldn’t select one. Dupont gave credit to South Africa. Both questioned the way the game was refereed. No doubt a hundred thousand theories on why this match went the way it did are already swirling. Some things defy explanation.
It would be remiss not to mention the few fortunate moments that went South Africa’s way. Dupont copped an elbow to the face. Kwagga Smith won a penalty on the deck when he appeared to have placed an arm on the ground. Etzebeth might have seen yellow for a deliberate knock-on that was given and could have seen the yellow he did receive – for a clash of heads with Uini Atonio – upgraded to red. The bounce of the ball here, a misstep there and we’re waking up in a different world tomorrow.
“The margins were marginal,” Jacques Nienaber mused at the final whistle. He’s not wrong. Pick your moment where this one turned. Any number of flashpoints could serve as a reason South Africa thundered to victory. Leave the deeper analysis to the stats gurus. More detailed breakdowns will be demonstrated by astute brains on YouTube and podcasts. For now let is revel in what was a bewildering crescendo to one of the great weekends in the sport’s history.
Where does it go from here?
It goes to Australia, where for the first time ever the host nation do not get out of the pool.
The thing that needs attention is the refereeing of “Tier 2” nations. Especially Fiji. There is an overwhelming bias (hopefully unconcious) against them. Referees are simply not as critical of 6N and RC teams when they play these other nations.
Raynal is a lottery at the best of times but he did not scrutinise England anywhere near as closely as he did Fiji. Who knows if it effected the result but England got away with high shots, deliberate knock ons, and numerous turnovers where the player was clearly not supporting their weight. A Fijian player sneezes and the TMO is straight in the ref’s ear.
England 2015 … group stages
The Boks have won three World Cups. None of their finals, even 1995, came close to last night for sheer intensity and effort.
I cannot actually believe the Boks won this one. France won the collisions and running game and it was down to the bench, fanatical defense, and extraordinary moments by Kolbe and Pollard.
And still, despite all this, a single Bok offside infringement at the end would have seen France go through.
This game and the one between the ABs and the Irish were the two most intense rugby games I have ever seen.
However, as gutted France and Ireland might feel today they both contributed to an exhibition of rugby excellence the world has never seen before.
Just wow.
England simply do not deserve to be in the mix. The worst warm ups, the easiest group, the leanest quarter final
England will be competitive. As epic as last night’s game was the Boks will take England as seriously as a heart attack.
England always dail in their British Empire warrior heart on the biggest stage. Rassie respects England. So should you.
I think the fact that both England and Argentina beat Fiji and Wales shows that although England made the group look easier than others it wasnt the worst group.
Not sure what warm up games have to do with the world cup.
Yeah they dont look amazing but why single out England and not Argentina?
Southern Hemisphere attitudes on here are a joke. The media made a big thing about an all Northern SF line up but real rugby people knew NZ and SA would be in the mix. So, try not to generalise and tar all NH people with the same brush. For me, a Welshman, I tipped SA from the start and nothing has changed my view.
I would watch this every year. The WC is far superior to either the 6N or RC. Having teams from north and south play each other more often in a competitive setting, not just test tour of 3 matches; incorporate T2 nations. Makes sense for rugby development and entertainment wise will grow game financially.
Football/soccer does this with the Euros/WC alternate every two years.
Maybe RWC would be happy to keep making the draw 3 years out 😂
The ABs and the Boks are not the best they can be, and Aussie need a complete rebuild and the Argies are not treated well by anyone. This WC will make them all review how they need to improve and get ready for 2027. The NH sides have had all the money and organize games to suit them best. By doing this they were able to compete well. Unfortunately the game is still laced between the four lines, and to win requires going to a place they often have not gone to, as well as taking greater risk at a crucial time. The SH sides will work hard to get better for sure, as they get told they are not good enough. They will be ready for 2027, and were nearly not good enough this cycle.
2027 will be no different the Southern Hemisphere will dominate and win rwc 2027. History will be repeated.
When Northern Hemisphere forget sbout media and pundits and stop reading bullshit articles from sites like this rhey may settle into playing rugby on the field not to media.
Great article.
Where does the Rugby World Cup go from here? Or was it supposed to be a more open (like in the article) question, “Where does it go from here?
This is it. The ref’s have got around the table together and decided they will let certain things go, like this one. With the large majority of turnovers won illegally in this world cup (where two hands are not picking up a ball off the ground as the first action), and with games escaping any ruck scrutiny whatsoever and just being left to play, it has become a lottery.
That’s because it is a lottery. World Rugby have tried to pick the lesser of all the evils that are in the breakdown. Heaven forbid we know there is enough scrutiny placed on some other facets. They really just need to simplify the game down. I’m not a fan of the contentionless and heavily enforced rules that are most visible in the 7’s game.
But whatever it is just do it WR.
The World Cup goes to the SOUTHERN HEMPISHERE
What happened to the great northern hemisphere shift of rugby, seems like they shifted down a few gears well done all three southern hemisphere sides
“The margins were marginal”
D’ya think?!
Where does the rwxc go from here?
South….
Hopefully world rugby invites teams like Fiji,Samoa, Japan, Argentina, Portugal to the funding discussion and does something to end the Norths constantly taking the big money, and therefore the coaches and players from the south.
What share of the profit will Fiji get next time they play England at twickers. Isn't it zero as it stands? And the ext game is scheduled for?
They’ll expect a fee again. Everyone should boycott them until they share the excess they get from hosting popular teams (when the RU double the ticket prices) at least. Don’t cry me a river about domestic teams folding.
The least it would do is stop them from ramping up the ticket prices so neutrals/visitors aren’t skinned.
Seriously though I’m not a big believer in needing to play against the best to grow. Proper tournaments (ALL players available) for those outside the top 10 (6N and RC) each year will do wonders. Then Nations Championship tier 1 and 2 promo/rel!
Love this: Fair play to them, and first a word for France. On another day, on a parallel timeline, they win this at a canter.
Yeah . Maybe if it was a parallel universe as well…
France could have won, But they took the easy 3 with ten to go and turned down the chance to go to the corner and score the try they needed to regain the lead.
But they took the three and played into SA”s hands.
Or chocked. As people like to say.
3 of the 4 SemiFinalists = Rugby Championship. It would have been 4 teams from South if Fiji had an ounce of luck (or better refereeing vs Wales). England are only there because their Group was too weak to capitalise. The 6Nations are playing in a vacuum where they equate money and power to success. Oops.
Dupont wasnt 100%. Erred for Kolbes try and caused a few turnovers. Springboks hung in there though and took every opportunity. The whole stadium saw Smith use his arm to carry his weight for the decisive penalty. So blatant, the TMO has to call it. A few late hits on Dupont by Etzebet let go. Kriel forearmed him in the face.
France were robbed tonight. Best team won on the night last night but not tonight.
Ah yes. Of course. My friend Turlough of the “pale defeated faces” variety. You might want to go and see Nigel Owen’s view on the “hands on the ground” controversy. There were several places where SA were hard done by but unfortunately your optical infringement filter does not work on blue jerseys. The fact is France did not manage the final 15 mins of the game well, and in knockout rugby when the pressure is on that kills you. That is not to take anything away from France - they were absolutely immense and on any other day could have won it. It could have gone either way. To blame the referee after a match of that quality is simply churlish.
On a more conciliatory note, Ireland were pure class in this RWC and for some time before that. Sometimes things don’t go your way in knockout rugby. And as much as I don’t love Johnny Sexton for his intemperate outbursts, the moment he shared with his son moved this hard South African heart. The love of one’s child means more than a million World Cups, so Johnny’s doing all right on that score.
I see you seem to think others have been down on you because you’ve merely been rooting for Ireland to win. I suggest you go and reread some of your posts. Confidence and arrogance are not the same thing. So you perhaps should not be too surprised when people dish it out to you.
But they are still out if the tournament. There really are no comment spaces on the scoresheet. But we’ll done France. They might very well be the best team in the world right now but I don’t see any comments about four tries to three. No one has complained about any of the tries. Want to win? Don’t look for technicalities and appeal to the ref. Leave that to Farrell - just score more tries. If the situation was reversed the Boks would have gone for the corner. NZ would have gone for the corner Ireland would have gone for the corner. The most adventurous team in world rugby went for poles - and that’s where the match was won or lost. They did not have the self belief to go for the corner.
What a bunch of silly comments. A little bit biased perhaps
You are probably Irish.
‘TMO has to call it’ - when did TMO powers get extended to penalties ? Tries and foul play only, last I checked. If Dupont “wasnt 100%”, then direct your point to the France selectors, this aint tiddlywinks.
Great match?? YES, BUT…
Any of the fortress defence systems shown by ABs or Ireland would have stopped most the tries in that BokVF game.
Great match, running, entertaining & tense to the end, YES. But not technically great as ABvIre. Especially the French, paid for their usual tempts at ‘flamboyancy’ (ie in other boring words… lacking technical correctness & therefore risking failure) & suffered the result. Sooo many French errors and sloppy (‘flamboyant’) plays.
Best teams won, except Fiji.
When Ronan O’Gara came to Crusaders in 2018, we were watching the man on defense. He changed their “minds” Watch the Ball. He’s a great Coach and absolutely will remain in our DNA. . .
What a wonderful weekend! A change of government in NZ and I watched them cry and then we beat Ireland and watched Sexton cry. Farrell was about to cry as well so I got the trifecta.
Maybe they were pissed at losing their “Bonus” and that’s even better.
Du Pont just lost NZ$354,000 maybe that’s why he was sulking.
I haven’t been a Reiko Ione fan at centre but after he upset Sexton, I have changed my mind.
Now I am looking forward to Owen Farrell cry when the Boks shred the “Poms”
The Poms will be trying their hardest to “get a red card advantage” in those “deep dark places” as the Poms always do. . .
Seems they can “dish it out but to soft to take it on the chin”
If Argentina beat the A.B’s well good luck to them!
Are all you Kiwis such unpleasant winners?
Definitely a ‘National Party’ voter then eh?! ;)
Interesting to note that 3 out of the 4 teams to make the semi finals come from the southern hemisphere. Nothing really unusual in that except we are constantly told that the rugby powerhouse had shifted north. I would like to think it was more balanced so that we would see great clashes like the ALL Black's/Ireland and South Africa/France more often. Alas yellow and red cards have been the major opposition in this world cup and the All Black's overcoming this I think will go down as not the norm.
The whole hemisphere thing is just ego for the most part.
Really felt the narrative of this world cup was the hosts celebrating a run to the final up against a green wave of fanatical, Zombie singing Irish being the only crowd that could take on the French in their own backyard as a supporting force. Now its looking like either another southern domination or a highly unlikely England Cinderella story. Argies will also be breathing fire against a still-recovering NZ on Friday I expect. The shift of power to the North seems to have been postponed another four years and it will take a few days to rejig the story.
Australia are gone and two European teams have parity of standard with the remaining 2 southern powerhouses. NH teams will learn from these narrow losses in the knock outs. Ireland in particular will learn from the masterclass in knock out rugby displayed by NZ. Closer to parity now and Australia gone. Strong competition in 6 nations also a driving factor. Top 6 nations matches similar standard to top Rugby Championship matches.