Ah, finally a sporting competition I care about, (and it's not the Americas Cup either, everyone seems to be a bloody New Zealander it was just an issue of whether the Airline or the Pharmacuticles company boat won.)
The All Blacks always show terrific form in the three years leading up to the World Cup but then manage to fuck it up when it counts. After their uninspiring loss to the Aussies a weeks or so ago I am far from being confident. I realise that we were whistled off the field by that South African bastard who took an age to call the scrums and then penalised the wrong team for bringing it down, (c'mon NZ's scrum is brilliant at the moment we have no motive to bring them down,) and Carl Hayman being sent off for an entirely legal move, (which in those ten minutes cost us the tries which lost us the game,) I also saw some poor efforts from people like Rodney So’oialo and I can't remember who the other person was, and also the number one first-five in the world Dan Carter seems to be far from form. Fitness and strength-wise the All Blacks are good, which was proven by the last minute win in South Africa which was down to fitness, but thanks to their absence from the Super 14 they are out of practise, and I'm not sure if Graham Henry's strategy will pay off.
They have strength in rucks, mauls, scrums and line-outs and also surprising opponents, but they have problems in tackling people to actually bring them down, and also throwing 50/50 passes which seem to get intercepted far more than what should happen.
I haven't seen England play for a while, but unless big changes have been made since the last time they toured or the tour of other teams to England than they won't last long. Bringing back Jonny Wilkinson was interesting move, I just hope they're not going to rely on their incredibly boring style of play where they milk penalties instead of going for tries.
South Africa is in bloody good form at the moment with having two teams in the Super 14 final and their defeat of Australia and near defeat of New Zealand, but their fitness is lacking. Also they don't have any really stand-out players. However this gives them advantages over teams such as the All Blacks because they have no-one who will be 'targeted' as teams in the past, particularly Australia, have aimed to add specific players to the injury list - namely Dan Carter and Richie McCaw.
Australia was almost scourned at the end of last year/beginning of this one and they have gone through a dry talent spell, yet it is foolish to take them lightly, especially when Australia has a perchant for crippling anyone who does. Players like Lote Tuqiri punish anyone who doesn't play their best against them. Australia has incredible experience with people like absolute legend George Gregan and Captain Stirling Mortlock who are bloody deadly when they get gowing. Australia's strength is to perform breakaway and crippling runs. Where Australia falls down is in general strategy, one of which is the rather inauspicious aim to cripple and opposing team by causing injury to specific players, also relying heavily on referees to award penalties in their favour. Australia is bloody good, but uninspiring which can lead to predictability which won't help them with teams like the All Blacks who perform all the tricky shit they can.
I'm a New Zealander, I know my Rugby.
I predict South Africa to make it to the final, however I am unsure who their opponent will be. I'd like it to be New Zealand of couse, so lets say my call is a South Africa New Zealand final with the All Blacks coming away with the win.