ENGLAND – Semi Final
Steve Borthwick needs to shake off the Six Nations cobwebs, and get to grips with his England side ahead of the Rugby World Cup. The fly-half selection saga is yet to see a decisive winner, with Owen Farrell, Marcus Smith and Sale outsider George Ford all looking to make the squad and book their tickets for the Eurostar.
England have been gifted with a winnable group, and are not set to take on any of the top five World Rugby ranked nations until at least the semi-final. However this will be where England bow-out, and will mark a successful enough first venture on the World Cup stage for Borthwick.
England should finish out on top of Pool D, as they face Argentina, Japan, Samoa and Rugby World Cup debutants Chile. Los Pumas are looking to be the toughest threat, as with the shadows of the shock 29-30 Argentina victory still loom over Twickenham Stadium. Calm heads will prevail against Argentina, and England have a taste of Pacific Island physicality to prepare them for Samoa, as they take on Fiji in a World Cup warm-up match.
Japan are growing from strength to strength, with the Brave Blossoms no strangers to a World Cup upset. The ‘Brighton Miracle’ of 2015 saw Japan defy the odds with a victory over South Africa, and England know not to take their group stage rivals lightly. Chile are an unknown anomaly, qualifying for the very first time they are out to leave everything out on the pitch and make their mark on the international rugby stage.
A quarter final run in with Wales is likely, if RUCK’s predictions align for Australia to top Pool C, and Wales finish runners-up. In a repeat of the latest Six Nations, England are expected to win this last-eight encounter. However, two World Cup warm up matches against Warren Gatland’s side, alternating between Cardiff and Twickenham will give a better idea as to what to expect from this possible meeting.
Then England will meet Antoine Dupont and co, and make their exit from the Rugby World Cup in the semi-finals. Following on from their last meeting, which saw France embarrass England with their record defeat at Twickenham Stadium (10-53), Fabien Galthie’s men are certifiable favourites if the two sides where to meet again at the Rugby World Cup.