While the Wallabies coaching staff have remained tight-lipped about their tactics in the lead-up to and during the World Cup, they could have let their guard down at the worst possible time. The Australian coach paid tribute to the All Blacks’ powerful game.
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However, while the Wallabies are a good team across the board, the New Zealanders do have marginal advantages in many areas, and their tight five should be backed to lay a platform for them to play off. Brodie Retallick is more physical and aggressive than anyone in the Wallaby unit, and he could have a big role to play for the champions and favourites.
Like the All Blacks juggernaut that he has led with distinction, Richie McCaw has kept evolving and at the age of 34 his hunger for success and focus is as intense as ever.
Carter, who has a world record 1,579 Test points, will be in his fourth World Cup but in his first final.
With David Pocock and Michael Hooper proving so effective at regaining possession in the breakdown, nobody turns over the ball as well as Australia.
A running game is in the offing from two of the world’s best attacking sides.
“The boys are feeling fresh and energised”, said Hansen. So I believe we’ve prepared accordingly. “As an All Black, one of the greatest things you can do is sit back and say I’ve improved this jersey from when I picked it up”.
I think that Australia are now a better team than when they beat the All Blacks in August and are playing a few of their best rugby under Michael Cheika, who has done a great job as head coach.
All Blacks left wing Julian Savea is the leading try-scorer in the tournament with eight, needing one more to set a World Cup record.
The Wallabies missed 33 tackles in their semi-final win over Argentina.
The All Blacks would go on to gain a measure of revenge four years ago, blitzing their rivals 20-6 at Eden Park and winning the 2011 World Cup in the process.
Of course, Pocock and Hooper are far from the only stars of the Wallabies line-up, with veteran Matt Giteau and fly-half Bernard Foley also key players.
Cheika, whose game plan notes were revealed by accident on the eve of the final, said: “We don’t want to be proud just to make the final. We will congratulate them afterwards but there will not be any of that before the game”.
It is the first time the Aussie team will play in a World Cup final after losing to England in Sydney in 2003.
Mr Stuart said there is even an acronym for people like him – ABINZ (Australians Born In New Zealand). No matter what code, what occasion. “But it really means nothing, it’s what happens in the next day or so that’s in front of us, the last parts of our preparation and then the 80 minutes that’s ahead of us and being ready to play those out to the maximum of your potential and then see where the cards fall”.
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But New Zealand’s old-foes from across the Tasman Sea are on a mission to turn it into a nightmare on Halloween for the men in black.
