It is about now in a Rugby World Cup cycle, with just over 40 days and nights in the phoney war wilderness still to endure, that the truth starts to emerge. There is only so much iron you can pump in a gym: if anyone hoping to lift the Webb Ellis Cup is not fit by now they never will be. You cannot fake it at a World Cup and expect to have a realistic chance.
With a slew of warm-up Tests shortly commencing for all the European nations, nevertheless, those seeking clues about the prospects of Wales, England, Scotland, Ireland, France, Italy and others should not focus purely on August’s results. Four years ago, for example, England saw off France and Ireland at Twickenham before hosting the 2015 tournament and still exited in the pool stages. Scotland, conversely, lost against the French and Irish yet came within a midge’s whisker of the semi-finals.
Written by Robert Kitson
This news first appeared on https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2019/aug/06/wales-rugby-world-cup-ross-harries-jonny-wilkinson under the title “Camaraderie has meant more than Rugby World Cup warm-ups for Wales | Robert Kitson”. Bolchha Nepal is not responsible or affiliated towards the opinion expressed in this news article.
