Great matches

One of the things I love about watching rugby is the number of ways you can get a good, enjoyable match to watch.

No-one would call the All-Blacks v Portugal (108-13 or so remember) a contest. In fact to make it a contest how low down the New Zealand age tree would you go? I'd certainly put money on the NZ under-21's, probably on the under-19's. Would the under-17's be a fair match? That's not to insult the Portuguese team, they're mainly amateurs playing against the most rugby mad country and one you'd have to say has the best development structures in place.

But, it was a good match, for skill and for passion.

Being Welsh, living in England, South Africa v England (36-0) was a great match to watch. Anyone kicking it to the sais is good of course, but seeing them clueless, and a highly skilled display from the Bokke was good, and would have been good against many opponents.

Then we come to today's two games in the world cup. Most of the teams in the ANZ Cup would have won, comfortably, today. The standard of Japanese, Portuguese, Romanian and Canadian rugby just isn't that high. No shame on them, and they're mostly improving, but getting the time, resources and so on to play the game is hard work in countries where they're fourth, fifth or sixth sports. But the games were compelling to watch. Would brave Portugal hold out the bully-boys Romania? No. (Not trying to say that Romania cheated either, but they won by grinding forward play and were just bigger and stronger there.) Who would win between Japan and Canada? (No one it turns out, 12-all draw with the final kick of the game, 5 minutes into time added on sealing the draw for Japan.)

Great to watch because of passion and of the fact they were both good, close contests.

When will we see their likes again? (Sorry Scotland, too good a line to pass up.) Well, if the Irish remember how to play, maybe Ireland v Argentina. Maybe Tonga v England, it's got the makings of it, but if England start well, maybe not.

France v New Zealand? Probably. Otherwise, not until the semi-finals to be honest. But, Australia v England (if that comes to pass, still not sure it will) will have that rivalry, and revenge for 4 years ago - that will be watchable if not a contest.

France v New Zealand will be a match that everyone will watch. Will the ABs cope with the decent opposition? Will France show up? Will they show up rather better than this time last year?

South Africa v Wales - if Wales show adventure and spirit it will be a great game, but if not, well meh. Even being Welsh, SA ought to win, sadly.

That leaves Argentina v Scotland... I'm still thinking rather 1-sided for the Southern Hemisphere side.

Let's hope the organisers decide to let the small teams carry on. The crowds tonight, in France, were better than for Scotland (seconds) v NZ at Murrayfield. If the Scots can't show up (on or off the pitch) at home, but the minnows can get massive support and play such compelling games, let's have more of them!