J's look at Group B
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Pool B
Australia
Wales
Fiji
Canada
Japan
Pool B sees the second of the Southern heavy weights out to prove a Northern Hemisphere team winning Bill is about as common as a pig flying over the frozen tundra of hell. The real question from this Pool is who is going to take second spot for the Quarters, and it may not be as clear cut as our Northern brethren seem to think.
Australia It would take something of a major proportion for the Aussies not to clean up this Pool at a canter. Surprisingly the only team that may fancy their chances is the Canadians, who have the pack to cause the Wallabies some issues. A 40% ball percent, calling Mr Eddie Jones, is about all the men in gold will need to run up some pretty large scores against all of their four opponents.
The object here will be for the good guys to come through without injury and to get some game time for the bench, they are going to need them with a tough quarter final looming against either the poms or saffas. The only danger for Australia in terms of getting to the semis is a slight thinking ahead to a possible showdown with the MiBs. Stay focused boys, that quarter is not a gimme.
The Wallabies should be one of our semi teams, but that quarter final game is going to be a ripper.
Wales The Welsh wont give the game away against the Aussies, but must be eyeing the rest of the Pool with some concern. The rapidly improving Canadians will fancy their chances, and it remains to be seen how the Fijians have improved forward wise with a lot of input from the Kiwis and Aussies over the last couple of years.
Wales have a decent pack and some line breakers in the backs, a few injuries could turn their world cup into a nightmare however. Wales should advance to the quarters, but upsets have happened before on the biggest stage. Welsh fans will certainly be more concerned about this Pool than Aussies.
Fiji Big booming tackles all day long, some of that pacific island basketball rugby, and huge smiles ... the Flying Fijians are ready to unleash. With arguably the best backline in the cup, the real issue for Fiji is in the forwards where in the past they have been let down. The ARU and NZRU have been spending some quality time in the Islands getting the local forwards up to standard, but this World Cup may have come one to soon for Fiji.
Anything approaching 50% ball winning in the forwards and both Canada and Wales will have their hands fill. Should provide enough dazzle to make Pool B one of the best of the entire tournament.
Canada one of the big improvers in recent years, the Maple Syrup boys have left their zone opponents in the dust. Expect one hell of a big pack, and backline moves that while static in comparison to Southern rugby, can still break down defenses by share weight of onslaught. If the Kanucks can get parity of ball against the Welsh, then they may turn in a real boil over in Pool B. Wales v Canada is the crunch match of the Pool, and the Canadians will have enough self belief to possibly upset the apple cart.
Japan the only question is which Japan will we see? The one packed full of local players, or the one made up of second string ex-pats grabbing an opportunity of playing on the bigggest stage? Either way this team is the weakest link in the Pool and could receive a couple of hidings if things go wrong. They wont give up and the question of whether they could have won a game or two wont be a problem in answering.
Japan lack the forwards to match their opponents and a spate of recent injuries have hampered their World Cup build up. A team for the future, but not in France.
Expected outcome
The Aussies to blitzkreig, oops sorry to French readers, their way through Pool B with Wales stumbling in their wake to the quarters.
What we would like to see
Either Canada or Fiji causing the upset and advancing out of Pool play.
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