10 Post Quarter-final observations from RWC
0By The Spotter
1 The Springboks’ coaching staff will have digested the All Blacks’ increasing use of spectacular, close quarter offloads and could make a definite plan of setting Bryan Habana et al to burgle an interception. Habana has made somewhat of a habit of scoring intercept tries throughout his prolific career, so, All Blacks, take note.
2 Some of those chubbier Boks front rowers from their Quarter final look like they need the London Marathon to sort them out. They make Charlie Faumuina look positively Usain Bolt-esque. Bets taken now on how long they will last next weekend.
3 Brodie Retallick is so vital to the engine room that to lose him now would be getting as close to problematic as losing McCaw, Aaron Smith or Dan Carter. (Next on the non-negotiable line would be Ben Smith).
4 Nine tries equals nine good reasons to never drag up 2007 again.
5 Lima who? (so long as Carter isn’t crocked…)
6 French midfielder Wes Fofana is a class act and had to be watched like a hawk, even when his team were completely out for the count. Thanks goodness he didn’t have a Philippe Sella-type player alongside him early on in the game. But for how good Fofana was, he still wasn’t close to Ma’a Nonu overall. What a barnstormer Nonu had. And to think, some hacks were calling for SBW to start instead. Puhhlease…
7 Argentina were simply brilliant against Ireland and in Juan Imhoff they have the best left-winger in world rugby by the proverbial (and yes, that includes Savea). Nicolas Sanchez is very under-rated as a flyhalf also. In fact, he has possibly been the best on show in his position. Better even than Biggar, Foley and Carter (although Sanchez doesn’t look a Hugo Porta clone in the drop kicking stakes- a first half attempt was an ugly shank).
8 On top of their nation’s ignominious early exit, how despondent are the most passionate England fans feeling now, given there are four southern hemisphere nations in the semis and Argentina is among that number?
9 Fortunately for Craig Joubert, it was Rugby, not football, and Scotland, not Colombia. He also best avoid any dark alleys Gavin Hastings may be walking down in the future.
10 Next year’s Six-Nations is now hastily being re-branded as: ‘The Rugby Championship Division Two’.