GOVERNOR-GENERAL Peter Cosgrove says he’s sure the Wallabies “will make all Australians very proud” in their Rugby World Cup clash with the All Blacks.
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The history between the two nations shows the enormity of the Wallabies’s challenge; since the two teams first met in 1903; the All Blacks have won 123 to Australia’s 48 matches, with seven drawn.
Earlier in the week the Aussie team earned their spot in the final after knocking Argentina out of contention for the Cup, beating them 29-15.
“The core of the players are from his NSW Waratahs team (Bernard Foley, Adam Ashley-Cooper and Michael Hooper) and he knows how they go”, said Lomu. “Australia will win this game because I just have that feeling that Australia is up for the game”.
Carter, who has a world record 1,579 Test points, will be in his fourth World Cup but in his first final.
The winners will be announced at an awards dinner in London on Sunday, a day after Australia and New Zealand contest the World Cup final at Twickenham.
“We are looking forward to tomorrow immensely”. Now, 28 years later, the rugby world can finally sit back and enjoy the match that had been promised for decades but until now has remained elusive.
New Zealand turned on the style to beat France 62-13 in their quarter-final, before squeezing past South Africa in the semi-finals last week. We entered the ballot a year ago and pulled tickets for New Zealand versus Georgia and New Zealand versus Namibia, which were probably the worst two games there were.
Michael Cheika has urged Australia to exit their comfort zone and achieve greatness when they face New Zealand in Saturday’s World Cup final.
“That’s really important to us and that’s genuine, I’m not in the marketing department. It’s about skill and all that returning to the game that was always there – but we lost it for a few years – makes it a wonderful experience to watch and it must be so much fun to play”.
The All Blacks, however, will go into the match clear favourites, and will be motivated to send off retiring players, Dan Carter, Ma’a Nonu, Kevin Mealamu, Conrad Smith, and inspirational captain, Richie McCaw with a win.
“If we get our ball carries right and focus on the urgency of our cleaners, that’s all we can control and that’s what we’ve got to do to the best of our ability”.
“The reason I signed a four-year deal [in 2011] was to give myself a chance at another World Cup – pretty far-fetched thinking that far ahead but that’s what was driving me”.
Full-back Israel Folau, who has been battling an ankle injury and only lasted an hour against Argentina, has been cleared to play.
Malcolm said: “I couldn’t believe we were lucky enough to get tickets”.
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“As an individual you have to say “I’m not happy to be comfortable”.
