The World's Cup: Fiji - the threat that could have been

Fiji lock Leone Nakarawa tackles Wales fullback Matthew Morgan. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Steve Deane scours global media for an offbeat look at rugby's biggest show.

ZIM BOYS DONE GOOD

Regular readers of The World's Cup may recall a previous post about the Zimbabwean Government's demand that the nation's rugby union ensures it gets a slot on the dance card at Japan 2019. Clearly Robert Mugabe was not amused at missing out on the party this time around. Perhaps the former teachers' training college lecturer's angst will be assuaged by a Southern Times of Africa piece pointing out that the country is actually pretty well represented at RWC2015.

Springboks prop Tendai "Beast" Mtawarira, Wallabies flanker David Pocock, Scotland back rower David Denton and USA Eagle Takudzwa Ngwenya are all Zimbabwe-born. They follow in the footsteps of Salty du Rand, Gary Teichmann, Bobby Skinstad and Des Van Jaarveldt - all Zimbabweans who captained the Springboks.

SOARING EAGLES

This column desperately wanted to bring you a RWC match report from a major American newspaper. Unfortunately, with the defender of the free world's coverage rivaling that of Nauru, no such thing exists. The best we can offer is a glimpse of what it might have been like had the Yanks given a toss, thanks to this Oct 1 report in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle.

"On a windy day at Fort Tilden, the Brooklyn men faced off against division rival New York Rugby Club (Division III). New York took an early lead in the game, scoring the match's first three tries to go up 19-0 at the half. However, Brooklyn rebounded after the break and put across the first score of the second half. Brooklyn was unable to maintain a steady offensive attack as the second half progressed, and even after a number of chances deep in New York's end, the team was unable to add another score."

HISTORY LESSON

No team has won the World Cup after losing a pool match but that isn't bothering Springboks coach Heyneke Meyer ahead of his country's showdown with USA.

"They said the mile would never be run in under four minutes; now everybody does it," he told AFP, in a statement that doesn't appear to be entirely accurate.

No doubt the supercoach's players will also be drawing inspiration from the achievement of an Englishman 61 years ago.

"The only history that is worth a tinker's damn is the history that we make today," added Meyer. Actually, that was Henry Ford. What Meyer, who steadfastly insisted his team was not taking Japan lightly right up to moment they took Japan far too lightly, really said was: "People say things to be nice, but we really respect the USA. They've shown they're very difficult to play against, very physical, a lot of big, strong forwards and great runners in midfield."
Stirring stuff.

SUNSHINE BOYS

Success has been hard to come by for the Pacific nations at RWC2015, but one country leaving with pride intact is Fiji. After pushing England, Wales and Australia in a monstrously tough group, the Fijians bowed out with a deserved win over Uruguay.

"The Flying Fijians have held their heads high in the close quarter combat where they won a fair share of turnovers. The lineouts have dramatically improved," reported the Fiji Sun - before getting well-carried away. "The highly talented backline did not fully use its arsenal or show its full potential. If they did, we would have beaten England and Wales and possibly Australia."