FInal Warm-Up Matches

Well, the dust has settled, save for the actual games.

Questions suddenly loom though. Having lost 2 matches this year (more than they lost last year or the year before remember) have the ABs lost their matches for this year? Or have they lost momentum and will struggle against Australia/SA if they meet them? Also, their last match cost them (probably) Thompson and quite possibly Read for the tournament. New Zealand is blessed with an incredible number of loose forwards and although I rate Thompson replacing him is not too hard. Read though... he's a genuine contender for best in his position in the world. Losing him is a blow.

England also have questions to answer. A string of injuries... can they risk Moody? How bad is Easter etc. But they have a bigger series of questions too. Flood or Wilkinson at 10? Flood is inventive but not quite the boss that Wilkinson is. Wilkinson can be forced back into his shell - Ireland managed it yesterday - and his shell seems to include aimless, poor kicking from hand and no ability to generate good ball to the outside backs. Should Tuilangi start or Hape? There's no doubt that Hape is a stronger defensive option, but Tuilangi is a better attacking option. But losing 35-28 or 25-20 in a quarter-final is still a loss and an earlier flight home than they'd hope for.

Ireland... OMG, where to start? They're losing their players that have looked good, and whether old heads or young tyros take to the park they look ordinary at best. Actually, they look poor. They look poor like they'd struggle in the ITM cup, and bearing in mind this is the feeder-level (albeit in New Zealand) for Super Rugby, with a mix of teenagers and old hands and fringe AB players the standard is usually good but it shouldn't be up to defeating a decent international team and Ireland have been Europe's dominant side for the last couple of years.

Planning, tinkering, and doubtless much pontificating is due to come in the next 12 days. Finally the talking will be done on the pitch. And predictions? I'd still say the ABs to win it all, but with less confidence. Australia are certainly a threat. South Africa could be. France, England and with slightly more caution Wales are the other realistic contenders. There will be blow-outs, there will be shocks, but there will be weeks of excellent rugby too. Can't wait!