Having rugby as our national sport can be a good and bad thing for New Zealanders.
At its best it’s given the New Zealand Rugby Union the ability to sustain a system where we retain our best players.
At its worst the nation’s obsession with the All Blacks and our arrogance regarding how good the team is compared to other nations often has a negative effect.
It prevents rugby fans from being more appreciative when the team performs well or understanding why their team doesn’t always run away with matches like they expect.
On Sunday morning the All Blacks will go into the World Cup final against the Wallabies as warm favourites. One of the key reasons is due to the great experience a number of key players have, which helps the team retain composure under extreme pressure.
Another reason is the lack of injuries throughout the squad. Many people believe the only significant injury the All Blacks suffered at the World Cup, to Tony Woodcock, may have actually been a good thing.
On the flipside, Australia possess some threats that shouldn’t be underestimated by the New Zealand players and fans. You can’t overstate how important dominating the breakdown is to winning the forward battle in modern rugby, and David Pocock and Michael Hooper are the masters.
The tactical approach the All Blacks take to dealing with the Pocock-Hooper combination at the weekend will be fascinating, especially because Michael Cheika elected not to play them both at Eden Park. In doing so he prevented the All Blacks from quickly addressing the areas where they’d got the upper-hand on the Kiwis in Sydney the previous week.
Israel Folau’s fitness is a crucial element this week. When Pocock and Folau were missing from the Wallabies against Scotland it was almost like taking Richie McCaw and Dan Carter out of the All Blacks team at the peak of their powers back in 2005. Folau possesses the type of game-breaking x-factor that South Africa lacked against the All Blacks at the weekend.
It was obvious that Folau’s ankle was well below 100 per cent when he took the field against Argentina. It’s very likely Cheika will start him again, even if he’s nowhere near 100 per cent, because his presence brings confidence to the Wallabies line-up. It will also give the All Blacks a few additional headaches.
If he’s even near to producing his best form he’ll look to isolate Nehe Milner-Skuda in the air in a similar way to how Bryan Habana exposed him in the semi-final.
The weather conditions are likely to prove vital as well.
New Zealand showed a poor ability to execute their gameplan at the weekend when they attempted to persist with grubber kicks throughout the match, which only let to turnovers.
It’s likely to be a tight match and that is always a concern in modern rugby – not because the All Blacks might ‘choke’ or anything dramatic like that, but more because the 50-50 calls from the referee can be crucial in big matches. The last two Super Rugby finals have been prime examples of that.
New Zealand might be the favoured team this week, but their magnificent winning record since the last World Cup will mean nothing on Sunday morning. They are playing against a re-energised Wallabies team that is constantly improving.
The All Blacks have plateaued a bit more in recent times as they’ve looked to consolidate a formula that has proven so successful for them under the current coaching regime.
One thing you can guarantee is that both Steve Hansen and Cheika, who’ve been known to hold things back at times, will leave nothing in the tank at the weekend. Neither will the 23 players in each team.
Let’s keep our fingers crossed for the type of entertaining spectacle we know these two teams can serve up – and just as importantly a refereeing performance that doesn’t swing the result of the match. May the best team win.
Upfromdown
Guest
For me the difference is that rugby gets front page and back pages news in NZ all the time. It is the national game, it doesn't have to try to get a presence, the public generally understand the game and its culture and nuances.In Aust it is the polar opposite. In Aust rugby needs to fight tooth and nail for some space so when we are losing it is out of mind and out of sight. The start of the RWC and there wasn't much rugby on the news, hidden behind the NRL & AFL finals. And given league doesn't generally support union, league and AFL fight tooth and nail to be the biggest game in the country, there is no free to air rugby outside 4-6 tests per year (the rest in SA-Arg & Europe are in the middle of the night) it really is on for young and old media wise to try and get some space. Plus aussies love winding up people who get wound up, and the kiwis generally take it hook, line & sinker. They can't cope losing to us, like we can't cop losing to the english in cricket. So Kearns Martin, Fitzy are the last people kiwis like to see providing their one eyed "expertise". Saying that, I saw a Sky Sports NZ rugby show where Ian Jones couldn't cope with the UK telegraph naming 3 aussies in the tight 5 in the team of the pool matches, and he said he refused to accept aussies in the tight 5 of a team of the tournament. it was quite a bitter response. However with a RWC final, against the champs, the sniff of an upset from a team on the rise, some airplay across TV and the papers then I am happy for anyone to jump the bandwagon.
jcr
Guest
Seeing that the creed now seems to be in rugby". better people make better players" it doesn't seem to apply to a lot of cricketers . Maybe cricket is an individual in a team role and rugby a team player in a team and so you don't need the same personality traits in the different sports for it to work .
zhenry
Guest
'Our media'? You can only say its our media when we own it. I agree with your comments, CA3ZAR, except that one point. NZ does not own its own private media, Except Otago Daily Times, which trumpets unthinkingly what Australian owned Fairfax promote; thats how gutless NZ'ers have become. NZ Public media is run by an ex Fairfax executive. My listening to Radio NZ News tells me (mostly crime and accidents) it is compiled with Australian interests in mind, not always but mostly.
John Deaker
Roar Pro
It can be a bit hard for Australians ( and many Kiwis I guess too! ) to relate to the way many New Zealanders view our rugby team at times. That was part of the reason I posted this article about 6 months ago about McCaw and Carter - and it surprised many people this 'debate' was even taking place: http://www.theroar.com.au/2015/04/25/people-writing-off-mccaw-carter/ While it's one thing to say that they were playing well below their best ( which most people agreed was the case ) it was very different for so many people in NZ to be calling for McCaw and Carter to be dropped PERMANENTLY from over the last year or two...
Johnny Boy Jnr
Guest
It's not All Blacks that have the respect issues - it's their fans (and Hansen in England Australia's case)
Johnny Boy Jnr
Guest
The scary thing is the cricket World Cup teams were a lot closer with NZ boasting McCullum, Boult and Williamson as true world class players in deadly form. Wallabies have Pocock As for the comparison I had nothing but admiration for NZ's world cup cricket side and posted accordingly. What irks me about All Black fans on this site is they have a go at you for having the gall to think your team stands the slightest chance.
taylorman
Roar Guru
Yeah it does what it does. Maintaining the no. 1 status for long periods is extremely difficult. No side other than the ABs can do it consistently because of the win rates. If oz win this week it will chop and change unless oz go on to sit largely unbeaten for a while. Many sides have retirements so I'd expect it to jump around a bit next year.
taylorman
Roar Guru
Nz (on 93.67 points) at a Neutral venue -vs- Aus (on 91.75 points) in a RWC match Will oz overtake NZ? If Nz win by 1-15 points 1.616 95.29 90.13 No If Nz win by more than 15 2.424 96.09 89.33 No If result is a draw 0.384 93.29 92.13 No If Aus win by 1-15 points 2.384 91.29 94.13 Yes If Aus win by more than 15 3.576 90.09 95.33 Yes Excuse the rough formatting but the Nos and yes's on the right confirm Aus will take the no.1 spot regardless of the margin if they win. A draw (not possible here) or loss means they won't so it's winner takes or keeps both. New ranking points are the Middle two columns for NZ, Aus.
PeterK
Roar Guru
it does not work like that. Of course ranking points should be on offer they are test matches. Also fair enough they are doubled. It just so happens 1 plays 2 and they are close enough that if 2 wins it goes to 1 which is fair enough. If it was NZ v Arg and arg won they would not have gone to 1.
Paul from Melbourne
Guest
On neutral ground, definitely 7 times out of 10 I'll say.
Paul from Melbourne
Guest
And that they call it rugby championship or trinations
Kirky
Roar Rookie
Be assured their is tons of arrogance from the Australian and overseas media, just look around! I trawl the many Newspapers in Aussie, New Zealand, South Africa and last and possibly the worst, the British newspapers,. Arrogance abounds aplenty in pretty much every Rugby site in these rags and I'd have to say the Australian rags are the very worst by far. Just read the Fairfax editions, it gets right up the old Kiwi beak believe me. Just think Kearns, Clark, Marto'. Peter Fitz, etc ~ one could go on forever! Every All Black team is instructed and taught to respect every team they play whichever that team may be.. The only team they have ever had issues with is Australia, it;s well documented that respect be given to them prior and during the game but whatever happens after that is up to the individual. As a Kiwi that has lived in the beautiful country of Australia for donkeys years I find it difficult at times having to take the crap that is dished out, mainly over rugby and being the only Kiwi there it's hard to defend, but defend I do! The best one eyed and derogatory crap comes via those dreadful Foxsportsl TV commentators. I just cannot bear them so the mute button is utilised and one watches in silence.
Ged
Guest
The perfect Kiwis and the Bad Ozies....Thanks Kiwis for telling us at every step our faults and your humility.
Johnny Boy Jnr
Guest
Hansen is a disrespectful antagonist and I wouldn't be surprised if he wanted to drive a wedge between the playing groups. From what I understand there is a healthy respect between players as individuals...though, maybe not as rugby players after a pretty lopsided record over the years. Richie and Israel Dagg have even said as much and those players along with several others have repeatedly told the NZ public to grow up in their regards to their treatment of Cooper.
Ged
Guest
Who ever suggested Cooper was the best five eight or that the Australian backline will carve up? but Australia sure have the ability to do so. If you think how dare Australian's believe they can beat our mighty AB's then that is your problem. Can Australia win? Yes, Will they win? maybe but we will have to play extremely well with a few things to go our way. Good luck though and I hope it is a great game for everyone.
Kirky
Roar Rookie
You've got it wrong on several counts mate. The All Blacks played extremely good rugby in difficult wet conditions but never gave up trying to run the ball, where the Boks played their typical Jakeball style of trying to force penalties on the Kiwis and then kicking that said penalty. South Africa still play 10 years ago style of rugby while the All Blacks play the modern expansive type game which is never giving up on attempts to score tries. Paul Ackford like the majority of Pom Journalists never ever have anything positive to say about the All Blacks, so if he said that, it's very unusual territory for him!
TC123
Roar Rookie
John, that could be the biggest load of rubbish I've read tonight. The snipers are out in force from both sides and comments like that aren't contributing to the rugby conversation that most want to enjoy. And leaving things till the game? You've got people already planning bloody parades.
Kirky
Roar Rookie
Haste! you nailed it my friend! ~ my point exactly!
Ged
Guest
I thought the Aus vs Argies game was way more physical, not much credit given for the win though just negative comments and picking faults. Time will tell though, talks cheap.
Kirky
Roar Rookie
Mace! Nice one Cuz!!