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The world cup is on...
You can bet on France being in the final. Let me explain...
Three Frenchmen are officiating as referees (out of a total of 12), and they are doing pretty well so far. Incidentally,
England lost against wales, reffed by a Frenchman. And England lost against Australia, reffed by a Frenchman. Rest in peace, Johann of Arc... the smell of pyre on the market place of Rouen was stronger last week end! Just kidding... But I would still bet on a Frenchman referring the final.
PS: England did not really deserve to win anyway, mainly because they put too many young players 4 years ago in prevision of the world cup, and forgot to keep a couple of old timers to take things in hand in the last 10 minutes... experience...
As for the other games...
The best game of the last 10 years, Japan beating South Africa on the 19th of September.
Japan had never won a game in the world cup, zero (like in 0+0=), and South Africa is rated in the first three rugby teams consistently over the last 20 years. Watch the game until the last second... it's on YouTube. Pure rugby pleasure.
(please copy and paste: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIXcEWrGtsM)
And the games they could and should have won: Canada losing against Italy and against Romania... again watch until the last minute. But Canada and all the other teams ranked 10th to 20th are playing better and better, and the gap is getting narrower between all the teams (except still New Zealand, Australia and South Africa...). For our pleasure.
If you can, go and see live any game between the first ranked 20 rugby teams.
(For results, rankings, etc...copy this address and paste: http://www.worldrugby.org/)