RWC QF Day 1; Travelog Day 8; 2 to go home...

After a week off, with nothing to do but have fun, the rugby returns today with the first Quarter Finals. A brief summary of all 4 follows, with my selection after each to see how badly I do. Today is Northern Hemisphere day, while tomorrow sees the Southern Hemisphere chokers back into action.... QF1 - Ireland vs Wales. Ireland occupy the place many thought would be occupied by Australia. Their victory in the crunch pool game still resonates down in the Southern hemisphere. I took an Aussie to task in a cafe yesterday after he berated a watching audience with how he "didn't rate Northern hemisphere rugby". Your lot must be rubbish then, was my diplomatic reply, to which he didn't have a riposte. Ireland have built from rocky foundations against the USA, when they looked likel candidates to lose to Italy and go home. The return of O'Brien, the return to form of O'Connell and the rise to prominence (at last) of Healy have seen them elevated to favourites in this half of the draw. Wales have pushed South Africa close, stuttered somewhat against an out of sorts Samoa, and thrashed Namibia and Fiji. Will the real Wales please stand up? Shane Williams returns at wing, which I'm not convinced about, but there is quality enough to get Ireland thinking. My Prediction: Ireland's tight 5 have too much quality and will dominate from the off. Wales will have their moments, but I take Ireland by 7 to 10 points QF2 - England vs France. If QF1 was totally unexpected, this has gone according to many predictions, though only just. France could hardly have been expected to lose to Tonga, who must be sitting at home wishing they had performed better agains Canada - what might have been.... France's competition has been one of much disagreement. On the one side, the players, ex-players, media, supporters in New Zealand and supporters back home, on the other, Marc Lievremont. He is man things, but he is definitely his own man. His selections continue to baffle, as they have throughout his reign. He has his favourites, his chouchous, and that particular weakness could come to hurt them as a team. England meanwhile have ground out 4 wins. While Georgia and Romania were put to the sword relatively speaking, come from behind victories inspired by substitutions have seen them. Edge past Argentina and Scotlans. They won't be either overlays confident or overly concerned though, as off the field escapades seem to have ham snider the squad, and after 4 weeks of cogs slightly missing, they have to click not gear at some point surely. Martin Johnson has brought out the big artillery for this one. Pretty it won't be. My Prediction: England to be slightly too efficient so I take them to win by 4-7 points QF3 - The other surprise quarter sees South Africa take on Australia. Both sides have had their nervy moments, and while it cost Australia their Pool, South Africa got out of jail and won theirs. Both sides have had injury worries, with prett much every Australian back having some time off in the last few weeks. They all return this weekend though (fit or not?) as Beale and Ioane make the starting line-up. Frans Steyn however misses out for the Boks. He will be sorel missed, but coach De Villiers has picked the most experienced tes side ever, with way over 800 caps between them, and that without Bakkies Botha who is gradually falling apart it would seem. Smit is still, remarkably, preferred to Bismarck du Plessis. Many have him. Performing the role of Captain of the Titanic tomorrow, as they see Australia sneaking this one. My Prediction: South Africa's pack to be too strong for the weak Aussie tight 5, but only just. South Africa by 3, maybe even after extra time QF4 - New Zealand are expected to romp this, and despite injuries to Kahui, Jane and Dagg, I see them having far too much for an Argentina side who have lef a lot of effort and inspiration in the Pool games to edge by Scotland and England. Losing Lobbe is massive for them and despite Figallo's great efforts their pack will be buffeted by Woodcock, Whitelock and co. In the backs, much attention will be on the performance of Weepu at 9 and Lsade at 10. Carter's injury is massive, and while it effectively hands the starting place to Slade, it could be a case of Merry Christmas Everyone else. I can't see this being in. An way tense though, and come half time, I think it would be over. My Prediction: New Zealand by more than 21 points Let's see how I do come Monday morning. The week off has seen me do Waiheke Island nea Auckland n Monday as previously written, then fly to Queenstown on the South Island. To say the. Weather was kind would be an understatement. Glorious sunshine every day mean shorts, t-shirt and sandals. Cable car, chairlift and luge ride on Tuesday followed by a huge plate of ribs (birthday meal). Wednesday morning saw me head off to Shotover River for a 30 minute jet boat ride which was exhilarating and ctainly blew away any cobwebs. Come the afternoon, I wandered around town, did the. Green walk and SA reading my book with an ice cream in the sun which was peace and quiet perfection. An evening meal in the English pub with a beer finished the day off nicely, and the fresh air and activity had me dozing come half past ten! Thursday was White water rafting day. Morning coffee and another walk around town, taking in the scene of the dwarf tossing incident and Tindallgate, which is one of the biggest dives you could ever wish to set foot in, then it was off for a sandwich before heading for check-in. The rafting was fantastic. Exercise, adrenalin and more. My raft seemed to have some reasonably able rafters and the leader of the raft was the head guide, so we did a fair bit of leading the way, and as such we found the way not to go down a rapid called The Toilet, and 4 of our crew were jettisoned including the 6 foot 6, 20 stone ex lox who was sat in front of me. He was spectacularly catapulted to the right, taking his mate out in the process. Pulling him back into the raft seems to have given me a bad shoulder! I had an Indian meal with this pair afterwards and shared a few beers with them too, camaraderie at it's best. Mention has to be made of the hair-raising bus ride, with dinghies strapped to the back, up and down the Skipper's Canon road. "not suitable for trailers" it says as you start going down it in a bus with a trailer on the back. 20 minutes of sheer hell if you hate heights like I still do. The rafting was worth it, even if I did feel like B. A. Baracas waking up in Murdoch's plane for the entire bus ride. Friday saw a stroll, followed by a Fergburger lunch, which is huge burger joint serving huge burgers. Phobia defeated I went back up the cable car and chairlift for some more luging, taking out a couple of Americans through the last tunnel in fine style. The chairlift was easy. I even let go of my grip enough to take some spectacular photos, I don't know what the fuss is all about! An afternoon on the village green, in the sun, with my book and a couple of large bottle of Heineken followed, before an early night yesterday ready for an early morning jaunt to the airport where I write this. That's my lot for toda. Flight will be boarding soon. Enjoy the QFs, even if you are French, and I'll be in touch with my take after the weekend. Anyone down this way HAS to visit Queenstown. Yes it has a touristy feel to it, but you soon see past that to the beautiful surroundings, the vast array of activities to get involved in, the diversity of restaurants on offer (Chinese, India, Korean, Japanese, French, Italian, NZ, I could go on).