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Wallaby skipper Michael Hooper needs a crash course in diplomacy.
Two days ago, Hooper questioned whether All Black legend and opposite number Richie McCaw has still got what it takes.
The comment was construed as a self-promotion that Hooper was now better than the legend.
Hooper’s good, but not that good.
Hooper has never been even nominated for the coveted IRB Player of the Year award in it’s 13-year existence.
McCaw has been nominated seven times, and won three.
And when a cheap shot is fired, it generally comes back to bite the biter.
McCaw will still be smarting after giving away the penalty that Bernard Foley converted with his long range shot for the Waratahs to win their first Super Rugby title by a point at their 19th attempt.
Couple that with Hooper’s dig, and expect a blinder from Richie McCaw tonight at ANZ in the Bledisloe opener.
As both teams readily agree, winning the first Cup clash of the season is paramount.
Having to win the last two is as big an ask as rugby can provide.
Pity Hooper didn’t use his quote yesterday first up, saying he was looking forward to another showdown with Richie McCaw.
That’s more like it.
Apart from the fireworks expected from the clash of the No 7s, there are a few more issues that will decide the outcome.
First and foremost, goal-kicking.
Now that Wallaby coach Ewen McKenzie has seen fit to drop Foley, by far the leading goal-kicker and points-scorer in Super Rugby, McKenzie will be praying Nic White and/or Kurtley Beale can land the precious penalties, better still the conversions.
The All Blacks won’t have Dan Carter tonight, but Aaron Cruden and Beauden Barrett are both better goal-kickers than White or Beale. The one saving grace is Foley is on the bench, so if the worst happens, Foley can be re-installed, but who goes to the bench?
You can bet it won’t be Matt Toomua.
Tonight will be a real litmus test for the Wallaby front-row of Sekope Kepu, Nathan Charles, and James Slipper. If they can hold their own, the chances of the Wallabies winning will soar.
The All Blacks have a seriously super back-row – McCaw, Jerome Kaino, and Kieran Read. That’s the best back-row in world rugby.
The Wallaby back-row isn’t shabby – Hooper, Scott Fardy and Wycliff Palu – but they will have to work overtime keeping up with the men in black.
All Black half-back Aaron Smith calls the shots better than Nic White, and we are yet to see how Kurtley Beale will face up to Cruden.
Than it gets interesting – the clash of the midfield backs – Toomua and Adam Ashley-Cooper against Ma’a Nonu and the promoted Malakai Fekitoa replacing Conrad Smith who is back home with his wife expecting a baby.
Smith has been outstanding for the All Blacks during his 77-cap career, but the 22-year-old Fekitoa is lethal, he’s a far more dangerous attacking centre than Conrad Smith, as Ashley-Cooper will find out.
The biggest plus for the Wallabies is full-back Israel Folau who must inject himself more into the game.
That will be harder now Beale is at 10, but it’s up to Toomua to raise his game to make links with Folau work.
If Folau can cut loose, the Wallabies can win because their defensive structure has improved out of sight.
Hopefully Peyper can keep his whistle in his pocket and allow two attacking sides, who love to run the ball, to entertain the faithful at ANZ.