SCRUM Magazine – September 2019

POOL B

NEW ZEALAND

SOUTH AFRICA

SATURDAY 21 SEPTEMBER
YOKOHAMA, KICK OFF 10:45AM
NEW ZEALAND VS SOUTH AFRICA

FRIDAY 4 OCTOBER

SHIZUOKA, KICK OFF 10:45AM

SOUTH AFRICA VS ITALY

SUNDAY 22 SEPTEMBER

OSAKA, KICK OFF 6:15AM

ITALY VS NAMIBIA

SUNDAY 6 OCTOBER

TOKYO, KICK OFF 5:45AM

NEW ZEALAND VS NAMIBIA

THURSDAY 26 SEPTEMBER

FUKUOKA, KICK OFF 8:45AM

ITALY VS CANADA

TUESDAY 8 OCTOBER

KOBE, KICK OFF 11:15AM

SOUTH AFRICA VS CANADA

SATURDAY 28 SEPTEMBER

TOYOTA, KICK OFF 10:45AM

SOUTH AFRICA VS NAMIBIA

SATURDAY 12 OCTOBER

TOYOTA, KICK OFF 5:45AM

NEW ZEALAND VS ITALY

WEDNESDAY 2 OCTOBER

OITA, KICK OFF 11:15AM

NEW ZEALAND VS CANADA

SUNDAY 13 OCTOBER

KAMAISHI, KICK OFF 4:15AM

NAMIBIA VS CANADA

The two-time defending champions are

red-hot favourites to qualify from Pool B,

but the Springboks’ recent resurgence

means they’ll challenge Steve Hansen’s

men for top spot.

New Zealand will look to the mercurial

Beauden Barrett to get their attack ticking,

and to Dane Coles, Sam Whitelock and

captain Kieran Read to ensure their forward

pack holds its own, both in the pool and in

the knockout stages.

SCRUM Prediction

Scheduling has been kind to the All Blacks,

who have their most pressing challenge

up against the Springboks first before a

relatively straightforward path to the last

eight. Canada and Namibia, particularly,

will be concerned about conceding big

scorelines to the defending champions.

South African rugby has found its joie de

vivre once more since the appointment of

Rassie Erasmus as Head Coach, and the

revitalised Springboks could prove a force

to be reckoned with at this World Cup.

Eben Etzebeth is their enforcer up front,

while Pieter-Steph du Toit is equally as

good in the back-row as he is at lock.

Behind the scrum, Faf de Klerk is one of

the world’s best, while Willie le Roux can

do serious damage on the counter-attack

from fullback.

SCRUM Prediction

The Springboks should navigate this

pool without too much problem after

a mouthwatering opener against the

All Blacks, and as with the defending

champions, the target for the ‘lesser’

nations in this pool could be to keep the

score down.

Dedicated. Team players.

Pushing themselves to the limit.

98 • WWW.SCRUMMAGAZINE.COM • ISSUE 116 2019

RUGBY WORLD CUP - POOL GUIDE