New Zealand pundits have lavished praise on Michael Cheika’s revitalised Wallabies but say the All Blacks remain favourites to win Saturday’s Rugby World Cup final.
Commentators said the two best teams in the tournament would contest the decider at Twickenham after Australia defeated Argentina 29-15 in their semi-final to set up a trans-Tasman clash.
“The final will be a better contest for Australia’s presence,” the New Zealand Herald’s Chris Rattue wrote, while Fairfax NZ’s Liam Napier declared it: “A fitting finale.”
“From the outset of the eighth Rugby World Cup the All Blacks and Wallabies have been the two best teams — it’s only right, then, the trans-Tasman neighbours will contest their first final,” Napier added.
“On and off the field, there’s no love lost between New Zealand and Australia. That intense rivalry only adds spice to what promises to be an epic conclusion to a memorable event.”
While acknowledging the threat from a Wallabies outfit markedly improved since Cheika was appointed coach last year, there was confidence the experienced New Zealanders would prevail.
“The All Blacks are ready to pounce on the mouse which is roaring,” Rattue said.
“Street fighter coach Michael Cheika has revived Australia, but the tournament was always going to stretch their power resources to breaking point.”
Napier said New Zealand would fancy their chances of unsettling a Wallabies scrum which looked vulnerable against Argentina without prop Scott Sio.
“Sio’s replacement was pinged three times by referee Wayne Barnes,” he said. “That equates to a major problem for Cheika, who will also be worried by defensive errors and ill discipline.”
Other factors cited in New Zealand’s favour were the extra day they will have to recover before the final and their recent dominance over the Wallabies.
They have met 11 times since the All Blacks beat Australia in the 2011 World Cup semi-final, with the Wallabies managing only one win and two draws.
TVNZ’s David Agnew said the All Blacks also had the powerful emotional incentive of wanting to send out veterans Richie McCaw, Dan Carter, Keven Mealamu, Conrad Smith and Ma’a Nonu on a high.
“There’s some emotional petrol to be used up,” he said.
“The end of the most successful All Blacks era ever is just waiting for the candles to be lit and it’ll be some swansong statement from some of the best the game will ever see.”
New Zealand scribes warned the main danger facing the All Blacks was Australian flanker David Pocock, who has been in scintillating form and is capable of single-handedly inspiring his team to victory.
“The All Blacks are zooming in for the Cup. Pocock is the key man who can release that grip,” Rattue wrote.
CA3ZAR
Roar Pro
Well deserved praise if I may say so myself
scrumma
Guest
we hear from oz medi and ex wallaby players and coaches when they get 1 win against the allblacks then saying richies to old and we now have the measure on them and everytime they have to eat humble pie, just shut the f#%k up and let the teams do the battle. this allblacks team only play poorly when they seem not interested but then they still win should be a worry for the wallabies.
taylorman
Roar Guru
Looks like the WBs are pulling the Clive Woodward trick of not calling NZ the 'All Blacks'. Funny thing is Woodward used this specifically on the 2005 tour where they lost every test. Hmmm. ABs are not discussing Pocock either. Let the silly games begin I suppose. Good to see the ROAR keeping the ABs alive with many All Blacks articles. :-)
atlas
Guest
Ssssh, don't mention the All Blacks, ad the Qantas Wallabies play mind games with themselves "There is growing evidence that the Australian Rugby Union has issued a secret edict in the past week instructing that all references to Richie McCaw's team should be as "New Zealand" rather than the "All Blacks" - and it's reached right up to Wallaby coach Michael Cheika and his players who seem to be going out of their way to avoid using the name universally attributed to the men in black The Australian move appears a copycat manoeuvre to one used by Sir Clive Woodward and the touring 2005 British and Irish Lions. Woodward banned his management and players from referring to the opposition as "All Blacks", insisting they be referred to as "New Zealand". His theory was that the rugby world unwittingly empowers and mystifies the All Blacks by referring to them by their famous nickname.'' Voldemort ?.
atlas
Guest
And Fox Sports headlining the same Richetty Grub article, must appeal to its audience All class from a national broadcaster Though there is a positive, as one poster pointed out: "At least when the Poms insult us there's some sharp wit and intelligence involved. None such with the Aussie's. I'm pretty sure this is the first time during the entire world cup Aussie has even acknowledged Aboriginals even exist."
taylorman
Roar Guru
Yes they sure improved a week later alright. And since then have only played sides NZ have never lost to in this tournament, nearly losing to Scotland and Wales. How is that improved? Please enlighten us 1612.
Ged
Guest
Yes the AB's had an easier draw, after the Argies in the first game the AB's could afford to rotate and rest players why still building their game without any major injuries. France were in disarray after being beaten by Ireland and then Ireland soundly beaten by the Argies. The AB's had one hard encounter after the Argies and that was SA so they have a lot more in the tank I feel. Australia Played a fired up England, Wales and Fiji who were no easy beats before the QF and SF.
Rich1612
Guest
The Wallabies have improved a great deal since the Sydney win. Has the NZ team improved? There must be some doubt creeping in.
taylorman
Roar Guru
I love how a lot of Ozzie supporters don't even know they don't know their rugby. Nice to see them learn some rugby. Good game rich.
atlas
Guest
Ok, are we allowed a little humour? A satire piece here, though i doubt very much John Eales would approve of his name being used by that literary journal The Betoota Advocate But maybe we could do with a laugh . : . I repeat, Satire, no offence intended John Eales: “Australian-Born All Blacks Fans Are Worse Than ISIS” Anyone who was born in Australia, or has lived in Australia since their childhood, and chooses to support the All Blacks, are the very worst kind of people in the world” says the 45-year-old Order Of Australia recipient. “Worse than the Nazi’s, worse than Joseph Kony, worse than ISIS,” “For someone to spend their entire life here, only to claim New Zealand as their real home once every four years, is an absolute insult to our great nation,” Speaking to journalists from Australia’s home of rugby news (Channel 7) today, Mr Eales went on to explain some of the pitiful excuses he has heard Australian people give when trying to justify their loyalty to the economic standstill of a pacific nation next door. “Some of them say ‘well my dad is from there’ or they say something stupid like ‘my great grandfather played under 19’s for Waikato’… It’s really pathetic” http://www.betootaadvocate.com/sports/john-eales-australian-born-all-blacks-fans-are-worse-than-isis/
Rich1612
Guest
I love how so many of the NZ supporters don't even know when they are being arrogant. Nice to see them learn some humility...
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Guest
Shane D, if it's possible for me to do so, which it isn't. I apologise for the Telegraph. What a load of sensationalist twaddle from a paper owned by an American, and usually sycophantically NRL. But you do realise that OZ rugby fans mostly don't read the Tele, and that its opinions don't reflect the erudite and articulate rhetoric of the fine minds in the OZ fan base? Anyhoo, the games have begun. I saw Murdoch's sub editors efforts to pretend that he likes Oz rugby and I cringed. Anyway, we are in for a long week. Btw - How was Nigel entertained in August?
Insane
Guest
If you read the telegraph then there's no sympathy, you deserve everything you get.
Kiwi in US
Guest
No Frick. I might of got carried away, but this is a different Aussie team, that I haven't seen in years. Im not taking Ozzie lightly.
Wyn
Guest
Not Bothered - are you a politician? All you are saying is that the other side that qualified from the same pool as the AB's made it through to the semis. If you want to quantify the difficulty of the draw, add the world ranking of all teams played up to this point in the WC and that number will give you a measure of how easy the draw. The higher the number, the easier the draw!
Shane D
Roar Rookie
As opposed to an Australian paper depicting McCaw as a grub. Keep it classy Telegraph.
Bobbo7
Guest
But I don't think the games have been as taxing. France didn't turn up. Australia faced fired up Wales, Scotland, England and Argentina I just think the ABs games have been less taxing
Hasté
Guest
England were utter Rubbish no rankings mean didly squat. The pool of death was nothing like it was hyped up to be, Fiji and England were just poor and did not live up to their pre WC hype. Wales limped into the QFs and Aus barely raised a sweat in pool play bar their match against a injury ravaged Welsh team. Scotland were gallant but ultimately failed or some would say Aus got out of jail. Interesting final coming up for sure.
pete and paul
Roar Rookie
Oh dear get over yourself....take the compliment, only an Aussie would see it otherwise...
At the Frick
Guest
And they're taking it one day at a time, they're only as good they're last performance, being only as strong as their weakest link, just proud to be wearing the jersey, reputations counting for nothing... Are you in a drinking game where every cliche has to skol???