If we are to believe the pundits, according to the stats it is not that the All Blacks will beat Wallabies – but by how many that is the real issue.
That is as good as saying let’s have the ceremony first and then the match. It is like saying Wallabies fans should not spoil their sleep and rather watch the losing replay later in the day.
The aura of the All Blacks as a team that cannot be beaten in this tournament is so dominant that punters fear to contemplate betting against it. Yet we know from past World Cup matches, anything can happen on the given day – with no team excluded.
When the ARU asked Michael Cheika to coach the Wallabies team in October 2014, he was told, “tell us what you need to get to the World Cup final and win the Cup.” It was a very tall order given the terrible state of affairs of the Wallabies during Ewen McKenzie’s reign.
To add to Cheika’s misery, the Wallabies were in the Pool of Death.
Before we all lose faith in the Wallabies because of the pundits and the punters, here is a reality check.
Firstly, the team which Cheika cobbled together for this World Cup is nowhere near the team which the All Blacks have been thrashing in the last few years. This Wallabies team was has improved on their recent results, beating the All Blacks to win the Rugby Championship this year.
Secondly, the Wallabies team which All Blacks thrashed in Eden Park for the Bledisloe Cup was not the team which beat the All Blacks in Sydney a week earlier.
The winning side in Sydney was much closer to the team which has beaten England, Wales, Argentina and Scotland to ascend to the World Cup final.
Why didn’t Cheika send in his winning combination to Eden Park for the Bledisloe Cup a week later? Was it mind games? Or just working hard to ensure the best team was on the park?
The Wallabies have never met the All Blacks in the World Cup final.
It is worth losing sleep in the wee hours. It is worth tuning in. This Wallabies side has a great chance of bringing home the Cup.
FrancisF
Roar Pro
KEEPING FAITH... 10/29/2015 http://www.rugby.com.au/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1699/ArticleID/16868/Sydney-Opera-House-going-Green-Gold-for-Rugby-World-Cup-Final.aspx " Australia's iconic Sydney Opera House will turn Green and Gold in support of the Wallabies as they prepare to face the ultimate test against New Zealand in the Rugby World Cup Final in England early on Sunday morning. From 8pm AEDT tomorrow (Friday 30 October), the sails of the Sydney Opera House will be illuminated in the green and gold colours of the Wallabies in a spectacular showing of support for the team ahead of its date with destiny. The famous sails will be wrapped in green and gold again on Saturday night until midnight, prior to kick off in the match at 3am AEDT on Sunday morning (1 November). Minister for Trade, Tourism and Major Events and Minister for Sport Stuart Ayres said: “Sydney is the home of Rugby in Australia, and what better way to show our support than lighting up our iconic Sydney Opera House.”
FrancisF
Roar Pro
The Wallabies can win.... All they need to do in the 80 minutes, is to maintain composure and be patient. When a team is under pressure from rugby made population which insist a win is nonnegotiable from the All Blacks, there will be bound to be gaps and opportunity on the field for the Wallabies to strike deep. And those opoortunitties must be taken then and there. More importantly, do the little things right, eg ball handling and passing and mindful of infringements in their own half. The All Blacks have a potent backline and a team well endowed with slippery runners. I can only presume Cheika and Larkhan would have drilled hard during practice to shut down these runners with precision tackling to deny off loads. Will Genia has his work cut out to contain Aaron Smith who will dictate play in the first 20 minutes to test the Wallabies back line. Hooper's line of sight must be on Carter, to deny him time and space to put the boot on the ball. This is one game in which nothing should be left on the field after the 80 minutes... A battle where there are no prisoners taken.
RT
Guest
10 $3 notes on their way.
Jerry
Guest
Certainly, just send me $30 in unmarked bills.
taylorman
Roar Guru
Horrible isn't RT whereas we get told it was only because of 'selection' that oz lost at Eden park, that we were hopeless in pool play despite being clear about limiting our resources, that France were absolutely hopeless and We were poor against South Africa and on top of that our captains the biggest cheat around and will get done over by someone called Pocock...Don't you just hate it?
Ralph
Roar Guru
OMG - ME TOO! That is super spooky.
RT
Roar Rookie
I'm wearing a red t-shirt Jerry! You're amazing. Lotto numbers please.
RT
Roar Rookie
Good points again. What I've found amusing is the jibes pre-tournament, especially after eden park, how we'd struggle to get out of the pool. Then we top the pool and suddenly the teams we played were rubbish. We got trashed by Joubert against Wales and Scotland and because he didn't quite succeed in sending us packing he had his card marked and thrown under the bus by the IRB/WR. We get Barnes the following week who allows the Argentinians to sit offside and hang on to the ball as if its their only child but pings the WB for not releasing it like a hot potato. Then to crown it all Owens is appointed ref and the kiwis do everything barr organise a street party to celebrate. Notwithstanding all of that I think we might be forgetting that whilst a few all blacks may be hanging up their all black boots post this WC so are some outstanding wallabies (Genia, Kepu, probably Giteau and Mitchell and AAC), are they not entitled to some respect as well? #refbothsidesowens
Jerry
Guest
"Right now, I believe the All Blacks players are nervous" Right now, I believe you have $3.45 in your pocket and are wearing a red t-shirt. You've got about as much basis for your belief as I do mine.
FrancisF
Roar Pro
RT, I think there is smell of victory in the air. There is enormous pressure on the All Blacks players from the rugby mad nation of Kiwis to win and that can smell trouble. Right now, I believe the All Blacks players are nervous after watching how Wallabies outplayed England and Argentina in the back line and the escape from jail from Wales and Scotland by the forwards. The Wallabies and the All Blacks are evenly matched in fitness, skill, tactical play in attack and defence and gritty determination. The Wallabies main problem, as seen from earlier matches, is indiscipline. Steve Lakham and and Nathan Grey must shut down totally the indiscipline in our half, Carter's boot at the moment is on song. Nigel Owens is going to punish the slightrsr infringement especially in the first 20 minutes to set the tone of play as he wants it. The game is going to be brutal, and hopefully the key players are not injured during the game. One other thing, if Scot Sio can't play for the full 80 or at least the 60 minutes, then all bets are off. He is the linchpin for holding the scrum and for getting a quick ball for Pocock and Genia at the back of the scrum.
RT
Roar Rookie
All good point FF. I don't necessarily ascribe to the view that Cheila threw the second bledisloe but he definitely wanted to see how all of his players were going and he also seemed to be saying to a few players "Impress me". Nic White has his chance as did Cooper. Eden park is a cauldron but performing on eden park would have booked you a ticket to the wc, no doubt. People are forgetting that Cheika had limited opportunity with his squad. One thing in the all blacks favour is that they had a seamless handover from coach to assistant coach after the last world cup. That stability is beneficial but it could be an archilles heel. Not in the backs where they have picked on form but I think there are a few AB forwards who have begun to recede in ability. They may be outstanding this weekend and make me eat my words but hey it's an opinion site. I've got to say, I like our chances in this game. Kiwis are definitely favourites but I sense a resolve in this wallaby team reminiscent of 2001 v the Lions. The lions were probably a better team on paper but the wallabies fought back in the second 1/2 of the series and got home. I also think Folau probably has one really good game waiting to bust out of him. He might surprise a few people. It would also be great if Sio could play but I'm not holding my breath.