Unsightly thrashings by the vastly superior of the hopelessly under-resourced remain a thing at World Cups. The days of the three-digit hiding seem past but a cynic will tell you the World Cup begins only now. Some of these knockout matches will be tight, breathlessly so. If too tight, there will be extra time of 10 minutes each way, then, if necessary, sudden death for another 10 minutes. If still unresolved, there will be a place-kicking competition between five kickers from each team. See the Heineken Cup semi-final of 2009 for the only precedent. It was brutal.
Continue reading...Rugby World Cup 2019: five things to look out for in the knockout stage
Tighter matches and record TV viewing figures will be evident as the World Cup jamboree approaches its crunch stage