Yes: Ian Robertson
Just looking at the rankings, you have Portugal 21st in the world, Georgia 17th and Namibia 25th and, given that there are 20 teams in the World Cup, that suggests it’s not going to be much fun for them.
But New Zealand against Portugal is the match I home in on. The Portuguese have got one player who plays third-division rugby in France and the rest are amateurs, so it is obvious to say that they are not going to be in anything like the shape of the All Blacks, who are number one in the world. That means there is a serious risk to the physical welfare of the Portuguese players, who simply do not have the stature required.
That match will be a salutary lesson for rugby that amateurs should not be playing against professionals and that the World Cup should be cut from 20 teams to 16 immediately. Playing four games in the group is asking too much of such amateur sides, although having 20 teams makes scheduling difficult for the bigger sides too — Scotland have to play New Zealand on a Sunday and six days later, after a flight, they have to play Italy in St Etienne.
That means the Scots are likely to put out their reserves against the All Blacks and may well lose by 70 or 80 points themselves.
It’s true that Portugal have one day less to prepare for the match against New Zealand than New Zealand do, so that hardly helps. The small teams are simply out of their league. They may get away with it in sevens, as Portugal have proved by doing well in Hong Kong and elsewhere, but at 15-a-side New Zealand will simply pummel them, even if they play with all 15 reserves, and it could well be a 100- or 150-point beating.
I have a huge belief in the ”hands across the sea, unification” aspect of international sport, but when the guy in the 100m runs it in 15 seconds, there is still a moment of glory for his minor nation. There is no risk to himself. Portugal’s players may well be injured and it will be an embarrassment for rugby. Georgia may be able to make a fist of it this time, as they have more players in the top level of French rugby, but I also fear for Namibia.
The model England put forward for 2007, with a 16-team senior event and a developing nations cup under that, was the right one. The amateur sides could then play that instead of the long qualifying process which exists at present, and play at their own standard.
You can put together 16 teams for a professional event because teams like the United States, Canada, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa have players around the world. The International Rugby Board will make about £70-million from this World Cup. Teams like Argentina, who have been kept out in the cold, have shown what is possible with that model and the US could follow them — Nigel Melville’s work will be important there in tapping into the college football players who don’t make it into the NFL. At least the US has the physical capital.
Ian Robertson is a commentator and former Scotland international
No: Stephen Larkham
The 20-team format is great for rugby and the teams that have qualified deserve to be in the tournament. As a player and a fan I want to see a wide variety of nations involved and it’s important that teams like Portugal, Namibia and our opponents, Japan, get their chance on the big stage.
Calling them mismatches is unfair.
Obviously some pool matches are harder than others and the smaller sides don’t have much chance of getting through, but that doesn’t mean the games will not be entertaining for the crowds and audience and useful for both the big and small teams.
We play Japan in our first game and we will respect them, but we know we can use it as a platform to try out new ideas and get some confidence before the big test against Wales in Cardiff in our second match. But it isn’t just us who will take something from these matches. The only way teams such as Portugal and Georgia can learn and improve is to play against the best in the world.
Even one or two of my teammates look up to the very best — the All Blacks — and look forward to playing them because they know they will be tested.
The amateur players will be facing their heroes and this will be an inspiration for them. You can only learn so much from watching on the TV or from the stands and the lesser teams don’t get many opportunities, so we should encourage them.
A lot of the best players from sides such as Portugal have honed their skills by playing sevens against top performers from around the world. Many of those skills transfer over to the 15-man game.
I know some see the potential for physical danger — especially in the front row — in an encounter like New Zealand against a mainly amateur Portuguese side, but I’m sure teams will be sensitive and props and hookers are aware and wouldn’t go out to hurt another player.
You’d like to think the referees would be aware of potential problems too and would be on the lookout for dangerous or risky situations.
I think the length of the tournament is fine. Even though each team has to play four pool games I think players from the minor teams will be relishing the prospect. I guess my perspective is different from theirs, but I want to play in every game I can and I love the thought of playing in four matches against the best in the world.
They may be tired and bruised by the end, but it will be a great experience for them.
Stephen Larkham is a World Cup winner with 101 caps for Australia — Â