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.
CA3ZAR
Roar Pro
Well said Taylorman
Shrink
Guest
That's how it's done. Not sure why other fans dont see the same game. Think their eyes glaze over with hope. ABs playing a game so far ahead of the pack. Aus playing the game Hansen and Co were playing four years ago. No contest
Jibba Jabba
Roar Guru
Hilarious... Oz backs more penetrative than the ABS....really ??? And the best defences, they cant even tackle across a whole game...33 missed tackles, 25 missed tackles... geesh.. .
taylorman
Roar Guru
Yeah I realised that. Benefit of the doubt as they didn't win in 09 so at any interpretation of five years 3 is the most.
Bazza Allblack Supporter
Roar Rookie
From your keyboard to God's ears
Jerry
Guest
11, 12, 13, 14, 15. That's 5 years. Plus, if we're being completely pedantic, that HK loss was on 30 October 2010, which means it was 5 years and 1 day ago.
wardad
Guest
so he will be 5 from 7 then ......
wardad
Guest
2011 at suncorp win ,2012 draw at Suncorp ,2013 Oz lost all games ,2014 draw ,loss,loss ,2015 win, loss . Dont count 2010 and hes correct T-man .
wardad
Guest
T-Man you said it for me RE: the Welsh ,you have to beat a team to dominate them . Godd luck to the teams and KIa Kaha All Blacks !!!
Melbournite
Guest
Dannyray, Does NZ have an edge? possibly - perhaps in the experience in world cups- not as a team but around 7 of them were in the 2011 final, and both Ritchie and DC at least were involved in the 2007 qtrs. Thus, there is experience in both losing and winning by some of the leadership team. This may help in a pressure game. Wallabies on the other hand have slightly less experience. Matt Giteau was in both the 2003 and 2007 World cups and quite a few of them were in the 2011 semi-final. The ABs team has a reasonably settled scrum, halves and backline in the last couple of years and potentially play better as a team. Yes, in the last game between the two teams, the teams were different. but more so the Wallabies, then the ABs. The ABs only have two different players than the starting team playing at Eden Park - Joe Moody and Jerome Kaino in the forwards. The Wallabies however, have 7 changes in the starting line-up from the Eden Park game. All this shows is that the ABs have been reasonably consistent in their selection and this may mean better cohesion as a team. Who will win - no one truly knows. Could it be close, yes, could it be a blow out. yes again. The fact is there are critical unknowns that could cause a blow out: the ref, discipline, a player or players getting sent off at a particular time, or players getting injured. Therefore, you can not logically say either way - whether its going to be tight or a blow out, or a NZ win or an Australian win. This is the first time both teams are meeting in a world cup final, and on a neutral ground. We don't know what will happen. There are no stats to predict how Nigel Owens will ref, the likelihood that a send off will impact a game, or whether a send off will happen, or who will get injured, or who will be ill-disciplined. It can take just one mistake from one player on either side to shift the momentum of a game. I think it won't harm the ABs if they think there is a possibility that they will run away with it because that is a true possibility. By being confident and sure of yourself and your team is very different to being arrogant and over confident. There is nothing wrong with the attitude if you are confident. If you want to win and you have the ability to win you need to be sure of yourself, not second guess yourself, and you need to reach high, otherwise the standards you try to reach are not high enough to win. Go both teams! the team that wins will deserve to win - no matter the score-line.
Shrink
Guest
Aus to put up a spirited affair till the 55 min mark, and then reduce to a disorganised shambles until Owens gives relief with the final whistle. A bridge too far
taylorman
Roar Guru
3 times NB, 2 were draws... 2010 Hong Kong 2011 Suncorp 2015 Sydney
Jerry
Guest
"Aus have beaten NZ 5 times in the last 5 years, more than any other team." No they haven't, they've beaten NZ twice in 5 years, same as SA. They've had a couple of draws though.
Not Bothered
Guest
I guess he means in the 50s. For me, the 2nd best streak or era was from 24/06/2000-21/02/2004 for England. In which they won 93%, won a WC, had a for and against of 39-13 and a try scoring rate of 4-1. Not exactly sure when Aus has been 'easy beats'. Aus have beaten NZ 5 times in the last 5 years, more than any other team.
Boris
Guest
Australians: poor losers and even worse winners? I hope the most modest and humble team win this one...
Boris
Guest
The right comment!!
taylorman
Roar Guru
Geez, you should know never to trust a Westie...
atlas
Guest
Remarkable. The macaw has copied Farrell's kicking style: He looks around and briefly steps left, as though returning to the middle, but only separates his legs. He turns his head to the side, looks left again and then quickly right, bobs down – once, twice – and on the third movement advances and kicks. He then poses for photos – puffs out his feathers, bobs, twists and turns his head, and spreads and flaps his wings.
Mike Huber
Roar Pro
The All Blacks are DOOMED Richie the Macaw - the Herald's worryingly accurate parrot pundit - has picked Australia to beat the All Blacks in the Rugby World Cup final. For the past two weeks the psychic green-winged macaw has grabbed headlines and turned rugby fans of all ages unashamedly superstitious. After correctly predicting the result of five from six knockout games, the 2-year-old seed reader attracted a fast-growing fan base here and abroad. He had punters visiting him this week vowing to bet on whoever he picked for the final, and an especially committed fan named Neil Castle, who designed and dropped off a custom-made flag. But when placed in the middle of his wooden perch for the final time, with the two flag-furbished bowls to his left and right, Richie decided to finish with a bang. He started by side-stepping twice to his right, immediately favouring the Australian bowl. Up to his usual antics - performing for the camera and those watching - the bird faked left towards New Zealand, turned his head to the side, looked in all directions, ducked twice, and finally ate from the bowl. The Wallabies bowl. He went back to the Australians two more times, as if giving us the bird, and rubbed it in further with some kind of celebratory dance. Richie the Macaw from the Bird Barn Pet Store in Henderson, Auckland - unpredictable right to the very end. An unapologetic genius or a confused clairvoyant? Tomorrow will tell. Some might say he simply confused the two flags. Others will call for his head. Bird's-eye view Richie the Macaw's 2015 Rugby World Cup final pick: Final: New Zealand v Australia Twickenham, 5am on Sunday morning (NZ time) Result: Richie picked Australia to beat New Zealand. Behaviour: After moving to his right straight away, towards the Australian bowl, Richie stops still. He looks around and briefly steps left, as though returning to the middle, but only separates his legs. He turns his head to the side, looks left again and then quickly right, bobs down - once, twice - and on the third movement advances to the Wallabies' bowl and eats. He then picks from the Australian bowl another two times and poses for photos - puffs out his feathers, bobs, twists and turns his head, and spreads and flaps his wings. Meaning: The Wallabies start strong and quickly gain momentum. A short period of even rugby then follows - with the All Blacks desperately attempting to recover from a slow start - but Australia comfortably run away with it in the end. The 2015 Rugby World Cup eventually secured with three match-winning plays by the men in gold.
Dannyray
Guest
Whilst I think NZ have the edge - I'll be very surprised if they "run away" with it. The last time the AB's beat Aust. well, it was a totally different outfit, at Eden Park. I think it's fair to say the WB's will be more fatigued than the AB's but RWC finals are a totally different ball game. Plenty of examples, the best probably 2003 where Aust. we're definitely not as good as England, but somehow managed to be there right until that last drop goal. I hope the AB's believe they will "run away" with it, because they'll be disappointed if that's the attitude. Go the Wallabies!!!!!!!