Time to dispense with the juggling act

THE intensity, or lack of it, en route to the World Cup quarter-finals has created interesting comparisons between the eight remaining nations.

It has long been argued that the basis of any good team performance demands that the tight five fulfil their primary ball-winning function. But as the top teams have met weaker opposition, some of them have abandoned the desire to produce structured forward play.

With the selection of an extremely fast and free-spirited back three and a running out-half in Carlos Spencer, the All Blacks have been committed to an open style of play throughout this season.

In the World Cup, easy matches against Italy, Tonga and Canada allowed the men in black to shift the ball wide continually, without the need to gain forward dominance. But against a very mediocre Wales the All Blacks came crashing back to earth.

They have spent this week going back to basics, but fortunately for New Zealand, they have a pack who are strong enough to play with more control.

South Africa have had a totally different lead-up to the quarter-finals. Forward play from its mammoth pack was hamstrung by the lack of an out-half who could distribute quality ball with any effect. For the first two matches, the backs were too far behind the gain-line and failed to penetrate - good, strong defence proved its best attacking weapon.

But with the introduction of Derek Hougaard at out-half, a link has been found. However, whether they now also have the ability to change the alignment of the back-line and advance their back play 20 years in one week of training is debatable.

Under pressure since the loss of the Bledisloe Cup and its poor showing in the Tri-Nations, Australia has been attempting to play the current All Black way. Unfortunately, they lack the speed and flair of the Kiwis they are trying to emulate. What is worse, however, is that they lack the forward pack to dominate up front if they need to.

For months, pundits have talked about teams like Ireland being able to punish the Wallabies up front and so it proved. The lack of good possession has led to pressure being placed on George Gregan, and the more he is disrupted the less stable his team becomes.

Fortunately for Australia, their quarter-final opponents are by far the luckiest of the qualifiers. Scotland did not change its game during the pool games because, quite simply, there is no game to change. A reasonable lineout, assisted by Tom Smith and Simon Taylor, is all they have to offer. It's a shame for Taylor, who has been one of the outstanding players of the tournament to date.

England is one side which has tried to change how it plays. Over the last few seasons the English have launched some extremely effective back-line attacks from a strong forward base.

Against Samoa, England was trying to be expansive but really only succeeded in giving its opponents a number of targets. The slower English forwards began to cut corners to the breakdowns and the penalty count rose. England's final pool match romp against Uruguay will have done little to refocus the tight five.

England's quarter-final opponents, Wales, struggled through the pool matches until it threw caution to the wind against the loose-playing All Blacks. That was a one-off performance and no matter how England choose to play, the Welsh dragon will run out of puff this weekend.

In the last quarter-final, Ireland finds itself up against a French team which, throughout the pool matches, has shown impressive discipline. They have refused to vary the team tactics although they undoubtedly have the resources to do so.

Each French performance has been built around the tight five, with solid set pieces and driving mauls. Unlike French teams of the past, they have not forced the passes, but when good ball is shifted wide, the straight running of Tony Marsh in the centres has created a wealth of opportunities for the outside backs. To progress in the competition the French now have to step up the intensity.

Under Eddie O'Sullivan, Ireland has varied little in its playing style. A lack of real attacking speed on the flanks has led to a game plan where the forwards control the ball and field position long enough for gaps to appear in the opposition midfield.

This game plan, which involves more kicking than most to gain good field position, has been enhanced by the quality of jumping from the Irish second rows. Paul O'Connell in particular would qualify for the team of the tournament at this early stage, and it is his ability to put pressure on the opposition lineout throws that has catapulted him into the limelight.

In the toughest pool, Ireland has been forced to fine-tune its pattern under pressure, and the forward pack is coming up trumps. But for one defensive lapse, when Shane Horgan raced up out of the defensive line against Australia, the quality of Ireland's forward play would have guaranteed a semi-final berth.