Any team which reaches this stage is capable of advancing to the semis and it is our unenviable task to make those dreaded predictions once again. Predicting games at this stage stuff for the very thick skinned people. It got more interesting with some teams missing their last games due to the life taking Typhoon Hagibis. Some pundits have already stated that the missed games will either work in favour or against those teams citing various reasons. One reason being the stalled up momentum built over the weeks. We believe that the top professional teams are well aware of the threat and have inbuilt systems so as their players remain fresher than those which played.
England vs. Australia
There are 3 World Cups between these age old adversaries and our technical team was most split about this first quarter final match which will be held at the Oita Stadium, Oita Prefecture from 10:15 am (EAT) on Saturday 19th October. Our in house team gave it to England to overcome Australia. England topped their group C despite missing the last match against France. England finished with 17 points against the French’s 15. The English have gone through their games almost quietly but very decisively. England is currently ranked 3rd overall and Australia 6th. The English coached by Australian Eddie Jones have an enviable strong squad among its 31 players squad and it will be interesting to see the selected players for the 2003 Champions.
Australia who won the cup in 1991 and 1999 have had a bit of an unsettled team and some strongly feel that their head Coach Michael Cheika has tinkered with the team a lot that it is the hardest team to predict the match day team which will be named on Thursday. Four years ago, Australia under Cheika embarrassed England with a 33-13 drumming of the hosts England at Twickenham in the pool stages. Nobody in their normal sense can completely rule out an Australian surprise win.
New Zealand vs. Ireland
The defending Champions have had a smooth run to this point apart from their opening fixture against South Africa which they won. Ireland came into the competition as the World’s top ranked team but a surprise loss to Japan has seen them slide to 4th globally. Several months ago some pundits genuinely believed that the Irish were favourites to win the RWC masterpiece and Japan happened!
We believe that despite their well known resilience the Irish will come short to a fresher All Blacks team led by Kieran Read. The All Blacks have seemed average by their standards in the later pool games but are well capable of turning on the heat when the opportunity arises. This being the last tournament for both the Kiwi Coaches it will be quite intense for both sides and many neutrals would want to see an upset but according to us, New Zealand will win this game which will come on screen on Saturday at 13:15 hrs from the Tokyo Stadium in Tokyo.
Wales vs. France
This was probably the easiest for the Rugby256 team to agree on. Our prediction is that Wales will triumph over the 2023 hosts France. The Welsh unleashed a ‘scary’ opening first half against Australia in the pool stages and if they can get similar or better cylinders they will overcome any team on their good day. We expect that this Sunday will be such a good day. The French though have a tradition of being the most unpredictable team.
Wales are ranked 2nd and France 8th globally today. None of these teams have ever won the RWC to date. This game will be televised on Sunday at 10:15am (EAT) from the Oita Stadium.
Japan vs. South Africa
Some South African fans were quietly following the last pool game between Japan and Scotland and probably hoped to meet Scotland but well it is Japan. South Africa is ranked 5th and Japan 7th currently by World Rugby. Japan beat South Africa in the pool stages 34-32 four years ago hence causing the biggest upset by then and this has never been forgotten by many.
Rugby256 predicts that South Africa will not underestimate the brave blossoms of Japan and that the Springboks under Head Coach Rassie Erasmus will deploy all at his disposal to see off the Japanese challenge. Rassie must have by now watched how the hosts have managed to disappoint 2 ‘Home Unions’ Ireland and Scotland and he will probably come up with a very big and technical pack whose main purpose will be to deny the unpredictable Japanese backs any decent ball possession. This last quarter final match will be played from 13:15 pm on Sunday at the Tokyo Stadium.
You have our bold predictions. What are yours?
*Rugby 256* also salutes the efforts of the Uganda Rugby Union and the entire rugby fraternity for the all they do for Rugby let’s enjoy the World Cup 2019 and also spread “The World Rugby Core Values are: Integrity, Passion, Solidarity, Discipline and Respect.. “
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