A curmudgeon's Rugby World Cup diary: Week 12

Opinion - Odds were on a New Zealand against South Africa Rugby World Cup final from well before a ball was kicked in Japan.

For all the huffing and puffing since, nothing has changed. They're still the best sides in the tournament and it'll take significant upsets to change that.

Assuming the knockout games go ahead, of course. No matter who wins this event, it'll always be remembered for Typhoon Hagibis and World Rugby's ineptitude.

The Quarterfinals

Sudden death does strange things. Put any two teams - no matter how unevenly matched - into a contest where the loser goes home and you often get an unusual outcome.

That said, these games look fairly clear-cut.

England vs Australia

Neither team's in vintage form. England have been the more convincing and are simply a better all round team than Australia.

Unlike Australia, who have none, England boast a variety of playmakers. They combine that with strong set pieces, stout defence and a handful of athletes who can break games open on their own.

This looms as a game in which England grind the Wallabies into the turf and score from the inevitable errors. Australia just aren't accurate and skillful enough and don't have a first five-eighth able to dictate play.

Throw in the fact that England have a 6-0 record against Australia since Eddie Jones became head coach and you have the recipe for a fairly emphatic win.

New Zealand vs Ireland

Ireland have been poor in Japan. A spoiling team, who rely on slowing down your ability to recycle possession and then racing off the defensive line, playing much actual rugby eludes them.

Prior to the world cup, this match-up might've struck fear into the heart of All Blacks fans. Ireland went 111 years without beating New Zealand, but have now done it twice in their last three encounters. Once in Chicago, when it sounds as if the All Blacks were on holiday, then in Dublin last year.

But if this event has taught us anything, it's that these are unique playing conditions. Conditions that suit athletes and players with skill and vision. New Zealand have an abundance and Ireland few, if any.

Provided the All Blacks get enough quick ball, they'll win by 10 to 15 points.

Wales vs France

Easily the least appealing on the four games, in a stylistic sense. Delve a little deeper, though, and it's full of intrigue from a French perspective.

Wales, like Ireland, are happy for you to have the ball. They're confident they can make their tackles and then force you into errors and penalties.

But they're pretty pedestrian otherwise, as evidenced by the hard work they've made of beating Georgia, Fiji and Uruguay.

France, meanwhile, featuring players from New Zealand, Fiji, South Africa and New Caledonia, continue to do very French things such as stage a revolt.

Captain Guilhem Guirado - depending on who's telling the story - either has the total support of the players, or none at all, amid talk the coaching staff ought to be sacked as well.

Fresh from an unconvincing 23-21 over a weak Tonga side, the stage is set for France to suddenly turn around a thrash Warren Gatland's Wales.

Japan vs South Africa

Two teams are looking to win this tournament with speed and skill. New Zealand are one, with Japan the other.

It would be easy to dismiss Japan against the Springboks. To suggest they're really in elite company now and don't have a hope of competing physically.

But this is a Japan side who've just turned Ireland and Scotland over and beat South Africa the last time they met at a world cup.

The odds of history repeating look remote, but then few would have imagined Japan winning Pool A in the first place. If they can control possession and their passes stick, then Japan have a hope in this game.

Ultimately, though, we're looking at a fair approximation of Super Rugby's Sunwolves here and if South Africa can't beat that lot, they might as well give the game away.

The tournament

Not enough hotel beds? Stadiums not in great repair? No real rugby culture to speak of? No worries.

If this event has taught us anything, it's that no hosting bid is too bad to be accepted by World Rugby.

Three matches have been cancelled here, two of which could have made a material difference to the tournament.

We all know and understand why they were called off and our hearts go out to Japan and those families affected in any way by Typhoon Hagibis.

Lives have been lost and it's difficult to attach great relevance to rugby in that context.

But this tournament should not have been staged in Japan at this time of year and no-one from World Rugby can argue that.

Again, everyone appreciates the potential difficulties presented by typhoon season and the virtual impossibility of moving or rescheduling games.

But the damage to the integrity of this tournament - and it's governing body - could have been avoided by staging it later in the year or somewhere else entirely.

At least Japan were able to beat Scotland in their final pool game and avoid the bun fight that would've ensued had that match not gone ahead.