Rugby World Cup ratings: England, Wales and Ireland assessed

The Rugby World Cup is down to four teams and we still, just about, have a potential all-Home Nations final with England and Wales into the semi-finals.

That is of course in stark contrast to the 2015 edition, when we had an all-southern hemisphere set of semi-finals and European rugby’s future was under scrutiny.

But how have this year’s representatives of the Home Nations got on so far? With just four games to go, we assess the performances of the three teams that made it to the knockout stages.

England (Played four, won four – semi-final vs New Zealand)

‘Come into modern rugby. Join us,’ Eddie Jones quipped in his post-match press conference after destroying the country of his birth in a Rugby World Cup quarter-final.

His decision to drop, as some would have it, or redeploy, as Jones would have it, George Ford to the bench was a bold one and it fully paid off.

The coach predicted a back-foot first half and a more broken game in which Ford could thrive later on. Even he admitted it went perfectly to plan.

World Cup semi-finals

Barring the typhoon’s disruption of their final group game, which in the end ensured would win their pool, very little has not gone to plan for England and certainly the things they have been able to control, they done so.

If there are concerns, it is of the defensive form of Henry Slade.

New Zealand will have enjoyed watching Slade slip and slide out of position and while the winger is a ridiculously talented attacker, he has spent a lot of time on the sidelines, which seemed to affect his reading of the game. He cannot play like that against the All Blacks.

Pros: Controlling games at will, able to change game plan from Ford-Farrell axis to Farrell-Tuilagi-Slade easily, yet to suffer major injury

Cons: Australian runners found some joy in outside channels, still only one real test so far

Rating: 8/10

Ireland (Played five, won three – OUT in the quarter-finals vs New Zealand)

The curse is real. So very real. In fairness, New Zealand were absolutely stellar and it’s hard to imagine that any team could have kept them at bay.

But to concede seven tries, even against an all-time great All Blacks team at full steam, will not sit well with Andy Farrell, whose defence was the envy of the rugby world just 18 months ago.

The Englishman will take over from Joe Schmidt, whose hand was shaken hundreds of times after the final whistle as Irish fans thanked him for his six years of service and success.

They were as recently as this summer the world’s No 1 side but must know they are a long way from that now. A rebuild is in order.

Pros: A dominant win over Scotland, James Ryan ready to lead the next generation

Cons: Life after Sexton, Murray and Best looks uncertain, style of rugby has been found out

Rating: 4/10

Wales (Played five, won five – semi-final vs South Africa)

For all that they are back in the World Cup last four, it hasn’t been easy. Not many fans back in Wales or out in Japan will have many fingernails left.

The first quarter against Australia was magnificent but they allowed the Wallabies back into the game and almost ended up snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.

They let Fiji score three tries but still came away with maximum points.

They played poorly throughout against France but were gifted a one-man advantage by Sebastien Vahaamahina.

Winning ugly is still winning, which is, as Warren Gatland rightly said, a habit. Can it be a habit lasts a little longer? They might need to be a little bit more complete.

Pros: Unbeaten, scored tries when they have needed too, Dan Biggar still in one piece

Cons: Jonathan Davies still struggling with a knee injury, very few 80-minute performances

Rating: 6/10

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