At the Stade de France,
As if a Rugby World Cup was not already long enough in itself, it had to be accompanied by semi-finals without much interest, yet another break in a symphony which lacked rhythm. Its high point, as high as it is, will not make us forget the boredom of this Argentina-New Zealand which looked like an autumn tour in front of a large audience (more than 77,000 spectators) but apathetic. Depressing, at least as much as the cascade of Argentinian advances, each more ridiculous than the other – the rainy circumstances do not excuse everything –, symbol of the gap which separated the two evening adversaries. A week after cursing Ben O’Keeffe’s refereeing, it’s time to complain about World Rugby. The authority has, despite itself, shot down the 2023 edition of its most precious product.
Who in the assembly to deny that the presence of the Pumas in the last four is less a matter of talent than of a fortunate combination of circumstances from which the French and Irish were unable to benefit? We are obviously talking about the draw for this French World Cup carried out in the Paleolithic era (in 2020) on the basis of the results of the 2019 World Cup: a time when the Blues were already out in the quarter-finals, but as a bonus took a beating against the Ireland and England during the VI Nations Tournament.
World Rugby trapped by Covid and archaic functioning
In this story, we also have to curse Covid. Due to the pandemic, teams like South Africa were unable to play a single match in 2020, and it is for this reason that at the time of the draw – in December 2020 – it was decided to take into account the ranking of January 1 of the same year. Question of fairness. Taking as a reference the ranking on the day of the 2023 World Cup draw, that is to say December 14, 2020, the Springboks would not have moved from their first place in the world, but other nations, such as the Japan or Wales would have been harmed (the Welsh would have gone from hat 1 to 3!). Let’s assume that this choice was a good one: why not do like in football and grant the host country seed status, like in football?
Strongly criticized, the body responded through the voice of its president Bill Beaumont, who is already promising to review a model that is too early, long justified by logistical needs and a realistic time margin to sell the tickets put on sale. The premise being “we are not as popular as football, so we cannot afford to hold draws six months before the competition. »
“What we are going to do [pour la prochaine Coupe du monde], promised Beaumont at the microphone The Breakdown This summer, it’s trying to have the draw for the group stage as late as possible so that there is more consistency around the balance in a group. […] However, there will always be one group that is more difficult than the others. […] When we go to Australia, we will see how soon we can draw the pool. » As if by magic, the draw will probably take place a year and a half, two years before the World Cup, and they will explain to us that things have miraculously changed, that before, it was not possible but that now, yes, blah blah blah. The great history of France proves that we always end up winning our cases by complaining.
Ian Foster, the only one to bring out the popcorn
Ah, yes, Argentina-New Zealand, let’s come back to that. Ten nice minutes with enterprising Argentinians, reckless in the rucks and All Blacks in diesel mode. An opening score from Boffelli on a penalty, then a deluge of errors which Will Jordan reveled in, author of three tries, including a last spectacular one on a love of kicking game for himself. A defense in progress, too, even if it is difficult to gauge yourself in the face of so little adversity. From a perspective of active recovery after the tough Irish battle, which was the major issue of the New Zealand week, it was rather positive. As for getting into the rhythm of a World Cup final, next week, less so. And this, even if the coach Ian Foster pretends not to understand by taking out his finest flute when discussing the lack of intensity proposed by his opponent.
“It’s a World Cup semi-final. We wanted to win it, we won it. It’s good preparation for the final. » But Foster saved his best joke for last. “England – South Africa? In the final, whoever the opponent is, they will be ready. I’ll watch the semi-final, definitely with popcorn. » He’d better opt for the pillow, because he won’t see anything surprising on Saturday night. The die is cast, on October 28, the final will pit New Zealand against South Africa. History will record that the semi-finals were played on October 14 and 15, the quarters on October 21 and 22: the authorities did everything wrong, and it showed up on the pitch.