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In any preview of an All Blacks game it’s not surprising to see references to the ‘Richie McCaw factor’. Similarly in Australia we have become used to talking about the ‘David Pocock factor’.
If the looming World Cup final between the All Blacks and Wallabies didn’t have enough intrigue, the clash of these two ‘factors’ adds enormously to the expectation of the battle between these great rivals.
Pocock and McCaw are brilliant players – skillful, tough, talented and inspirational. There have been numerous times when a win to either team has been put down to that little extra that these players give their team.
So will the clash of these two ‘factors’ be a major factor in the World Cup final?
Absolutely!
Will it be the deciding factor? That remains to be seen but when the presses ran hot throughout Sunday with the news that McCaw could face disciplinary action and that he could miss the final, I am sure there were many Wallabies supporters hoping that that would be the case.
That was despite the fact that it was well into Monday Australian time before they knew that Australia would indeed play in the final.
Being without McCaw would have been a huge blow to the All Blacks but it wouldn’t have meant that the Wallabies’ job was going to be much easier. No matter which team they put on the field, the All Blacks are in with a huge chance of retaining their title and becoming the first country to win three World Cups.
Having him in the team probably makes it more achievable.
But the Wallabies are chasing the same goal. Can they claim their third title and have yet another chant to hurl at New Zealand fans? I well remember a pub full of Wallabies supporters in Cardiff after the 1999 final chanting “Two World Cups! Two World Cups!”
Being able to sing “Three World Cups!” will be a delight but will it be the fans in black or those in gold singing it?
If it’s those in gold there is every chance that Pocock will have made a major contribution to that achievement.
It’s not surprising that when the chance of playing in the semi-finals nearly fell through the Wallabies’ fingers in the quarter-final against Scotland, Pocock wasn’t in the team.
Despite the fitness cloud hanging over him in the match against Argentina, he was brilliant. There is no doubt that the Wallabies are a better team with him playing.
Of course the All Blacks could lose McCaw and yet still win the World Cup. Australia could do the same without Pocock. With both players there and even reasonably fit the prospect of their clash is tantalising, however.
It will add so much to the already fever pitch interest in our two countries and it could well be the more dominant of the McCaw and Pocock factors that proves to be the major factor in the result.
And while on the topic of comparisons, in any discussion of rugby greatness Stephen Moore is unlikely to be rated with John Eales and Nick Farr-Jones. Yet the solid, determined Australian skipper could find himself in their company if his team can succeed in its World Cup mission.
Australia has won the World Cup twice, in 1991 under the leadership of Farr-Jones and in 1999 with John Eales as the captain. Both were exceptionally talented rugby players as well as being inspirational leaders.
Both quickly established themselves in their respective positions in the Wallabies team and ascended to the captaincy at a young age – Farr-Jones at 25 and Eales at 26.
Moore took considerably longer to seal a permanent number two jersey and was 31 when he gained the captaincy.
He may not have the same characteristics and talents as Farr-Jones and Eales but there is no doubt that he has many qualities as a player and captain that could play a role in him joining those greats as the only Australians to have captained a World Cup-winning team.
I hope he is able to join that exclusive club. I have watched his career from his early days of club rugby in Brisbane and it’s hard not to have huge admiration for him.
I hope to see him raising the William Webb-Ellis trophy aloft at the conclusion of this fascinating World Cup final.
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.