World order to be restored soon
With the euphoric celebrations, after Japan's big win over South Africa, still simmering, All Black Nick Evans believes world order will be restored soon.
Japan's 34-32 win over the Springboks and Georgia's 17-10 triumph over Tonga are the two 'big' results, but Evans feels there won't be too many jaw-droppers like that.
The 35-year-old, who played the last of his 16 All Black Tests in 2007 and has been playing for Quins since 2008, said those results are also not an indication that the gap has closed between the tier one and the lower ranked (tier two and three) teams.
"For these lesser teams the first game is the big one," Evans told rugby365.
"I expect the lesser teams to weaken and start to fatigue towards the end of the pool stages.
"Someone like England, who have Uruguay as their last game, are probably in a very good position.
"If you have these guys in the last couple of games I don't think they will put up much of a fight."
While he is confident the first weekend's results are not an indication of a narrowing gap between the big guns and the next two tiers, he also made it clear that any team not right on top their game will be turned over.
"Obviously, as South Africa saw and the English took 70 minutes to wear down Fiji, you can get turned over or very much embarrassed.
"The public will probably hope for more upsets, because it is the type of games that inspire people – when the underdogs upset the top teams," he told rugby365.
"However, from here on I see the Springboks kicking on and dominating their last games," the Kiwi flyhalf said, adding that the Boks won't let another upset like last week happen again.
He said he can see Scotland going through with the Boks in Pool B, although they have a big game against Samoa.
"Can I see anymore upsets? No, probably not.
"In Pool A it will be between England, Wales and Australia – those are the games where we might get a few different scores.
"Pool C, that would be a two-horse race. It was a great game [between New Zealand and Argentina] last weekend.
"Argentina is a great team now. They are doing well having been exposed to the other teams in the Rugby Championship.
"They are powerful, they are strong at the breakdown and they have some half-decent players that can threaten you.
"New Zealand seem to get themselves into a hole and get out of it time-and-time again. It should be pretty easy from now on for New Zealand and Argentina should be as well.
"I expect it to be a two-horse race."
In Pool D Ireland and France look like the teams going through.
"We [us Kiwis] are looking forward to this one," Evans said.
"Obviously there are ramifications for us, as Kiwis, with this pool.
"We could have a date against with the French again in Cardiff in a quarterfinal .
"It seems the pool would go the Irish.
"Ireland had a great start against Canada. Italy put up a bit of a fight, but never really looked like turning over the French.
"In fact the French looked quite solid. Losing [Yoann] Huget [through injury] is a big setback for them. "He is their X-factor player.
"I see this also as a two-horse race. I see Ireland coming out on top.
"That would see New Zealand face France in Cardiff, which is not the greatest thing for us New Zealanders."
By Jan de Koning
@King365ed
@rugby365com
* This interview with Nick Evans was brought to you courtesy of Aviva Premiership Rugby First Timers, a joint initiative from Premiership Rugby and Aviva to give 2,000 new rugby fans their first taste of the Aviva Premiership. First Timers can apply for free tickets this season at premiershiprugby.com/avivafirsttimers.
