Tags:
Journalism of Courage
Ireland surged to a 36-6 win over Italy in the final World Cup group match in Dunedin on Sunday to clinch the top spot in Pool C and a quarter-final against Wales next weekend.
Roared on by their exuberant supporters at the Otago Stadium Ireland,a team who lost all four World Cup warmup matches,again looked the pick of the northern hemisphere challengers,scoring three unanswered tries including two to left wing Keith Earls on his 24th birthday. Their reward is a quarter-final against the side they beat in Cardiff two years ago to win their first grand slam since 1948.
Wales banished their 2007 World Cup blues when they lost 38-34 to Fiji to run in nine tries during a 66-0 win over the Pacific islanders in Hamilton. They have grown in confidence as the tournament has progressed,overcoming their 1991 and 1999 conquerors Samoa after losing by only a point to defending champions South Africa.
Argentina were forced to battle hard against Georgia in Palmerston North before winning 25-7 thanks to two late tries while the All Blacks predictably overwhelmed Canada 79-15. The quarter-finals divide neatly between the hemispheres with Ireland playing Wales followed by England versus France. The following day,South Africa play Australia while New Zealand meet Argentina.
The All Blacks victory was overshadowed by groin injury to key playmaker Daniel Carter which has ruled him out of the remainder of the tournament. Acting captain Andrew Hore reacted with typical Kiwi pragmatism when he said it was up to the rest of the team to make life easy for whichever player takes over from Carter. Wales coach Warren Gatland,spoke for the remaining seven nations when he said: If we do happen to get to the final against the All Blacks well be very happy that Dan Carters not playing.
