SCRUM Magazine – September 2019

POOL C

SATURDAY 21 SEPTEMBER
TOKYO STADIUM
KICK OFF 8:15AM
FRANCE VS ARGENTINA

SATURDAY 5 OCTOBER

TOKYO STADIUM,

KICK OFF 9:00AM

ENGLAND VS ARGENTINA

SATURDAY 22 SEPTEMBER

SAPPORO DOME,

KICK OFF 11:15AM

ENGLAND VS TONGA

SUNDAY 6 OCTOBER

KUMAMOTO STADIUM,

KICK OFF 8:45AM

FRANCE VS TONGA

THURSDAY 26 SEPTEMBER

KOBE MISAKI STADIUM,

KICK OFF 11:45AM

ENGLAND VS USA

WEDNESDAY 9 OCTOBER

KUMAGAYA RUGBY STADIUM,

KICK OFF 5:45AM

ARGENTINA VS USA

SATURDAY 28 SEPTEMBER

HANAZONO RUGBY STADIUM,

KICK OFF 5:45AM

ARGENTINA VS TONGA

SATURDAY 12 OCTOBER

INTERNATIONAL STADIUM

YOKOHAMA, KICK OFF 9:15AM

ENGLAND VS FRANCE

WEDNESDAY 2 OCTOBER

FUKUOKA HAKATANOMORI

STADIUM, KICK OFF 8:45AM

FRANCE VS USA

SUNDAY 13 OCTOBER

HANAZONO RUGBY STADIUM,

KICK OFF 6:45AM

USA VS TONGA

ENGLAND

FRANCE

Eddie Jones’ side were hurtling towards the top

of the world rankings in 2016 and 2017, with back-

to-back Six Nations titles before the wheels came

off in spectacular fashion in 2018. Their recent

performances suggest the slide has been altered

and they could still mount a serious challenge for

the title in Japan, such is the impressive player

pool.

Jones continues, though, to overlook Danny

Cipriani and Alex Goode - voted the best players

in the Gallagher Premiership and Heineken

Champions Cup last season, respectively - so

the Australian will turn to the likes of Owen Farrell

and the Vunipola brothers to form the axis of his

side.

SCRUM Prediction

England’s opening two games should be

straightforward enough, with Jones afforded

an opportunity to sit out some of his big-name

players against Tonga and the USA. England

should have two bonus point wins in the bag by

the time they meet Argentina, but they’ll need

at least another one win - over either the Pumas

or France - to ensure they avoid a repeat of four

years ago and make it out the pool.

That is more than achievable for this England

side, who could find themselves making it to

the semi-finals, opposition depending in the

knockout stages.

When the pools for the World Cup were drawn,

France went into Pool C as the second-best side,

but such has been their alarming decline over

the past six-12 months that there’s no guarantees

they’ll make it to the knockout stages.

Les Bleus struggled in the Guinness Six Nations,

but saved face with wins over Scotland and Italy

despite some poor performances, while their

recent form has also included a defeat on home

soil to Fiji.

Head Coach Jacques Brunel - who has opted

not to pick former France captain Mathieu

Bastareaud in his squad - is on his way out after

the tournament in Japan, and the Head Coach will

be hoping to sign off on a high.

France do also have a habit of turning on the style

at the Rugby World Cup, but may find this pool

one hurdle too many.

SCRUM Prediction

France’s fate in the tournament could be decided

by their first game against Argentina on 21

September, so it is imperative that Brunel’s side

are firing on all cylinders for that match in Tokyo.

Thereafter, they have clashes with USA and

Tonga that they should win handsomely, before

taking on England in a match that could, results

depending, end up being must-win for Les Bleus

or a shoot-out for qualification to the latter stages.

Try, try, try

102 • WWW.SCRUMMAGAZINE.COM • ISSUE 116 2019

RUGBY WORLD CUP - POOL GUIDE