RWC blog: Menu has Sunday Special

Day Eight from Planet Rugby journalist Adam Kyriacou's day-by-day diary of his adventures in New Zealand at the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

For something extra, Planet Rugby has jetted Adam Kyriacou across to New Zealand for him to scribe a day-by-day diary of the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

Follow Adam on Twitter: @PlanetRugbyAK

Day Eight

It truly is crunch time from tomorrow when three huge games will make Friday, Saturday and Sunday flash by within a blink of an eye. If you have made any plans with the Mrs then now is the time to start sniffling and coughing – you'll have to play these symptoms out in advance – as these fixtures are not to be missed. While there is a chance Samoa can upset the reigning champion Springboks, a look over contrasting rest periods and then South Africa's starting XV repel back that argument somewhat. Subsequently it looks like being Peter de Villiers and Warren Gatland who are still alive when the weekend is done with. Scotland v England is equally, if not more, intriguing. Andy Robinson has not been shy in making changes, opting to go for the freshness approach in starting Sean Lamont and Joe Ansbro at centre. Top spot in that Pool is like gold dust of that there's no doubt. Then it's Italy and Ireland. Stock up the fridge.

Funny fact – Italy prop Martin Castrogiovanni and Ireland full-back Geordan Murphy will swap pepper grinder for rugby ball in Otago on Sunday. The Leicester Tigers duo co-own an Italian restaurant 19,000km away called 'Timo', an eaterie in Market Harborough. Right, my question is would anyone complain if they found a hair in their soup?

What is with the timing of Steve Tew and John O'Neill? The Australian Rugby Union chief O'Neill has backed New Zealand Rugby Union's recent claims that leading countries may not be able to afford to attend future World Cups. Chief Tew shocked many earlier in the week when he stated that the NZRU would lose £6.7million as a result of the All Blacks' participation in this year's World Cup and could not afford to suffer similar losses again in four years. While we understand their concerns of the current economic model, surely these operating issues could have waited so as not to detract from this RWC in New Zealand?

Quote of the Day (Brian Moore) – “England are the Germany of the rugby world.”

Are Wales genuine contenders for the 2011 World Cup? Let's look at it, they were extremely unfortunate not to shock the Springboks in their opening Pool game but that seems to have turned out to be a blessing in disguise. They now need to defeat Fiji – an outfit that seems to have gone backwards since 2007 – with a bonus-point to be guaranteed of second spot in Pool D. From there they are very likely to face Ireland before a semi-final showdown with England or France. Very do-able. So what's happened to turn things around for Wales? What is noticeable is the strength of the spine of their side; by that I mean their props, locks, 8, 9 and 12. They have all – barring Toby Faletau – been round the block and with fearless flanker Sam Warburton leading, they are decent outsiders to lift the Webb Ellis trophy.