Everyone’s an expert after the fact. But I’m laying my cards out now, before the 2011 RWC kicks off in New Zealand.
Even though Australia beat NZ to win the final Tri Nations – and despite the home ground disadvantage – I’m still predicting a New Zealand v England final and for the All Blacks to take the title with a 35-16 victory.
Wait, I hear you screaming…home town disadvantage. Yes, that’s right. And that’s because no host nation has ever won the rugby world cup in the professional era. In fact, Australia have been the only nation holding the tournament in the pro era to even make a final, which they lost to England.
The first two tournaments (New Zealand in 1987 and South Africa in 1995) were both won by the hosts. But since rugby went professional, in 1996, having the tournament in your backyard has not helped fill the trophy cabinet.
So, despite the pro rugby world cup host curse, I still feel the men in black have the goods to rewrite history.
I’ll admit I’m no fortune teller. I don’t have a crystal ball to predict the rugby word cup 2011 results but here’s how I think it’s going to go down, down-under.
Pool A
NZÂ 33 v Tonga 14
France 42 v Japan 18
Tonga 25 v Canada 14
NZ 68 v Japan 9
France 32 v Canada 14
Tonga 21 v Japan 15
NZ 31 v France 16
Canada 14 v Japan 23
France 35 v Tonga 18
NZ 74 v Canada 9
Pool B
Scotland 31 v Romania 6
Argentina 9 v England 19
Scotland 20 v Georgia 11
Argentina 33 v Romania 6
England 33 v Georgia 9
England 42 v Romania 3
Argentina 9 v Scotland 15
Georgia 21 v Romania 11
England 20 v Scotland 9
Argentina 21 v Georgia 9
Pool C
Australia 28 v Italy 14
Ireland 31 v 9 USA
Russia 9 v USA 19
Australia 26 v Ireland 17
Italy 32 v Russia 6
Australia 43 v USA 6
Ireland 33 v Russia 3
Italy 26 v USA 13
Australia 45 v Russia 6
Ireland 24 v Italy 12
Pool D
Fiji 37 v Namibia 8
South Africa 26 v Wales 18
Samoa 37 v Namibia 3
South Africa 38 v Fiji 23
Wales 24 v Samoa 27
South Africa 52 v Namibia 0
Fiji 13 v Samoa 25
Wales 47 v Namibia 6
24 South Africa v Samoa 18
26 Wales v Fiji 16
Quarter Finals
QF1: Australia v Samoa — Australia to get revenge for their loss to Samoa earlier this year in a 28-17 win.
QF2: England v France – The poms to sneak it 24-20
QF3: South Africa v Ireland — The Springboks will win it 19-17.
QF4: NZ v Scotland — The Kiwis to run riot in a 43-9 victory.
Semi Finals
SF1: Australia v England – England to squeeze past the Aussies 16-19
SF2: South Africa v NZ — The All Blacks will beat the current RWC champions by 10 points with the final score of 19-29.
Finals
Bronze: Australia v South Africa — Australia to claim third spot with a 26-16 victory.
Grand: England v NZ — The All Blacks to be the first tournament hosts in the professional era to win. They’ll do it comfortably with a 16-35 scoreline.
Who do you think will win the 2011 Rugby World Cup and hold the William Web Ellis trophy at Eden Park?