Will Rugby be Coming Home?
And so after 24 years of waiting, New Zealands date with destiny is almost upon them when they clash with France in the rugby World Cup final on Sunday. With home advantage just like in 1987 and facing the same opposition, surely the William Webb Ellis trophy will be the Kiwis for the next four years?
It seems so inevitable and bookies Paddy Power have promised money back to punters who have backed New Zealand to win. It is 17 years since they lost a test match in Eden Park, Auckland but that team happened to be France and it was the last time the All-Blacks lost a test series at home. Factor in amazing semi-final defeats to the French at previous World Cups in 1999 and 2007 and perhaps its not a foregone conclusion. New Zealand were coasting through the tournament until they faced Australia in the semi-final last weekend. They trimmed France already in the group stage 37-17 although Les Blues didn’t over-exert themselves in that fixture. However, the manner of the 20-6 victory over the Wallabies was hugely convincing as the intensity the AB’s displayed was astonishing as they overwhlemed the Aussies in the physical stakes.
If they replicate that effort, no amount of off-the-cuff French magic will defeat the host nation.The loss of Dan Carter hasn’t being noticable yet as Aaron Cruden has filled his shoes admirably while Piri Weepu has kicked the goals from scrum-half. Richie McCaw may have a screw in his ankle but as captain, he will not let this opportunity pass him so expect another huge performance from the NZ pack.With such an attacking back-five, Nz will probably score a couple of tries especially with Ma’a Nonu and Israel Dagg in electrifying form. But what can a dysfuntional France bring to the party?
Firstly, their possibly the luckiest finalists ever in the competitions history. They were blessed to beat Wales in the semi despite playing 2/3′s of the game with an extra man as the Welsh left 8 points behind them in a narrow one point win for France. Coach Marc Lievremont appears not to a) have a clue what he’s doing and b) have the backing of his players who he called brats after the Welsh win. Regular scrum-half Morgan Parra is now out-half while Lievremonts pet project Francois Trinh-Duc is on the bench. Its difficult to see France controlling the game as they will need to do so to put NZ on the back-foot, certainly at the start anyway. Captain Theirry Dusatoir and Imanol Harinordoquoy will bring aggression and fight to the home side but it might not be enough over the 80 minutes for a schizophrenic side.
A stadium of four million holds its breath this Sunday. Expect the roar to engulf the Pacific as New Zealand will finally claim back the No 1 country in world rugby at long last!
