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The All Blacks will win the World Cup and stake their claim as the best rugby nation ever, but their task will not be made easy by Michael Cheika’s rejuvenated Wallabies.
Australia have risen like the proverbial phoenix after being easy beats not very long ago, but the All Blacks truly deserve a place in the annals of history.
I expect many challengers to my bold prediction, but New Zealand will emulate the cricket eras of the West Indies and Australia.
What the All Blacks have achieved in the past few decades can only be compared to the brilliant Welsh in their era of dominance. Australia, South Africa and England have had their moments but not to the sustained success rate. This is the difference between the best teams.
After analysing the progress of the finalists, it is clear the two best defensive structures in rugby have made it to the last two, and this means that try-scoring should be down to a minimum.
The pride and ferocity of defending their goal-line has become a trademark of the All Blacks and Wallabies so the avenue for scoring must come from discipline.
This will clearly shift the fortunes to the game-breakers – All Blacks legend Dan Carter and emerging Wallabies superstar Bernard Foley. The cooler head may be the deciding factor.
If penalties are to be the decider it will be a scrappy affair fought up front, depending on whether the Wallabies allow the All Blacks to exploit their strength among their rugged forwards.
The Wallabies will do all they can to run the ball wide with their penetrative backs proving to be a shade sharper than their counterparts. But to do this they have to create avenues for ball retention and this will not be made easy by the All Blacks, who have innovative methods of suppressing the best-laid plans.
Welsh referee Nigel Owens will be under the pump to stay impartial to comments from Wallabies ‘experts’ about the All Blacks’ ‘illegal’ tactics in the rucks and mauls. Perhaps innovation is a word not too familiar with the critics. Their words have the potential to poison the minds of referees, if they make decisions based on hearsay and perception.
Already the officials have come under heavy scrutiny for some overzealous decisions that have cost some countries dearly, and an overwhelming majority are convinced that over-officiating a game will only be to its detriment.
My predictions so far have been on the money. I predicted that this World Cup would see the gap between best and the rest get closer and this was best illustrated by the emerging Japanese who just missed out on a first ever quarter-final. I also predicted an All Blacks verus Wallabies final.
I now believe that Richie McCaw, Carter, Ma’a Nonu, Conrad Smith and a few others will head into retirement leaving a lasting memory of an All Blacks dynasty they created over a decade ago. My hat-trick will be decided on Monday morning.
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.