There is a cup awaiting the best

Last week it was England Coach Brian Ashton who was not expected to keep his job. This week at the end of the quarter finals, Brian has the confidence to be thinking that his side can beat France in Paris and move into a record-equaling third Rugby Worl Cup final. Something the English were dreaming of. Not only to England even to the French; it was a dream. It was only to the die hard patriots that it was not a dream. The quarter final results have changed all expectation and forecast that predicted an all Southern Hemisphere semi final.

The New Zealand Rugby Union has announced that they will name a new head coach to replace Graham Henry by the end of the year. This was announced by Jack Hobbs the New Zealand Rugby Football Union Chairman. For the All Blacks failure to reach the semi-finals of the Rugby World Cup is the first time in the 20-year history. Henry who has had a good show for New Zealand had a virtual clean sweep. That does not matter now that he has failed to bring the World Cup. It is the Webb Ellis trophy that matters. He is the villain who did not handle his pack properly. Possibly true when you consider the lack of imagination that came from a champion team in the last minutes. You got to take the credit as well as the blame. A lesson for some of us back home who will cling on giving excuse after excuse blaming others .

"Was New Zealand loosing the game all about a forward pass"; from a statement issued by Paddy o' Brian the IRB referee Manger who went on to say "We spoke about the forward pass but at the end of the day he can't guess. It's a game played by humans and refereed by humans".

The defeat of the Kiwis in the hands of the French was not on the cards but it did happen. France who it seemed were unwilling hosts to a party where they were not expected to be present are now making it their party. It did not seem to be party time as the game started in Cardiff. But it did erupt and the French were on the streets not only on Cardiff but also in Paris. It was all about belief, passion and spirit. It was this that made the difference as they beat New Zealand. All teams at this stage of the tournament have the beef, the muscle, and the men to fly and push. But what made the difference was that little extra. The extra that comes out of being in the mood to want the end result was what took them to the semifinal stage.

The English for their part took the game to the Aussies and booted them out of the Semi Final. More correctly it should be that England pushed them off. One may think that Johnny Wilkinson proved to be Australia's scourge. Wilkinson with four penalties being put over was the man of the victory. Johnny may be the hero the point scorer but you cannot forget the hard working English forwards who did the real damage. The stories the statistics tell is what a mess the Australian scrum was. There were 10 resets, 13 collapses, 2 free kicks and 2 penalties. Apart from that their scrum was regularly destroyed. (Source planet rugby .com) Australia also conceded 10 penalties as against 5 by England. For England it was their best result since the 2003 world cup. It is also a moment of truth; the difference from the presence of Wilkinson to the team.

For Australia it was a bad performance which they would wish were a dream. Australia bid farewell to Larkham and Gregan two great players. They had previously announced their retirement after the world cup. The exit would have been very painful to two who should have gone out in a better surrounding.

Fiji stretched South Africa while showing glimpses of the form they showed against the Welsh did not seem to look the side capable of denying South Africa a slot in the semi final. Argentina entering the world cup was one of the greatest achievements in their sporting history. Yet it cannot be said that they played as well as they did in the previous matches against France as well as Ireland. They can and could upset the South Africans. The results of Sunday as compared to Saturday were more predictable. Fiji shook South Africa to the brink for 70 minutes. South Africa faces Argentina who possibly took a more practical view in their game plan to beat Scotland. Scotland could have pushed the Pumas more against the wall if they attacked earlier. Argentina if they are to get the better of the Springboks in the first semi-final are going to have to step up the intensity.

Who will be the Finalist? Who will win the cup? What will happen? Any thing can happen.