Rugby: South Era – The World

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For the first time in the history of World Cup rugby, the northern hemisphere has no representative in the semifinals. The Southern Cross fleet unchallenged over Twickenham Stadium with a program conforms to a day of Rugby Championship, the tournament four southern nations. New Zealand – South Africa Saturday, October 24, Australia-Argentina the next day

What power the speeches on the decadence of old European nations. The first sign was the ouster of England from its competition, Australia (33-13), October 3 already at Twickenham. And the most spectacular, the defeat of the French against the All Blacks two weeks later in Cardiff (62-13). South hegemony of the reasons were identified: fresh players – after his last match in charge of the Blues, Philippe Saint-André has not failed to remind his men fought 40 games a year, almost double the New Zealanders – priority given by the federations in the selection, longer preparation, strong presence of foreigners in the Top 14 in the English Premiership or penalizing the emergence of national talents

The All Blacks, these” rugby Brazilians “

The game plans seem to oppose two cultures. Inventive, playful, elusive, the All Blacks, the “rugby Brazilians” as “PSA” gave the impression not to practice the same sport as teammates Thierry Dusautoir. “Considering the weather conditions, the northern nations develop a game based on the physical as we have the opportunity to work a game of movement, said their coach Steve Hansen. I think our model is correct, consistent with the direction we have set. They, to be honest, I do not know in which direction they want to go. “ His predecessor, Graham Henry, who forgot that the French lacked a nothing to be world champions in place in 2011, overwhelmed the ” poor and ridiculous “ Top 14 unable “produce players because they are poorly trained and overpaid” .

This dominance does however not new. In eight editions, England (in 2003) has been the only northern nation to lift the Webb Ellis Cup. It is rather the absence at this stage of the competition from New Zealand, Australia or South Africa, all double world champions, which would have been an anomaly. The first has missed only semifinal, the others were absent only twice. Half surprise therefore comes from Argentina, who will try to climb onto the top step after failing in 2007. The integration of the Pumas in the former Tri Nations in 2012 made them take a leap with a first success obtained in this tournament against their next opponents Australia in October 2014 in Mendoza. “ You have to see over time if South domination is confirmed but one thing is certain, there is less pressure and there are more game,” found their winger Juan Imhoff.

“The gap is not an abyss”

The script of the weekend was favored by the configuration of the quarterfinals: it was only the second time since 1999 that each match opposing North and South. Fors New Zealand – France, the supremacy of the winners was not so bright. The Welsh were defeated narrowly (23-19) in the final five minutes against the Springboks. The Irish widely (43-20) before the Pumas, but without their frames and resisting for one hour. As for the Scots, they held their feat on the Australians when they were cheated by an arbitration error at the 78 ^th minute.

Wallabies coach, Michael Cheika was the first to relativize the gap between the two poles: “In terms of level of play, the margin is narrow enough .” Even Analysis from Joe Schmidt, the New Zealand coach of Ireland: “The gap is not an abyss. “ A figure sweeps these quibbles, however: over the last five seasons, the countries of the Southern Hemisphere have won 72% of their confrontations against the North, a rate that rises to 83% if one withdraws Argentina.