Rugby world cup is still all to play for

The final whistle in England’s match against Romania this morning marks the World Cup halfway point, with 24 matches down and 24 to go. The tournament remains New Zealand’s to lose but, far from the number of viable alternatives shrinking, the list has actually grown. None of the usual suspects have played themselves out of contention yet. New Zealand, France, England and South Africa have all endured wobbles but they remain unbeaten. And not even the wounded Wallabies are gone as long as flanker David Pocock returns soon. On the evidence of the past fortnight, to the big five can be added Ireland and Wales, who have shown they can live with – and in the case of Declan Kidney’s green stranglers – beat the southern hemisphere superpowers. The schism in the draw caused by that shock has added further to the belief that this tournament is the most open in the history of the Webb Ellis Cup. In the past, World Cups have carried the risk of attention from the League Against Cruel Sports, but so far the blow-out count in New Zealand has been mercifully low. Things have unravelled for Namibia and the United States as the ludicrous scheduling inflicted upon them has taken its toll. But, overall, the smaller teams have acquitted themselves well. In Georgia and Russia, rugby union has countries who are raw at this level but whose potential is clear. The minnows have also supplied some of the stand-out characters. We have seen the side-stepping back-rower from Russia, Victor Gresev, Canada’s WG Grace in Adam Kleeburger, Captain America Todd Clever and Jacques Burger, the one-man Namibian team. The New Zealand public have embraced the efforts of these individuals and their teams with unexpected passion. But the All Blacks obsession still exists – you can fly into Auckland on an all-black plane, use an all-black photocopier and drink a beer out of an all-black glass – but there has been a clear desire to reach out. Travel into the rural heartland upon which New Zealand is based and virtually every farm displays a predictable show of support for the All Blacks via a flag. But besides the silver fern, many have a second flag fluttering – Wales are popular, Scotland too. There is even the odd cross of St George. The exception to this love-in comes with Australia. The welcome experienced by fans of every other competing nation has not been experienced by those wearing the green and gold. A list in a shop in Hamilton of what it means to be a good New Zealand supporter includes: ‘Never cheer when someone is injured – except if he’s an Aussie’. It did not make for comfortable reading when Wallabies centre Anthony Faingaa was being taken off on a stretcher against the USA in a neck brace yesterday. This attitude is out of step with the celebratory atmosphere which has enveloped the games. The verdict on the tournament, unless you are an Aussie, remains very positive. But for all the efforts of the fine support cast, this World Cup now comes down to the main actors. And never before have there been so many applications for the leading part.