A deep dive into the performance stats reveals how the teams should approach these four matches between northern and southern hemisphere nations.
The quarter-finals of the 2023 Rugby World Cup are an incredible match-up between teams of the northern and southern hemispheres in every game this weekend.The only team north of the equator to win the Rugby World Cup since it’s inception in 1987 was England, through a Johnny Wilkinson drop-goal in the last minutes against Eddie Jones’s Australia, 20 years ago in Sydney.
Argentina’s Rodrigo Isgro running the ball against Chile. The Pumas will have plenty of opportunity to run against the big kicking Welsh.They have to assiduously counter-attack, judging which Welsh kick to run and which to tactically kick-return. The Pumas backline is fit, fast and elusive, sitting second in the tournament for defenders beaten per game and the team has the quickest ruck speed of 3.37 seconds against 5.11 seconds for Wales, the slowest of the final eight.
The All Blacks average the second-most carries of teams in this World Cup , most metres and line breaks – but all against weak teams, a potential achilles’ heel for the Kiwis against the battle-hardened Irish.Tactically, the Irish don’t kick much, averaging 23.3 times per game and execute intricate backline moves better than any team in the world.
Schmidt knows the Irish players strength and weaknesses and the systems the team utilises – he knows much of the Irish IP. His influence could be terminal for Ireland if the Irish defence can’t terminate Joe’s All Black attack.If Fiji are to pull off an unlikely victory against England, they haveGetting locked in an arm-wrestle with the English pack is not an option.
Borthwick has gambled in selecting Marcus Smith at fullback. Marcus is a real talent but he lacks size and height. Fiji will look to exploit him through judicious use of the high ball, as Carter Gordon sadly learnt in Saint-Etienne.
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