The All Blacks are blocking out the extreme external pressures as they brace for another French ambush in Sunday night’s Rugby World Cup final in Auckland.
A global TV audience of half a billion people will join New Zealand’s so-called “stadium of four million” in watching the all-conquering All Blacks attempt to finally confirm their status as the world’s premier rugby nation.
Despite being the most dominant team of the past quarter of a century, at least, New Zealand have not lifted the Webb Ellis Cup since the inaugural World Cup in 1987.
By a twist of fate, the All Blacks conquered France in that first final 24 years ago at the same Eden Park venue, New Zealand’s spiritual home where the tournament hosts’ last defeat also came against Les Bleus, in 1994.
The All Blacks also lost sudden-death matches to France in 1999 and 2007 when they were raging Cup favourites, so little wonder the All Blacks are on guard.
The unpredictable French are the first team to reach the final after losing two pool games and also struggled to beat 14-man Wales 9-8 in the semis.
“This French team, we’re not sure who’s going to turn up, quite frankly,” New Zealand coach Graham Henry said on Friday.
“So we’ve got to prepare that they’re going to be the best in the world. They’ve certainly got the individuals to do that, it’s just whether they can produce that as a side.
“All the word is that they’ve prepared well and they’re very focused and they’re enjoying the underdog tag.
“They feel that they’re not being considered in this final by a lot of people. We don’t think that. We think they’re a very good rugby team.”
Henry’s men need no reminding about the perils of complacency, but back-row great Zinzan Brooke – who played in New Zealand’s only World Cup final losing team in 1995 against South Africa – offered some anyway.
Brooke said the consistently inconsistent French should never be written off.
“They have stumbled and also played good rugby as well,” he said on Friday.
“Ugly rugby can be good rugby, so it’s important not to underestimate the French.”
All Blacks centre Ma’a Nonu, arguably the player of the tournament, said being installed as $1.09 favourites to topple the French would count for little come Sunday.
“History tells about the French side that’s played the All Blacks in the last 24 years, so it’s whoever turns up on the night,” Nonu said.
“They’ve been slammed, been under-rated and that’s when the French play their best rugby, when their backs are against the wall.
“(But) I think this is probably our best chance (to win the World Cup) and we want to take it.”
Henry on Friday named the same team that outclassed Australia 20-6 in the semi-final, with the only change to the match-day 22 being Adam Thomson’s promotion to the bench at the expense of Victor Vito.
France coach Marc Lievremont included veteran back Damien Traille among his replacements named on Friday, after announcing the same starting XV on Wednesday that squeezed past Wales 9-8 in the semi-finals.
Traille, 32, joined the reserves at the expense of Cedric Heymans in the only change to the French 22.
New Zealand: Israel Dagg, Cory Jane, Conrad Smith, Ma’a Nonu, Richard Kahui, Aaron Cruden, Piri Weepu, Kieran Read, Richie McCaw (capt), Jerome Kaino, Brad Thorn, Sam Whitelock, Owen Franks, Keven Mealamu, Tony Woodcock. Res: Andrew Hore, Ben Franks, Ali Williams, Adam Thomson, Andy Ellis, Stephen Donald, Sonny Bill Williams.
France: Maxime Medard, Vincent Clerc, Aurelien Rougerie, Maxime Mermoz, Alexis Palisson, Morgan Parra, Dimitri Yachvili, Imanol Harinordoquy, Julien Bonnaire, Thierry Dusautoir (capt), Lionel Nallet, Pascal Pape, Nicolas Mas, William Servat, Jean-Baptiste Poux. Res: Dimitri Szarzewski, Fabien Barcella, Julien Pierre, Fulgence Ouedraogo, Francois Trinh-Duc, Jean Marc Doussain, Damien Traille.
Moaman
Guest
capital! Interesting to hear you make those points after watching the Arg game.I was like you-quite happy to see the systematic approach they took into that game;the ABs were,however,written off by many overseas pundits in the aftermath of that game.They were deemed incapable of going all the way minus Carter and their apparent difficulty in overcoming a limited Pumas side was cited as evidence of that.One match later and those same pundits were calling the ABs "red hot" and installing them as unbackable favourites.I am getting cynical about those boofhead band-wagon jumping hacks. If you are able to get hold of the 1st 3N game at eden Park last year....'Boks v ABs i believe you will see those same qualities you mentioned on display.This AB team has been years in the making....personel may have changed due to injury/form but the blueprint is long-established. Finally....Do you happen to know why our handles are in black whilst the majority are red?
capital
Guest
ABs are an outstanding squad, ruthless and committed. Having just watched the Argie QF for the first time, and recollections of last weekend, it is clear why the side is dominant, The forwards and backup forwards are excellent at making metres - body height aggression commitment. And the backs, experience and the youth running and playing comparably to the WB back 3. At this point in time, they are just a class above the wallabies and most test teams. Go ABs, time to reward the commitment of a great rugby culture and a generation of excellent players. .