Super Rugby and World Cup

It was a lazy Sunday afternoon today, I was sore after rugby yesterday. It seemed appropriate to spend the day channel surfing. I happily stumbled upon the super fifteen match between the Canterbury Crusaders and the Natal Sharks being played for the first time at Twickenham. What started as a relaxing afternoon of rugby watching gave me some serious food for thought regarding the world cup later on in the year.

After the six nation's I was hopeful about the state of the northern hemisphere rugby. the English were starting to develop a pattern. Ireland were looking like a side who remembered that they were a good side. Finally the French were beginning to play. So what has dented my confidence?

Firstly the crusaders, they were a side playing with the emotion that a damaged city could give them. They looked very sharp. It is obvious that The All Blacks have potentially an unstoppable midfield. Dan Carter deserves the title of a great player. He now has Sonny Bill Williams outside him this combination of two physical, skilful footballers could be devastating. Carter has it all pace, power and a brain. Sonny Bill Williams has an incredible offload that, given the right support opens up a field.

Of course a back line is only as good as the pack of forwards in front of them. The Natal sharks had a tremendous pack full of hard running South Africans. The Sharks pack also had tremendous heart which kept them competing until the end. They were bested by a Crusaders pack that had the raw boned, aggressiveness expected from a New Zealand pack. Every forward looked comfortable on the ball and every forward looked to run.

What could this mean for the world cup? I believe that as in most rugby matches the game will be won and lost up front, particularly the back row. I think that it will be finely balanced up front. It may all depend upon the weather. The Northern Hemisphere forward's will have the advantage if the weather is bad. especially if they can impose a mauling technical game. If the Southern Hemisphere win enough ball I fear any of the six nations sides will struggle. Out wide the Southern Hemisphere sides have a definite advantage. I don't think anybody can match Carter, Williams or Giteau.

Just prove it click the video to see All Black Skills: