Quarter Finals sorted, but what about the others?

So the die has been cast and the quarter finals match ups have been decided.

New Zealand will go into their quarter final against Argentina with a feeling of emptiness, they will bel lamenting the fact that Dan Carter talismanic fly half, inspirational senior team member and inspiration to the nation won’t be there to compete for the elusive Web Ellis trophy whilst New Zealand will go into the knock out rounds with a feeling of when will the competition arrive.

Argentina on the other hand will be going into their quarter final with absolutely no pressure and the knowledge that they have nothing to lose against New Zealand, they will think back to their clash against England and rue the fact of that loss and how things could have been so different, and would have fancied their chances against their “favourite” opposition France.

On the same side of the draw as the no 1 team in the world, South Africa would be thanking their lucky stars (or so I’m told) that although they have no clue as to how the breakdown laws are interpreted during this RWC, that the double edged sword of Wayne Barnes have catapulted them into a quarter final but secretly hope his cheque bounces.

Australia will wake after the pool rounds realising that something went wrong somewhere and they will be contesting the same Tri Nations tournament they have just won as recently as a few weeks ago, wondering if 2012 have arrived early because just around the corner Argentina will form part of this newly formed four nations.

Wales on the other hand who has been blaming Wayne Barnes for something during their match against South Africa, albeit not too loudly anymore after realising that Barnes did them a favour (of some sorts) as they will now meet their Celtic neighbours Ireland for what will now be seen as the celtic clash of the decade and the bragging rights of reaching a semi final for only the second time in their RWC history.

In contrast to Australia, Ireland will know exactly how it happened that they will be playing against Wales in the quarter final and will be looking forward to continue their dominance of the past few years, to reach their first semi final in RWC history.

Martin Johnson will most likely now put a curfew on his players and inform them that the “boring” pool matches are now over, the partying and womanising will stop until further notice, and that there is a little matter of three more knock out matches to contend with (assuming they get to the final)

France on the other hand may not have yet realised that they have indeed qualified for the quarters after their most dismal performance of the pool rounds and will most likely realise they are in fact on their way to training when the team bus does not turn left at the off ramp to the airport on Monday morning.

But that is not the reason why I am writing this.

There has been much said about the tier 3 and 4 teams during this world cup, how they had less favoured scheduling and had the short end of the stick for a number of issues relating to the pool rounds.

Now this is where this world cup would have been so much grander if Tonga and Scotland, Italy and Samoa could have gone to the training grounds tomorrow to prepare for a plate competition.

There is credit due to all four these teams for the way they played during the pools and for them to go home totally empty handed and now simply dismissed until the next world cup seems like a hollow victory for the Rugby world cup organisers.

Tonga after having beaten Japan the Pacific nation champions and having caused the greatest upset in recent world cup history can feel desperately unlucky for not having qualified for the quarter finals and it would be only just for them to be able to compete further in a tournament they have singlehandedly kept interesting and exciting by showing the french up.

Samoa who by all accounts have been treated rather unfairly with a turn around of 4 days between matches to face not only Wales but also South Africa and then also being fined $10 000 for an unapproved mouth guard, put up two very brave and competitive performances against the two qualifiers from pool D. Once again it would have been just reward for them to continue in this tournament.

Scotland showed a willingness to run with ball in hand, and was it not for their lack of finishing in the red zone may well have been quarter finalists.

Even Italy having scored 13 tries during the pool rounds would have loved the opportunity to stick around for some more matches.

So, with only a little clear thinking from their side the Rugby world cup organising committee could have used a little creative thinking and had a Plate competition for these 4 quality teams.

Wouldn’t it have been great to see similarly competent teams fight it out for a plate final.

Tonga vs Scotland and Italy vs Samoa, it would have been rather difficult to predict the outcomes of those two matches.

So please IRB and RWC committees, wake up and realise that the RWc has not yet reached it’s full potential.

3 more matches and another 12 teams would have had a lot more to play for during the pools.

Tis a nice idea Biltong... but I'm not sure how much interest there would be from smaller rugby nations to pay all that money for another 2-3 weeks in New Zealand just to compete for 9th place and below.

Rugby is just far too physical a game for these play-off plate games. There's really little chance that Samoan or Scottish professional players would be willing to throw their bodies on the line against Romania or Namibia or the USA in the same way just to try to take 9th place.

Especially after their near misses against England, Argentina, Wales, and SA.

Nos, they won't be playing Namibia, Romania or the USA, they will be playing ligitimate teams, and with a little financial incnetive from the IRB it would be worth their while to stay another 2 weeks.

The 'plate' is a peculiar rugby invention, so why not do things differently? It would get rid if the pointless 3rd/4th play off game for a start.