New Zealand’s win over Australia in the Rugby World Cup final was a fantastic finish to what has been a hugely successful Rugby World Cup, from an organisational and entertainment aspect. However, while Japan shocked the rugby world with the greatest upset in the history of the sport with a victory over South Africa, the gap between tier one sides and the rest still appears gargantuan. It is important to note that Japan followed up their spectacular victory with a crushing defeat to Scotland, who cannot even claim to be a top side in their own right anymore, despite their heroic performance in the controversial … Continue reading Is the Rugby World Cup a Real Contest of World Rugby?