So when we hit the quarter in Cardiff, in all likelihood against the Frogs, we are going to be underdone.  But this All Black team has risen to the occasion at every hurdle over the last few years.  From dispatching the 'best prepared Lions team to ever leave the British Isles', a grand slam, a two test smashing of France in France, to beating the Boers in South Africa to win last seasons Tri Nations, to beating the Boers this season when all the Boers had to do was turn up to win, big matches, big performances, and big wins.  Who says this All Black team can't perform under pressure?  Not me anyway!!

Regardless of past performances, the All Blacks are lacking any intense rugby leading into the sudden death games, but all will be well - just wait and see...

The other teams featuring in worry watch one and two, the Boers and the Wobblies have both been in pretty average form since then, while those bloody garlic munching snail eaters have been quietly finding a bit of form after their first surrender to Argentina.  Mind you, I seem to remember a couple of wars where the Frogs gave up early before coming back and being on the right side of the ledger at the end of day, and they were mainly in France too.  Fortunately, they were not playing New Zealand back then, and in fact, had poached a few Kiwis to play on their side.  Along with Yanks, and Poms, and Poles, and Ockers, Boers, but, I digress...

The Boer second team is no patch on their top string side, and were almost embarrassed against Tonga, having to bring on their stars to put away the plucky island boys.  It's a pity the RWC is not a first and second XV contest, as I think it is clear to even the most one eyed supporter that the All Blacks second string side would beat most other nations second XV's by a fair margin.  The Junior All Blacks thumping of the second string Wobbly side in the Pacific Nations Cup thing proof positive.  And that was pretty much a third XV side (to be fair the Wobbly side was probably third XV too, but lets not mention that shall we).  But the RWC is not like that, so we'll just have to box on eh!!

The Wobblies looked pretty horrible playing another of the island nations, Fiji.  Like the All Blacks though, some of these games are little more than opposed training runs.  They too are focusing on the knock out stages, and for them, probably a replay of the 2003 final, a clash with old mother England.  The result I expect will be reversed from 2003 though!  Their biggest loss though, is the dead man walking (no, BOD has not become an Aussie overnight) Bernie Larkham, whose knee operation has become infected, and it looks as if he will be struggling to make the semi final clash, should the Wobblies beat the Poms as expected.

France.  Those blasted Frenchies.  They have been getting better each match since that opening game.  Their latest match was a thorough smashing of the woeful Paddies.  So they are upping their ante nice and slowly (although I suspect Thames Valley's NPC side would give the Irish a nudge at the moment), so Cardiff looks like it could be the match that many were picking to be the final - the All Blacks.  Only two words will be needed in Ted's pre match gee-up speech on that day.  Remember 1999.

Off the remainder quarter final bound sides, England looked better, playing their more natural game against Samoa.  Big ugly forwards doing big ugly forward stuff, and Johnny Wilkinson kicking goals.  The Welsh, well they are going to be canon fodder, and the Argies, well, they'll keep opposition honest, and should have too much for Scotland in their quarter final.  That'll give them an expected semi against the Boers, and hell, who knows...