Call it the ‘battle of the titans’. Australia and New Zealand have justifiably booked their place in rugby’s biggest moment after dominant performances all year.
Their meeting in the final of the William Webb Ellis Trophy for the World Cup promises an encounter of epic proportions.
It has been a long and winding road for the combatatants who have battled through the pool and knock-out stages to finally set themselves up for glory and a place in history as the team that has secured the most number of World Cups.
Bruised and battered Australia, after a torrid encounter against Argentina, will be asked important questions by the dominant All Blacks about their durability. But what will never be in question is their fighting spirit which will always be the factor that the best teams in the world face up to against the never-say-die Wallabies.
A true illustration of the Wallabies persistence against all odds was their quarter final against Scotland, never giving up hope until the final minutes to snatch an unlikely win.
New Zealand on the other hand have had an easier run to the final, their hardest challenge coming from the robust South Africans who shook off the cobwebs from the pool stage to nearly upset the favoured All Blacks. It was a torrid encounter which the All Blacks survived despite being down at the break before playing smart rugby to overcome the gritty Springboks.
Steve Hansen and Michael Cheika have had enough insight into each other’s strengths and weaknesses from their previous clashes in the Rugby Championship. But it will be the team that hold their nerve under the pressure of a World Cup final that will hold aloft rugby’s richest prize.
Richie McCaw’s men are aware that this battle will be on neutral turf and not Eden Park in Auckland where they dominated the Wallabies in their last encounter. The split at Twickenham is expected to be even, so the contest will have to be on their ability to lift on the day and produce a brand of rugby that can rattle the Wallabies.
On form the All Blacks appear to have the edge up front through their hard working forwards. The Wallabies will look to exploit their speed and thrust among their hard running backs that were instrumental in dismantling the Pumas.
A win for the All Blacks will be just reward for their ageing list, many of whom are heading for retirement after several years of yeomen service to a proud nation.
Australia on the other hand are a team that will not walk away from glory if they are given a sniff and this is just what they have had after some close and nerve wracking encounters.
Whoever comes away with the spoils of this World Cup final will definitely be made to work for it. It all points to a titanic battle as the two neighbours slug it out for rugby’s ultimate prize.
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.
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