´óÏó´«Ã½

Jones the Pundit calls the Cup (11)

• Ryan Jones
• 7 Sep 07, 05:51 PM

Swansea - The game on Sunday will be vital and the nervous excitement that the boys have built up in the past weeks will all come out.

We'll be out to hit the ground running and really make a statement to the rest to show that we are not to be underestimated in this competition.

I'm confident that the matches with Canada, and will see three convincing Welsh victories. I'd also defy anyone who thinks that we cannot beat the at home.

Rightly or wrongly, having that game in Cardiff is a huge advantage and it is up to us to make that advantage count.

If we could get a result there, we'd be heading for the knock-out stages and a prospective tie with England (who I don't see beating South Africa) with our tails up.

Of the rest, it's hard to look past the but I think they will have their dominance challenged by South Africa.

New Zealand have become renowned for peaking between World Cups and then failing at the tournament and once again they'll go into this years' event as favourites.

I don't see the history of past failures having any bearing on this squad, though, as they will be expertly marshalled by Graham Henry and his team.

It would be interesting to see how the All Blacks would react to the loss of maestro Dan Carter for any reason.
Are they a World Cup-winning side without him?

South Africa will be reliant on the dominance of their monster pack if they want to win their second trophy, and some pack it is. Should their inside backs utilise the glut of ball that their eight will no doubt churn out, and release explosive three-quarters like Habana, then they can be real contenders.

Unlike many, I don't envisage the hosts France making huge strides in the competition. The pressure on them will be immense and I think it will stifle the fluidity of their game.

Like Wales. like to give the ball some air and play a bit, and on top of a solid set-piece it is only this style that will see them overcome the might of the South Africans or the Kiwis.

It is a tall order to produce that kind of rugby under that kind of pressure. Can they do it? Or will the
occasion bog them down?

I do hope that the vibrant Gallic flair of our hosts rubs off on the tournament as a whole and I suggest that we keep an eye out for this year's champions of style and panache.

For instance, will there be a squad who can boast three better hair-dos than those of Wales' Duncan and Adam
Jones and Colin Charvis? Which teams' field-wear will be wowing the Paris fashion scene and which teams' won't? Such issues are worthy of healthy debate.

Speaking of kits, I heard a rumour that the "front-row union" were on the verge of industrial action recently in protest over the body hugging nature of today's international jerseys. Apparently though, the negotiating abilities of the union's sharpest minds left something to be desired and it was decided that the world's elite scrummagers would just have to breathe in!

Here's to a good tournament and until the next time, stay classy World Cup 2007!

Ryan Jones plays number eight for Wales but misses the World Cup through injury.

• Permalink