Eight matches down, just 40 to go. The hosts get upset, the big bullying Tri-Nations boys all flex their muscles, and the Rugby World Cup holders are made to look like fools. Also, two genuine minnows unlikely to make the next reduced World Cup give their professional opponents a fright. About the only thing running to plan is that Japan are still rubbish.

Best Match so far
For sheer drama, you can’t go past the opening match. All that home-town expectation prior to the game, and the French inside backs froze in the headlights. Quite what Bernard Laporte was thinking in picking David Skrela at No.10 I don't know, but that was as bad a display as we’re likely to see. The gin shot when trying to clear the ball under little pressure added comedy value. Cedric Heymans at fullback had a night under the high-ball reminiscent of Colin Farrell, meaning that Argentina never needed to reconsider their sole game plan of sending up bombs.

The defining moment was just after half-time. France won a line-out and drove 30 metres to the Pumas’ line, roared on by 80,000 fans. They then made 10 charges at the line but were somehow kept out before eventually giving away a penalty.  After that the French lost all confidence, and the crowd stopped cheering them on, preferring to whistle at the ref instead. In the end, it was the Pumas who finished the stronger, and Laporte looked on with his best mad-scientist glare.

'England bumbled around in a staggeringly unconvincing fashion, beating the Yanks by fewer points than Canada normally do'


All the best-laid plans go under. France were seeded to play every big match at Stade de France. Now they may not make it through the Group of Death, and if they do progress they are likely to be awarded a trip to Wales for a quarter-final date with the All Blacks. Tournament organisers are likely to be only marginally less worried than Laporte.

Worst Match so far
England, worst World Cup holders in any sport, ever, get dragged down to the same level as … the USA. Despite luck running their way throughout (Phil Vickery’s unpunished foot trip being the major refereeing clanger to date), England bumbled around in a staggeringly unconvincing fashion, beating the Yanks by fewer points than Canada normally do. Backs literally falling over each other, dropped passes galore, even the trusted plan of keeping it in the forwards didn’t come off. The final humiliation came when Lawrence Dallaglio got marched for resorting to a professional foul.

Best Player
Easy. Agustín Pichot put in a totally dominating performance for Argentina, smooth passing, accurate kicking, and his sniping runs early on played a large part in the destruction of the French inside backs. How refreshing it is to see a top quality scrum-half.

Best Try so far
Jerry Collins’ chip-and-chase effort towards the end of the Italy match was a try Jeff Wilson would have been proud of. No need to try that again though, Jerry. Honorable mentions to both Namibian tries, largely on account of the genuine glee in the celebrations.

Novel Management Approach
Mark Gerrard gets injured late on in the game against Japan. So what do the Wallaby management do? They call for a replacement! Staggering stuff.

Performance of the Round
There are a few to choose from. Argentina’s upset, the Tri-Nations teams looking equally ominous, and spirited performances from the North American sides. But the real stars of the opening round have been Namibia. Smashed 142-0 by Australia last time around, and playing for their international future with the tournament likely to be cut to 16 teams, they put on a spirited performance against the much-hyped Irish, running in two second-half tries and genuinely rattling their fancied opponents. That Group of Death is proving to be a lot of fun.

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