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and then play one bad game in the knockouts and go out early.......
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2003 - SF
1999 - SF - stupidly, took their foot off the gas....
1995 - Final - allegedly poisoned
1991 - SF
1987 - Winners
I bet a lot of teams wish they could go out that 'early'
I agree though, the Springboks are the one serious contender, provided he is allowed to pick his best team. They are really showing so glimpses of what made their greatest teams. Burger has come back well from injury, the have a world class finisher and some great backrow options. With New Zealand struggling at lock the Boks would dominate them in that area as well.
Australia will be tough, I think there is still a world class 12 in there somewehere (ignoring their pitiful front 3), Larkham and Gregan still seem to be their best option. That said they'll have to pull out the stops to make the final.
Absolutely nothing can be read into how France will perform based on their recent trip to NZ. The French have been annihilated before in similar circumstances and yet at crunch time they will be strong. Have a few injuries to clear up first and like Australia, maybe a bit long in the tooth in some key areas.
Be nice to see Argentina get into the quarters again, something they did last time they were paired with ireland in France. Again, however, not much can be read into a weakened Irish side playing a series against a weakened Pumas team (first test especially). Certainly Argentina will have the upper hand in the forwards, but on their day Ireland's can be quite special. Still hasn't got them a grand Slam though....
