Let the games begin....
Andy Nicol
Let the games begin
The Rugby World will focus on Asia for the next 6 weeks with Japan hosting the first Rugby World Cup outside the usual rugby territories.
What an opportunity for the game and I hope it is a huge success. I think it will be as Japan have really embraced things and are delighted to have a dress rehearsal, if you like, for the Tokyo Olympics taking place next summer. But for now, it’s all about rugby and what a spectacle we will have over the coming weeks.
This could be the most open Rugby World Cup ever with many teams believing they have a genuine chance of lifting the Webb Ellis Trophy on 2nd November. As ever New Zealand will be right up there as favourites but they have real competition from a couple of teams in particular. As Grand Slam winners, Wales will fancy their chances as will Australia who scored over 40 points recently when they beat the All Blacks. It was only in 2018 that Ireland were winning the Grand Slam and beating the All Blacks in Dublin so they have the belief as well. But, for me, the two main challengers to New Zealand are South Africa and England.
Both of them have that combination of real power and finesse which makes them very dangerous indeed. Although Japan kick things off as the hosts against Russia on Friday morning, the World Cup kicks off for real on Saturday when the Springboks face the All Blacks in a titanic opening fixture. As much as England will have a lot to say about this, I think we will see this fixture again in the Rugby World Cup Final when I predict South Africa to emerge as exciting winners.
It is going to be amazing and I am heading out there later this month which I am very excited about.
Let the games begin!!
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