LONDON, 13 October 2007 — Whatever happens in today’s first Rugby World Cup semifinal between England and host nation France at the Stade de France, rugby is already the winner.
Rugby fans the world over will be converging on Paris whether in person or spirit. Even the humbled Australians and New Zealanders, who had already purchased their tickets in anticipation that their teams would be contesting the semifinals, are returning to the French capital en masse, simply to be part of another anticipated sporting spectacle.
France 2007 has by far been the most successful and spectacular rugby World Cup – the benchmark for future tournaments. The disaster of the opening defeat of France by the Argentinian Pumas has been superseded by the stunning win over the hot favorites, the mighty New Zealand All Blacks in last weekend’s quarterfinal.
At a stroke the mediocrity and lethargy of the French team has been transformed into a team that could go all the way and bring the solid gold William Webb Ellis trophy to France for the very first time.
However, this has raised the expectations of a nation to fever pitch. The small matter of beating a supposedly ordinary English Fifteen now assumes a much greater importance. England of course stunned a self-rated and arrogant Australian team into World Cup oblivion in the other quarterfinal — its second win over the Wallabies in the knock-out stages in successive tournaments. Both Antipodean teams are still coming to terms with their defeat at the hands of their northern hemisphere opponents.
Reigning champions, England, of course has raised the anti, and a strident English media are now talking about going all the way and defending the World Cup.
The danger is that both teams have already peaked – playing their ‘finals’ last weekend in the quarterfinals. As such, a match of great expectations could fizzle out into a scrappy anti-climax.
Today’s game is truly globalized. French players are now a permanent feature of the English game, and vice versa. France’s defense coach, in fact, is Dave Ellis, and Englishman. It would have been considered treason only a few years ago for an Englishman to plot the downfall of the national team – a ‘crime’ punishable by imprisonment in the dungeons of the London Tower.
The two characters of European rugby – Frenchman loose forward Sebastian Chabal, nicknamed ‘the Cave Man’ because of his scary bearded looks and flowing unkempt hair, and English strongman Andrew Sheridan, the prop forward who torridly scrummed Australia’s Mat Dunning out of the game, indeed play for the same club team, the Sale Sharks.
“Yes, English rugby has made Chabal; you’ve created the monster. He was good at Bourgoin (his former club), but since he went to the Premiership (in England), he’s deservedly got this image of being a destroyer,” explained Ellis to the London Evening Standard earlier this week.
Sheridan is unlikely to have his way as he did against the Wallabies. The French front five are second to none, and should match the English pack for strength. However, the French pack, at least on paper, is more mobile given the age of the English team, often dubbed as ‘Dad’s Army’. Robinson, Catt, Lewsey, Gomarsall, Regan, Vickery, Shaw, Kay, Corry are all well over 30 years old.
Mike Catt at 36, recalled by coach Brian Ashton because of his experience and right-sided kicking ability, could be exposed as the weak link especially if the powerful and speedy French centers Marty and Jauzion force their way through the midfield. Matthew Tait, the other English center is a rookie by test match standards, although he is gutsy and fast.
On paper the two teams are more or less even, with the French having a slight edge in terms of options. If France choose a tight kicking game, then the match could well be decided on penalties and drop-goals. They would be both incredulous and naïve to do so, given that English fly-half Jonny Wilkinson is a proven match winner, and holds the world record for the most points in a World Cup, overtaking Gavin Hastings record last Saturday.
But if France stick to their natural running game, then French flair can be sublime and surpassed in the international game. They will then be difficult to beat.
The question remains – ‘which French team will turn up at the Stade de France today?’
However, France does have home advantage. The only way the English can overcome this, is to instil the spirit of Waterloo, which surely would put the frighteners on the French.
