On 23 October 2011 New Zealand answered their critics to an extent by beating France in the World Cup final and lifting the golden trophy for the first time since 1987, but because that tournament was played on their home soil and because they only squeaked home 8-7, the wider rugby public could still entertain a few doubts about their ability to bring home the bacon when it really matters. He’s stayed with the team to advise his replacement, Joe Moody. It’s the type of game you want to be involved in.
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New Zealand have lost just three times in 53 Test matches in the last four years, an extraordinary era of excellence during which they have been expertly led by Richie McCaw.
We can certainly expect more of the same kind of southern hemisphere banter in the next 24 hours as the build up to arguably the grandest of spectacles in world rugby approaches.
Pocock is favourite to win the award but Australian legend John Eales, who was chairman of the panel that decided the nominees, says it’s a strong list.
“We realise we need to be on the job and limit their influence as much as possible and hopefully our back row can impose themselves”, McCaw said.
“It doesn’t matter what you do in life, experience is massive”, coach Steve Hansen, who was an assistant in 2011, said.
Coach Hansen, looking relaxed during the week as he prepares this team to go into battle for the last time, said the most hard aspect of a final for a coach was keeping emotions in check.
“I just want to make sure that they’re very well prepared, best they can, and then they’ll get the chance to put everything we’ve done out on the field”.
“If we’re good enough to win it he’ll feel better about that too”.
Cheika, masterminding Australia’s campaign to win the World Cup for a third time, welcomed the return of Brumbies prop Sio.
Wallabies left wing Drew Mitchell needs one more try to equal the World Cup total record of 15 held by former All Black Jonah Lomu and South Africa’s Bryan Habana.
“But the ultimate goal has always been to win it”. The Wallabies pushed them all the way that day and won 27-19 to win the Rugby Championship. But back home the following week, they smashed the Wallabies 41-13 to retain the Bledisloe Cup.
He’d been challenged by a journalist who referred to reports Cheika was under a directive from the ARU to address the defending World Cup holders only as “New Zealand” and never by their more intimidating moniker.
Kaino has stayed in the No. 6 jersey for the final, with Vito in the reserves.
New Zealand All Blacks fly-half Dan Carter takes part in a training session on Oct 30, 2015 at London’s Twickenham Stadium. “My motivating factor is just wanting to go out there and play the best I possibly can for my team-mates alongside me”.
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“For us it’s a focus on them as a team”. Even the coaches would run out there if they could.
