Rugby World Cup Groups 2015: Biggest Concerns for Pool C Teams After Openers

Pool C almost produced two significant shocks during the first weekend of the 2015 Rugby World Cup. With that in mind, what shape are New Zealand in to become the first nation to retain the Webb Ellis Cup? And did Argentina throw away a golden opportunity?

As for the other three teams, how can Georgia keep up their momentum, how must Namibia be feeling and what now for Tonga?

Here, Bleacher Report analyses the consequences of an extraordinary start to Pool C.

New Zealand looked in ominous mood in the first 10 minutes against Argentina, and had an excellent second half, but for 30 minutes they looked remarkably fallible as Argentina’s tenacity put them under considerable pressure. As the next slide will argue, they could easily have lost this match.

Even in the second half they so dominated, Nehe Milner-Skudder dropped a delightful Sonny Bill Williams offload with the try line metres away.

The All Black machine is looking potent, but it still needs some oiling. Danger will come in the quarter-finals against Ireland or France as the rest of their Pool C opponents, Namibia, Georgia and Tonga will barely provide any sort of test. They may be undercooked for knockout rugby on October 17 at the Millennium Stadium, where they lost at the same quarter-final stage to France in 2007.

Argentina matched New Zealand for the first 60 minutes at Wembley and played wonderfully well, but the truth is they should have inflicted defeat upon the All Blacks. With a 13-12 half-time lead and New Zealand down to 13 men at one stage after yellow cards to captain Richie McCaw and vice-captain Conrad Smith, the Pumas should have pounced on the Kiwis.

The key moment was when Argentina decided to kick the penalty that resulted from Smith’s temporary expulsion. It was the easy option, and one doesn’t beat the All Blacks by taking the easy option.

With their strong scrum, the Pumas had to elect to pack down for a set piece. It would have been their eight and New Zealand’s seven, with every chance of another penalty and yellow card or a pushover try.

What is more, even had New Zealand withstood the drive from the Puma pack, Argentina would have had the additional bonus of a centrally-positioned scrum, giving two possible angles of attack and a guaranteed overlap in the backs due to Smith’s absence.

Argentina could have gone into the break with a 17-12 lead, and having shown an air of confidence that would have rattled New Zealand far more than the successful kick at goal did. They missed a mammoth opportunity.

Tonga were unlikely to spring a surprise in a pool featuring New Zealand and Argentina, but coach Mana Otai did set his team the aim of qualification for the knockout stages. He was counting on an upset like in the 2011 World Cup, when they shocked France 19-14. There was one of sorts, but his side were the victims.

In all likelihood, Georgia’s 17-10 win against Tonga will prevent the islanders from playing knockout rugby at the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

After the match, Otai commented, as per Reuters (h/t the Daily Mail): “We just made everything harder for ourselves.”

Georgia, having beaten Tonga, have no on-field concerns after Round 1, but the overriding concern for Georgian rugby is how they can convince the Six Nations they are ready to join Europe’s premier international tournament.

They can take reassurance but also discouragement from Argentina breaking into the Rugby Championship on the back of third place at the 2007 World Cup in France. Argentina’s performances on the biggest stage forced the matter. More worryingly for Georgia’s hopes, it took five years for Argentina to be included at the top table alongside the traditional southern hemisphere giants and by then much of the momentum had been lost.

What a pity it is that Georgia were not drawn in the same group as Italy or Scotland. Good performances against them would really have made their case compelling.

After the match a former French half-back was quick to highlight his Georgian roots:

So proud of the Georgia team ! 💪🏼👏🏼☺️ @GEORGIARUGBY #TONGEO pic.twitter.com/OUG00zxG9I

— Dimitri Yachvili ✨ (@DimitriYachvili) September 19, 2015

Georgia’s strong showing was not good news for Namibia. Still striving for a first World Cup win, the Welwitschias would not have been encouraged by the Caucasus nation’s successful arm-wrestle against Tonga.

For the neutral, however, the inevitable collisions between opposing back-rowers Mamuka Gorgodze and Jacques Burger are going to be too good to miss. If you are in Exeter on October 7, brace yourself.