I keep writing about politics and economics so i fancy a change. I've been watching the 6 nations rugby, it's been entertaining. Ireland have won the grand slam for the first time in 61 years. It's a great achievement but I think it proves nothing about the quality of northern hemisphere rugby. I don't think this is the best Irish team I have seen but they got the right amount of luck and timing and fully deserved the title. I still hold though that Ireland and Wales are not good enough to compete on the world stage. To win world cups and be number one in the world.
Even though England and France had relatively disappointing tournaments they are for me still the powerhouses of northern hemisphere rugby and the only teams that can actually compete and scare the tri-nations. People I'm sure will say this is arrogance but i'll outlay a few facts for you.
In my lifetime Wales have won 4 out 46 matches against the tri-nations, Ireland 4 out of 38 and Scotland 1 out of 43. Compare this if you will with France 22 out of 70 and England 23 out of 69. I'll agree none of these are impressive but there is a marked difference. All of Ireland, Scotland and Wales wins except one have come at home. The other at a neutral ground (Wales V Australia June 1987). This victory was the only time these nations have beaten a Tri-nation team in a world cup. That fact is staggering. How can Wales and Ireland even think of winning a world cup if they can't regularly beat the tri-nations at home let alone in a neutral ground. (The next world cup is in New Zealand)
If i was South African or a New Zealander touring the north I would not fear Ireland or Wales at all. As Roux and I have debated many time we are sick of hearing commentators congratulating Wales and Ireland on a good performance when they lose time after time.
You are probably saying to yourself England, really! Well yes. England as bad as they have been still have a World cup and a final to show from this century. More than any team in the world. England and France knocked Australia and New Zealand out of the last world cup. England and France have beaten all the tri-nations away from home since 2000.
The reason this frustrates me is because Wales and Ireland have a couple of worldclass players. O'Driscoll and Shane Williams being two. They play lovely flowing rugby. Watching Wales is a joy. However neither of these two teams can be classed as world class until they compete, not win a match here or there but constantly do well against the tri-nations. This I fear though will be much harder than a 6 Nations grandslam.
I would personally like to see more 6 nations players playing in good super 14 sides. A realisation that Australia are very beatable if you have a strong aggressive pack. That playing free flowing running rugby is only playing into SA and NZ hands and that winning the 6 nations is not a big achievement if you can't back it up against the big team in the tri nations and world cup.
21 Mar 2009
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Mark has made some very intresting points. The Rugby World Cup is still considered the biggest prize in the Rugby world. If one looks at the history of the tournament, since 1987, teams have been measured against their success at his tournament. The All Blacks have arrogantly been rated, by New Zealand fans, as the "Best team in the world",even though they haven't won the most prized trophy in rugby since 1987. So, the same can be said for Wales and Ireland. They have won games here and there, but have failed to win the William Webb Ellis trophy, and have regularly lost to their Southern Hemisphere counterparts!
Wales and Ireland have certainly improved their competativeness, but, have a long way to go to consider themselves on a equal footing with the Tri Nations!
HK Seven is coming! Though I won't go but I will probably watch it on TV. BTW, I introduced NZ haka to Joyce like you introduced it to me. She found it fun.
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