Two game weeks in and we are starting to get a clearer picture on the World Cup. New Zealand are simmering, England are whimpering, Australia look a genuine threat, Wales love the underdog tag and Ireland can play attacking rugby.
As for France… nobody knows. Nobody ever knows.
Here are the magic moments of the past few rugby-filled days.
Try of the Week
Canada, Ireland, South Africa and Samoa all had sweet, sweet tries chalked off due to the pernickety nature of the Television Match Official.
Still, there were bounteous amounts of tries to behold.
Drew Mitchell and Joe Tomane benefited from Quade Cooper’s slick passing but DTH van der Merwe’s score against Italy tops the lot.
Pass of the Week
Simon Zebo proved he is more than a two-trick pony – goose-steps and tries – against Romania.
The Munster man was Ireland’s backline facilitator as he swooped in and out of plays, and play a crucial role in three tries.
Soon after he was denied a superb score of his own, he looped this peach to Keith Earls. In one glorious fling, all but one Romanian player was eliminated from the play.
The rest was down to Earls.
Tackle of the Week
TJ Ioane was not happy with landing just one huge hit in this phase of play. The Manu Samoa blindside picked himself up and went hunting for another Springbok.
His next ball-carrying target was South Africa’s double decker hooker Adriaan Strauss. No bother to TJ.
Bonkers Play of the Week
Chris Robshaw got it in the ear, a couple of years back, when he asked Owen Farrell to go for the posts while England were trailing by four points, and with four minutes to play.
With his side trailing 28-25 in the death throes of an epic slugfest with Wales, the English captain decided to take a leaf out of Japan’s playbook.
England kicked for the line and chased the win.
Wales weren’t having a bit of it and heroically held firm. Post-match, everyone was pointing the finger at anyone else.
Social media’s finest offerings
https://twitter.com/NiallHoulihan/status/648168372031651840
Twickenham annihilated by giant Welsh Dragon! #RWC2015 #Wales pic.twitter.com/GYi9ySzr6n
— Siân Oldfield 🏴 (@jambosian) September 26, 2015
https://twitter.com/RugbyBanterPag3/status/648165775287586816
Most horrendously awkward interview of the week
No-one likes facing the press after a heart-punching defeat.
Still, media duties must be met by all nations.
Mike Brown fronted up to the cameras but was not too pleased with the line of questioning.
Player that impressed us the most
We have already created a mini furore by leaving Keith Earls out of our Best XV of the weekend’s action.
Now, we must select one diamond from a scoop of gems.
Our player of the week will never play Test rugby again. South African captain Jean de Villiers battled back, for seven months, after a horrific knee injury just to make it to the World Cup.
He overcame the disappointment of the shock loss to Japan to lead from the front against Samoa. JdV was committed, brave, resourceful and an attacking threat.
He should have had a try but for a slightly forward pass but set up a try for JP Pietersen in the second half. He also played on for 15 minutes after re-breaking a jaw he had broken earlier this year.
Hard. Honest. Heroic.
MasterCard is turning the world oval for Rugby World Cup 2015. For your chance to win tickets to one of the matches please visit pricelessIreland.ie
