The Rugby World Cup is here and Am glued to watching the sport again! Though Rugby is an all-year affair with many events including the hugely popular ‘RBS Six Nations Cup’ are played; the World Cup is the mother of all events. What attracts me the most is the _ Passion _ with which the sport is followed in the Nations where it is played. Watching Tonga take on Georgia, in the second game of the World Cup 2015, what struck me the most is the fully-packed Kingsholm Stadium at Gloucester, England. Stadium was filled with supporters of Georgia and Tonga, a tiny Polynesian Kingdom located at the end of the world map!
Am one among the millions of fans, who follow the sport and love watching their favourite Team/s win on the biggest stage of the sport! While it might take few more years for our very own India to make it to this stage, it is the traditional war cry _ Haka _ that attracted me towards @AllBlacks (defending champions New Zealand) team. I started watching World Cup Rugby in 2007, and ever since it has been my favourite side.
While I back @AllBlacks to retain the Webb Ellis Cup (the first nation ever to possibly do it); it is anybody chance to lay their hands on the coveted trophy. For some time in the world rugby, it’s been easy to safely pick one of four teams: current holders New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, and England to win and in this World Cup too, it’s no different!
So, how likely is this going to be? If you consider the All Blacks having won only two of the last seven World Cups despite having the same reputation as they do now — and both wins, mind you, taking place in New Zealand — you’ll agree this World Cup’s going to be a lot more interesting than it looks. But their 42-3-2 win-loss- draw record says it all.
Going by the current form, the least likely winners seem to be the two-time champions Springboks (South Africa), who’ve lost to lesser ranked Argentina, Wales and Ireland in the recent past. But, as past champions, they know how to win when it matters. Australia have beaten New Zealand in August but have lost their last three World Cup games against England. After having won their last seven Test matches as hosts, England, will seek to keep their recent impeccable record at home intact.
strategysage 