History helping All Blacks keep focus

Rugby World Cup history is ensuring hot favourites New Zealand keep their the feet on the ground ahead of their title showdown with France in Auckland.

The gold Webb Ellis Cup, which the All Blacks haven’t won in 24 years, is tantalisingly within reach, especially after the hosts’ impressive semi-final suffocation of the Wallabies.

But despite France’s own poor form during their passage to the final at Eden Park, the ghosts of defeats past is keeping the All Blacks grounded.

On Monday, coach Graham Henry spoke about 2007, and how the French bounced back from a 61-10 drubbing in Wellington to eliminate his side 20-18 in a World Cup quarter-final in Cardiff four months later.

On Tuesday, assistant coach Wayne Smith referred to a similar scenario in 1999, when he was technical adviser to then coach John Hart.

Four months after being overwhelmed 54-7 in the last Test to be played at Athletic Park, Les Bleus came from 14 points behind to score a dramatic 43-31 semi-final upset at Twickenham.

“They have a history of turning results on their head and I think it helps us because there certainly will be no complacency this week,” Smith said.

“Everyone knows what it’s going to be like and how tough it’s going to be.”

Smith, who looks about the All Blacks backs, agreed that France’s unpredictability presented a challenge in terms of working out how to combat them.

They have plenty of ability across the park and good attacking structures, and “you just have to prepare for everything and make sure you’re not surprised by too much”.

Smith said it was a “pretty special feeling” in the All Blacks coaches’ box about five minutes from the end of their 20-6 semi-final win over the Wallabies.

It was then that they knew New Zealand’s cup campaign would go on for a further week.

“To be given an opportunity to prepare for a final – that’s all you want,” Smith said.

“One team is going to come away as World Cup winners on Sunday and you just want that opportunity.”

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