All Blacks have had enough of tears
Saturday, September 8, 2007
THE mighty All Blacks, backed by the desperate dreams of four million rugby-obsessed compatriots, hope to end their agonising 20-year wait for another World Cup triumph when their 2007 campaign starts in Marseille today.
When the slender figure of David Kirk lifted the Webb Ellis Trophy in Auckland in June, 1987 after a convincing 29-9 win over France in the inaugural final most observers expected an avalanche of titles to follow.
But, instead, the famed men in black have left a trail of tears reaching just one more final since, in 1995 when they were beaten by the Springboks, and three semi-finals in 1991, 1999 and 2003.
This time, the whole of New Zealand expects victory and the team, now coached by Graham Henry, have rarely looked so good.
A mobile pack is in cruise control alongside a beguiling set of backs whose confidence is so high that even winger Joe Rokocoko has been deemed surplus to requirements for the opening Group C game with Italy today.
These All Blacks have won 38 of 43 matches since 2004 a success rate of 88 per cent.
But when they arrive at World Cups, their nerve has failed them with many critics accusing them of being 'chokers'.
Sean Fitzpatrick, who played in that 1987 team and in the 1991 and 1995 World Cups, has no time for the doubters.
"Choke? Choke? What does that mean?" he said. "Never failed to get to a World Cup semi-final. Is that choking?"
Flanker Jerry Collins believes the All Blacks are more confident with the 'favourites' tag this time round and are keen to avenge the 2003 disappointment when they were knocked out by Australia in the semi-finals.
"If you ask me, 2003, I would say it was probably the best way, the best preparation for this World Cup," said Collins.
AUSTRALIA, meanwhile, open their World Cup campaign with a Group B game against Japan in Lyon today with one eye already focussed on the showdown against Wales in Cardiff the following week.
Coach John Connolly knows that a win against Asia's top side is virtually guaranteed, but he wants his top players in a full-strength side to all stretch their legs.
Back comes winger Lote Tuqiri following a two-match suspension in the Tri-Nations campaign imposed after he and prop Matt Dunning were questioned by police investigating an assault on a taxi driver in Brisbane last month.
Full-back Chris Latham wins his 74th cap and will start his first international this year.
Connolly said it was important to field his strongest team for the opening match of the tournament.
"We had always planned to play our strongest team for our first two pool matches," said Connolly. "We want to build towards the Wales match with a strong performance on Saturday."Agencies
When the slender figure of David Kirk lifted the Webb Ellis Trophy in Auckland in June, 1987 after a convincing 29-9 win over France in the inaugural final most observers expected an avalanche of titles to follow.
But, instead, the famed men in black have left a trail of tears reaching just one more final since, in 1995 when they were beaten by the Springboks, and three semi-finals in 1991, 1999 and 2003.
This time, the whole of New Zealand expects victory and the team, now coached by Graham Henry, have rarely looked so good.
A mobile pack is in cruise control alongside a beguiling set of backs whose confidence is so high that even winger Joe Rokocoko has been deemed surplus to requirements for the opening Group C game with Italy today.
These All Blacks have won 38 of 43 matches since 2004 a success rate of 88 per cent.
But when they arrive at World Cups, their nerve has failed them with many critics accusing them of being 'chokers'.
Sean Fitzpatrick, who played in that 1987 team and in the 1991 and 1995 World Cups, has no time for the doubters.
"Choke? Choke? What does that mean?" he said. "Never failed to get to a World Cup semi-final. Is that choking?"
Flanker Jerry Collins believes the All Blacks are more confident with the 'favourites' tag this time round and are keen to avenge the 2003 disappointment when they were knocked out by Australia in the semi-finals.
"If you ask me, 2003, I would say it was probably the best way, the best preparation for this World Cup," said Collins.
AUSTRALIA, meanwhile, open their World Cup campaign with a Group B game against Japan in Lyon today with one eye already focussed on the showdown against Wales in Cardiff the following week.
Coach John Connolly knows that a win against Asia's top side is virtually guaranteed, but he wants his top players in a full-strength side to all stretch their legs.
Back comes winger Lote Tuqiri following a two-match suspension in the Tri-Nations campaign imposed after he and prop Matt Dunning were questioned by police investigating an assault on a taxi driver in Brisbane last month.
Full-back Chris Latham wins his 74th cap and will start his first international this year.
Connolly said it was important to field his strongest team for the opening match of the tournament.
"We had always planned to play our strongest team for our first two pool matches," said Connolly. "We want to build towards the Wales match with a strong performance on Saturday."Agencies
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