Past history is only an issue, relatively ‘speaking’, if a team lets it be & it can be a distraction to dwell on the past. It’s the here & now & what’s ahead that counts.

They are after all to Rugby what Brazil are to Football.

Past history (looking backwards again! Famous English disease?), can count for v little. A distraction IOW.

As for the oldest chestnut in the book, France, well NZ put them out of 2 WC finals.

Relatively recent, consistent success, or relative failure, may hold some psychological advantage or scars depending on a team’s history.

It’s the 1/4 finals plus that matter. Once there, it depends more on the actual day.

France will arse about in the long grass waiting to meet NZ in QF’s. They will lose to CAN and ROM but still somehow manage to qualify and face NZ. They will be transformed and run up a cricket score in the first half and won’t bother to come out for the second – obviously being the superior team. NZ will go through by default – thereby the french will have shamed themselves and NZ – only the French can think this way – no point in trying to understand the deviousness of it. France know they can’t win two matches in a row so this way they can place a ruddy great big ? mark over the eventual winners……. IRELAND

PEU PEU! Shots!!!!! Fired!!!!! bring it on!!!!!!!

DDD

Also top of Group A meets top of group B in the semis not the final
A – W vs B – RU
Plays
D – W vs C – RU

B -W vs A – RU
Plays
C – W vs D – RU

I think it will be whoever tops group A vs NZ in the final and then it all comes down to whether NZ hold their nerve or get the RWC jitters

As for Group A any of the three could win it. Australia looking better than the last few years, Wales big tournament temprement and Englands Home advantage could go any which way