Who will you pick?
There are now just three days to go before the sporting event of the year, the 2019 Rugby World Cup, gets underway in Japan.
It will be the first time the World Cup has been played outside the traditional rugby heartlands of Europe and the southern hemisphere. The ninth edition of the competition takes place over six weeks, kicking off with host nation Japan taking on Russia at Tokyo Stadium at 11:45am BST this Friday 20 September.
Throughout the tournament, we’ll be bringing you news and updates from rugby-loving colleagues, lucky enough to be out in Japan in person and those who’ll be watching the games here at home.
Expert view
Outside of work, HR advisor for Corporate Functions, Rob McGeechan, currently works as the first team head coach of Tupton RUFC, based in Chesterfield. He also coaches 16-year-olds at the Championship side, Yorkshire Carnegie as well as the Yorkshire county side at under-15 level.
As if that wasn’t enough, Rob is the son of none other than British Lions legend and Scottish former rugby union player and coach, Sir Ian Robert McGeechan, OBE, who will be part of the ITV commentary team. Sir Ian will be in the ITV London studios for Scotland’s pool games. When/if Scotland progress to the knock out stages, he’ll be flying out to Japan and has very kindly agreed to give us his news/views and as of today, his predictions for the tournament:
‘Pool A: Ireland 1st then Scotland 2nd,’ said Sir Ian. ‘Pool B: New Zealand 1st then South Africa 2nd. Pool C: England 1st and as anything could happen with France, I fancy Argentina in second place. Pool D: Wales 1st then Australia 2nd.
‘Quarter finals: Although England have been much more composed in their warm up games, compared to their erratic way of playing in this year’s Six Nations, I predict that Australia will narrowly beat England. Although I would love to see a Scotland win, I cannot see anything other than the All Blacks beating Scotland. Wales to marginally beat a very physical Argentina team.
‘Based on Ireland’s indifferent form going into the tournament, coupled with the fact that the Springboks are unbeaten in 2019, including a draw with the All Blacks in Wellington, which the Springboks were unlucky not to win; then I am predicting that South Africa will just edge it past Ireland.
‘Semi Finals: South Africa to narrowly beat Wales and New Zealand to comfortably beat Australia. For the 3rd/4th play-off game: Wales to beat Australia for the second time in the tournament. With the final, I predict New Zealand to win a third consecutive World Cup title by beating South Africa in a very close game.’
Fundraising fun
Help give children and young people a safe and happy childhood this Rugby World Cup by using Action for Children’s custom-made office sweepstake kit.
Use the sweepstake to get your teams rallied up for the event. Cut out the teams and place them in a hat. Ask your colleagues to make a donation and draw one out at random. As they are picked, fill in the names next to the teams on the recording sheet and stick it up on your office wall. The winner of the sweepstake is the person whose country is named the winner of the Rugby World Cup 2019. Best of luck!
