Pool A
Week two of pool play will solidify the order of finish for Pool A, and expect a reshuffle of the table this week as France takes over the top spot and begin to run away from the field. New Zealand will spend the final three weeks chasing the runner up spot for the first time in their World Cup history.
A week of blowouts. Let’s face it; even when your favorite team is doing the thumping, blowouts after blowouts are boring to watch unless you’re pounding a rival in a match that was expected to be close. Rafter’s will be tuning in for the rest of Pool A, but anticipates no surprises until the quarterfinals.
Pool A Round Two match predictions.
France over Uruguay by sixty-two point.
New Zealand over Namibia by fifty-nine points.
Italy - Bye.
Pool B
Don’t expect the standings at the top of the Pool B table to change by the end of Round Two. Both Ireland and South Africa will dominate with big bonus point wins.
Scotland will use the bye week to regroup ahead of next week’s match with Tonga and keep their fingers crossed for an unlikely draw between South Africa and Ireland in week three.
As with Pool A, this weeks picks are no brainers.
Pool B Round Two match predictions.
Ireland over Tonga by thirty-nine points.
South Africa by sixty-two over Romania.
Scotland - Bye.
Pool C
The only real drama in all of Round Two is likely to be in Pool C. Last week Fiji was one catch away from defeating Wales and will likely take out their frustration on Australia.
Rafters has always admired the Fijians’ ability to pass and catch the ball in the most unlikely situations, but it won’t be enough against an Australian side that finally seems to be coming together under Eddie Jones.
Wales dominates - Despite their ranking at sixteenth in the world, Portugal is likely the weakest team in the tournament, supplanting the USA Eagles who didn’t other to make the cut last November. Their match on Saturday will be a good training session for Wales in a game environment.
Pool C Round Two match predictions.
Wales by forty-three over Portugal.
Australia over Fiji by six.
Georgia - Bye.
Pool D
If there is a second possibility of drama in round two, it’s going to be between England and Japan. England has yet to score a try in this year’s tournament and will need to rack up at least four to stay competative despite being number two on the Pool D table.
Japan is a team that could pull off an upset, and Rafters predicted a much closer match between the two sides last November at Twickenham. A win by Japan on Sunday could scramble thePool D standings making it the most interesting pool competition the World Cup.
Samoa should have no trouble with Chile.
Pool D Round Two match predictions.
Samoa over Chile twenty-four points.
England over Japan by twenty-one.
Argentina - Bye.