OK, cold light of morning review of this world cup.
First game between NZ and France was tense but ultimately low quality, lots of long kicking down the middle back and forth. Other notable group stage games were Ireland v SA (again tense, low scoring bit gripping more than entertaining), and what else? Wales hammering Australia? The group stages will ultimately be remembered for the lack of trepidation, huge blow-outs in the majority of games involving tier 1 countries, and more alarmingly - a real regression in the likes of Japan, Argentina, Italy. Include Scotland in that too, especially when you see how bad they've been at u20 level.
i think its fair to say that it hadnt been a good world cup for spotting improvement or growth in the game. Obviously you could argue Portugal looked like entering maybe tier 2? Fiji should be happy enough but difficult to see how they grow further.
Quarter finals - SA France was game of the tournament, great to watch. Ireland NZ also a good game, first half especially, but Ireland failing to win after playing against 14 for 20 mins and getting a penalty try kind of sums Iteland up at QF stage. The two other QFs were also good games in and of themselves, but very much in a way that everyone knew the winners weren't coming from those games.
One awful SF which was never in danger of being a contest, one close nail biter of very low quality. A final that was close and tense and gripping but ultimately had one try (despite rarely having 30 players on the pitch) and a result heavily influenced by red and yellow cards.
I think that's a fair summary.
