This year’s World Cup has suffered from too many one-sided matches in the pool stages, writes MARK KEOHANE, with too many contenders set to exit in the quarter-finals.
Writing for TimesLIVE, Keohane criticises the tournament draw, which set up the top four teams, including defending champions Springboks, for early elimination.
South Africa and Ireland locked horns in a Pool B clash between the world’s No 1 and 2 ranked teams at Stade de France on Saturday. Each of the teams were undefeated in two matches, with the Boks mauling minnows Romania 76-0 after an 18-3 opening round win against Scotland.
Keohane questions the lack of challenge from Tier 2 nations and emphasises the need for investment in these teams. He believes that potentially expanding the World Cup to 24 teams should then include separate divisions to ensure strength versus strength matches, giving hope to more nations beyond the elite few.
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“Fiji’s beating of the Wallabies saved an opening fortnight of a Rugby World Cup with too many mismatches and too few heavyweight showdowns,” Keohane writes.
“Frankly, it has been a yawn and rugby’s global showpiece will only come to life in the quarter-finals.
“The World Cup, in the professional age, is rugby’s Holy Grail but its pursuit is reserved for a handful of nations.
“For the game to be global, there must be a reward for more than four nations. And if not, then at least give the majority some hope in the form of a strength versus strength contest.”
Photo: @Springboks/Twitter