{"id":18224,"date":"2015-10-17T08:35:39","date_gmt":"2015-10-16T22:35:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thefatwebsite.com\/?p=18224"},"modified":"2015-10-17T08:36:40","modified_gmt":"2015-10-16T22:36:40","slug":"rugby-world-cup-2015-knockout-stage-preview-and-predictions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.thefatwebsite.com\/?p=18224","title":{"rendered":"Rugby World Cup 2015 – Knockout Stage Preview and Predictions"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"tagrwc2015\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"wallabies2015\"<\/a><\/p>\n

T<\/span>his weekend marks the arrival of the Rugby World Cup Knock Out stage. \u00a0After an entertaining Group Stage that saw some shock upsets and some enthralling underdog victories, we’re now arrived at the nitty gritty end\u00a0of the tournament where just eight teams remain.<\/p>\n

Here’s a recap of the Group Stage and my predictions for the remainder of the tournament.<\/p>\n

Group Stage Predictions<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"B2CGHyR\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Who I Said Would Advance:<\/strong> \u00a0Australia and Wales
\nWho Did Advance:<\/strong> \u00a0Australia and Wales<\/p>\n

Notes:<\/strong> \u00a0This was expected to be a brutal group for qualifying and boy did it deliver with England becoming the first host nation in the history of the competition to get knocked out in the Group stage. \u00a0All three matches between the Tier A teams were entertaining encounters and the Wallabies under new coach Michael Chieka look the most threatening they have in years. \u00a0The two most notable improvements for the Wallabies have been the improvement in the forward pack under the Argentine Mario Ledesma and the lack of reliance in the backline on talented but tempermental players like Quade Cooper and Kurtley Beale. \u00a0Both have had cameos in the side but aren’t the centre piece of their attacks. \u00a0Bernard Foley’s consistency with the boot has also been a huge asset.<\/p>\n

\"ADgP0It\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Who I Said Would Advance:<\/strong>\u00a0 Scotland and South Africa
\nWho Did Advance:<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0Scotland and South Africa<\/p>\n

Notes:<\/strong>\u00a0 This group will forever be remembered for Japan’s performance and most notably their last gasp win over the Springboks. \u00a0The Cherry Blossoms had won just one match in the history of the tournament prior to RWC 2015 and here they won three games. \u00a0It seems rather cruel that the side go home after a 3-1 record.<\/p>\n

Scotland and the Springboks advance to the knockout stage of the tournament but neither side have looked particularly impressive with both teams labouring to beat Tier B sides. \u00a0The decline of Polynesian rugby is sad to see as Samoa put in one of their most disappointing performances in the Rugby World Cup and Tonga nor Fiji were much better.<\/p>\n

\"Bgsqt08\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Who I Said Would Advance: \u00a0<\/strong>New Zealand and Argentina
\nWho Did Advance: \u00a0<\/strong>New Zealand and Argentina<\/p>\n

Notes: \u00a0<\/strong>I watched a grand total of two games from this Group because there wasn’t really anything worth checking out. \u00a0The best team in the comp, Argentina and a bunch of easy beats. \u00a0Nothing memorable or noteworthy happened. \u00a0For the All Blacks, the tournament starts this weekend.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"VFxXrpi\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Who I Said Would Advance: \u00a0<\/strong>France and Ireland
\nWho Did Advance: \u00a0<\/strong>France and Ireland<\/p>\n

Notes: \u00a0<\/strong>France and Ireland both advanced from Group D without too much difficultly and there is a very tasty quarter final encounter between Les Bleus and the All Blacks in Cardiff in a rematch of the 2007 quarter final and the 2011 grand final.<\/p>\n

An unexpectedly entertaining encounter from this group was minnows Romania storming back from a 15-0 deficit to beat Canada.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Knockout Stage<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"knockoutstage\"<\/a><\/p>\n

South Africa vs Wales
\n<\/strong>Twickenham<\/em><\/h2>\n