Ready to bake Welsh team - just add belief, and two eggs.

The last think I do is condone smoking, it is a filthy habit, so you may think I am glad about Wales' result against the Spring Boks today; they were close, but no cigar. But cigars, (whilst just as deadly as cigarettes kids) are sophisticated, tasty and they smell nice in my old headmaster's study. I am not glad.

"Gutted" would go some way to describe how my friend Chris and I felt sitting in my living room at about 11am this morning. After going crazy with glee over the Faletau try (Faletau - a local name from the small valley just south of the Beacons called Tonga) we watched with heightened anticipation, as Wales hammered on the South African front door, flipping penalties to the side of the H and flunking drop goals, ignoring my sister's texted warnings against over-confidence. And then South Africa scored their second try and we felt foolish in front of my girl friend, who just enjoyed not knowing what is going on.

Were Wales unlucky - yes, probably. The penalty which might have gone over/might have not (although plainly did, just look, it clearly goes through you blind moron) was not referred upstairs. South Africans playing the ball on the ground who should have been pinged were not. But you make your own luck. What Wales really were, rather than unlucky, were surprised. Nobody, not even bullish Warren Gatland, really believed they would beat the Boks, and this non-belief manifested itself in plain view. We keep being told that Wales have been working hard on defence, and we look back at warm ups against England and Argentina and it certainly seems to be case. And then Hougaard went through the Welsh defence like Moses through the Red Sea. Wales had acres of talent, a horde of baying fans, fitness up to their armpits, and then bottled it. Simple as.

Wales, it seems, have made a habit in recent years of doing just this, losing by a few points to the top nations; 25-29 against South Africa in 2010, 12-19 against NZ in 2009 and 15-20 against South Africa in 2008. These results, and the current crop of Welsh whiz-kids; Faletau, Warburton, Hook, Halfpenny, North and co. suggest that one day they will break their voodoo against these big southern hemisphere giants, but it was not today. Today they lost... again.

This is not to say I was not proud to wear red this morning, in fact quite the contrary. They played the best of all the home nations in their first round matches, and whilst they were the only one to come away with a loss, will also be the most positive about their current game plan. My initial doubts about the World Cup have been all but dispelled, so long as Gatland can keep the squad awake. Add belief to the current array of Welsh goodies, real belief, not just hot air belief, and this Welsh team could go far.

Watch out Samoa, here we come.

What a start!

After day 2 of The Rugby World Cup the eight teams who have played so far have amassed a average of 34 points each. Only one match; England v Argentina, has seen under 50 points. What a start!

This exciting start can be put down to minor teams playing major teams when the major team does not fire on all cylinders. New Zealand, France and England have all failed to steamroller opposition. Granted New Zealand did in the first half and England were playing their toughest game of the pool stages, but still.

The French game may look like a walkover on paper. 47-21 they beat Japan, scoring six trys in the process. But John Kirwan's Japanese team (nicknamed The Cherry Blossoms) earned themselves a new fan who was sitting in a lounge in his pyjamas in Kent. Their spirit and doggedness really impressed and the lapse in energy at the end was entirely forgiven, during which France ran in three.

Similarly The All Blacks, who, buoyed by an entirely NZ crowd stormed the first half, and then went to sleep for the first 20 minutes of the second half. And it was delightful to watch the Tongans hammering on the door, even if all I kept thinking of was Nick from The Apprentice's anecdote about the King of Tonga's hat shop.

And this is what, in my opinion, is making the World Cup so good. Some people are disappointed that New Zealand didn't dismantle Tonga and that Wilkinson didn't kick Argentina into that numbing helplessness that he used to be so keen on. But for me, it is keeping the competition alive. I can't wait to see Japan play again, and no doubt they can't wait to play again, similarly Tonga. I do not mean to patronise the qualifiers, but to praise them, they are making the competition what it is; great!

A word, simply as I haven't mentioned them, on the Scots who held their nerve at the death against Romania and somehow found a win. Next time though just don't play at 2 in the morning! And also to Fiji and Namibia, neither of whom I am looking forward to watching face the boys in red.

Enjoy your Rugby.

Have you set the alarm? What time are you at work? Not for work, for Rugby!

The cameras are focused, the wall-charts are up, the beer is in the fridge - or should that be the hot chocolate is bubbling? This time tomorrow the Rugby World Cup will have begun, presumably with victory to the hosts; New Zealand (no offence meant to Tonga - their opponents). I won't be there, but what can be said for certainty is that I will be watching on TV. But such is the time difference of our antipodean brothers on the other side of the world, I will be getting up to sport.

Sports fans around the world will all understand this phenomenon. In 2000 we all arose from our beds to see who had won medals at the Sydney Olympics. I remember getting up to watch England beat Denmark 3-0 in the round of 16 of the 2002 Japan & South Korea World Cup. And how many of us have disturbed partners, families and housemates with shouts and cheers when Chris Tremlett took Michael Beer's wicket in the second innings of the 5th test at The SCG to win the 2010/11 Ashes? I know I did. Of course, I can only speak for British viewers, I suppose staying up to watch The FA Cup final, or Grand Prix would be exactly the same.

Watching over-night sport is just one of those special things. You feel brilliant watching or listening to sport when there logically shouldn't be sport. I even get the same feeling staying up for election night. It just feels like you have made the extra effort to experience the sport, it makes the event so much more special. This feeling is by far at its best when you are in pajamas, under a duvet, with a cup of tea, it is dark and cold outside (possibly raining) and you sit in watching your heroes bowling, kicking, running, rowing or whatever.

Tomorrow is not bad at all, for the saddos (me) who will watch the opening ceremony the start is 8.30am. But for those of you wanting to see Argentina V Romania the start is 4.30am, for New Zealand V Canada it's 3.30am and for Scotland V Romania it is 2am. Probably best to just stay up! 'Experts' (in other words my friends on TMS) say that constant movement, cold drinks, small snacks and power naps are best for the stayers among you.

For tomorrow's game it is hard to look past New Zealand, who have quality in places most of us don't even know exist. They have to be favourites for the competition, although recent losses to the Aussies and South Africa show they are not infallible. If I had to stick my neck out I'd go for 32-9.

As for home nations; England stand the best chance, in a relatively easy group, although a potential 2nd round against Les Bleus could be tricky. The Scot's campaign will come down to the 25th Sept against Argentina, unless they can nick an unlikely victory over England. Ireland should escape their group, but South Africa probably lie in wait in the 2nd round, although I certainly hope not. My beloved Wales. I can see them not getting through the group stage, slipping up against South Sea Islanders Fiji and Samoa, and if they do get through, Australia in the 2nd round! Eek.

Enjoy your rugby.