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All Blacks coach Graham Henry is warning France can be “the best team in the world on their day”. But New Zealand are overwhelming ($1.10) favourites to win Sunday’s Rugby World Cup final and Henry is doing his best to ensure his team don’t clock off this week before playing a French team they beat 37-17 in their pool clash.
“We don’t underestimate the ability of France,” Henry said on Monday.
“Although France didn’t play well in their semi-final (won 9-8 win against 14-man Wales), we know they have the ability to play outstanding rugby.”
Henry knows that better than most, having survived calls to be sacked after New Zealand’s 20-18 World Cup quarter-final loss to France in Cardiff four years ago.
“That’s the most bizarre game I’ve been involved in,” said Henry.
“But they (France) will be no more difficult to prepare for than Australia. It’s a question of building in the week,” Henry said, adding: “There’ll be subtle changes in the game plan.
“France can be the best in the world on their day.”
Veteran lock Brad Thorn, for whom the final is set to be his last outing in an All Blacks shirt, quoted advice from Wayne Bennett, his former coach at Australian NRL club Brisbane.
“He used to say that one of the hardest things is getting to the final,” Thorn recalled.
“Do you think anyone’s going to remember who won a semi-final in 2011? No one’s going to care. It’s all about what happens this weekend.”
New Zealand advanced into the final on the back of a commanding 20-6 win over Australia on Sunday.
“It was a great game, a heroic performance that everyone contributed to, and it was very pleasing in that respect,” said Henry.
“Our kicking game was good at times but we could improve on that,” he added having seen his side miss several shots at the posts.
“It was a big game because there’s a bit of history and then there’s the need to get into a World Cup final.
“It’s been 24 years since the All Blacks have won a World Cup.
New Zealand may be a rugby ‘superpower’ but they’ve won the World Cup just once and Henry said his approach to the tournament had changed from four years ago.
“In 2007, we took it one game at a time,” he said. “This year, we dissected the World Cup and its history and looked at why the All Blacks have not won in 24 years, and we used that to give us more knowledge.
“It’s a new experience for this group (to get this far). It’s very important we come down after the semi-final, get to base again, have a clean sheet of paper and build again.
“If we do it too early, that leads to anxiety.”
Reflecting on the injury toll from Sunday’s clash with the Wallabies, Henry said centre Ma’a Nonu, who scored the only try of the match, had suffered a neck strain with reserve scrum-half Andy Ellis and wing Cory Jane both sustaining knocks to their noses, while first-choice No.9 Piri Weepu was battling a virus.
But Henry said all the fitness issues were “nothing serious”.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.