Don't count your roosters before they've hatched?
Okay so - forgive me for not reviewing the Australia/New Zealand game. The game was unbelievable and if you didn't see it - well, you missed out. I seriously would have cried - in front of all of my staff in the wee hours of the night. I probably would have even called in sick. But in my heart I knew that the All Blacks would not crack under pressure. This is their year. There shall be no choking, no losing. This shall be their perfect, albeit, without the deserving 10, but perfect World Cup. It's at home, and it's in front of an anticipating world. 60,000 fans at the game and 5 million watching.
Here's as much of a review as you need. A couple of aussie commentators (who I think are pretty funny but pretty blind when it comes to actually talking about who is the best of what. They've got Cooper Blinders on like the rest of their country...much like SA commentators) vs. a couple of kiwi commentators. It's edited magnificently and I think it makes my point. The All Blacks owned them. Coopy started the game off by kicking the ball out on the full and the crowd finished the game out by chanting "four more years" to the Wobblies who had to walk out with their heads hung in shame. Horwill said it well when he stated, "we got beat by the better team". Yes - you most definitely did. And didn't Cruden do well? Thanks Aaron for keeping Duck on the bench - where he belongs. Here's the clip I was talking about. I first saw it on ruggerblogger. It's super great.
What's to say about tomorrow though? It is so difficult to sit here and assume the worst for France. If you even look at the pool game between these two teams - what is there to say? But we have to look at what history has taught us from this epic match up.
1. Don't count your roosters before they're hatched.
2. Never wear grey on game day.
France was nice enough last weekend to promise that regardless of the outcomes of the semi-finals last weekend - they would honour the All Blacks by letting them wear their home colours on their home soil regardless of the right they would have to wear their blues. So there's no fretting about the colour of our jersey - besides...I'm pretty sure that the All Blacks would never wear grey again. Their "away" strip is white this year (which they haven't had to use yet).
From the sounds of it - the coaching staff and the players are keeping their heads screwed on right leading up to the clash (kick off is in a mere 5 hours). I expect that New Zealand will come out firing on all cylinders and will leave nothing to chance. There will be blood and the All Blacks will be ruthless. I highly expect that the All Blacks will take the last two World Cup losses out on France and will leave nothing less than bodies and a disenchanted team of French. Don't get me wrong - I highly expect France to come together and fight harder than they did in pool play but it won't be enough. They will have 20 minutes (my opinion, of course) of fight and then the inevitable will happen.
Sir Richie McCaw will eat their rucks alive.
Our tight five will man-handle their scrums and have their line-outs for desert.
Aaron Cruden will, once again, make all the second-guessers guess no more.
Ma'a Nonu will slice, dice, and mangle their back line.
Isreal Dagg and Richard Kahui will score multiple times.
Cory Jane will fly and sore and own the sky.
Piri Weepu will show everyone that he not only leads the haka but he will lead his team to World Cup History.
Sonny Bill Williams - well he might be good for another yellow card...who knows.
Graham Henry - well Ted will finally be honoured as one of the best coaches in the history of sport.
In short - I can't say that the French have a chance. I really, really don't think that they do. This isn't 2004 and it isn't 2007. This is 2011, the year that the All Blacks win the World Cup.
Here's as much of a review as you need. A couple of aussie commentators (who I think are pretty funny but pretty blind when it comes to actually talking about who is the best of what. They've got Cooper Blinders on like the rest of their country...much like SA commentators) vs. a couple of kiwi commentators. It's edited magnificently and I think it makes my point. The All Blacks owned them. Coopy started the game off by kicking the ball out on the full and the crowd finished the game out by chanting "four more years" to the Wobblies who had to walk out with their heads hung in shame. Horwill said it well when he stated, "we got beat by the better team". Yes - you most definitely did. And didn't Cruden do well? Thanks Aaron for keeping Duck on the bench - where he belongs. Here's the clip I was talking about. I first saw it on ruggerblogger. It's super great.
1. Don't count your roosters before they're hatched.
2. Never wear grey on game day.
France was nice enough last weekend to promise that regardless of the outcomes of the semi-finals last weekend - they would honour the All Blacks by letting them wear their home colours on their home soil regardless of the right they would have to wear their blues. So there's no fretting about the colour of our jersey - besides...I'm pretty sure that the All Blacks would never wear grey again. Their "away" strip is white this year (which they haven't had to use yet).
From the sounds of it - the coaching staff and the players are keeping their heads screwed on right leading up to the clash (kick off is in a mere 5 hours). I expect that New Zealand will come out firing on all cylinders and will leave nothing to chance. There will be blood and the All Blacks will be ruthless. I highly expect that the All Blacks will take the last two World Cup losses out on France and will leave nothing less than bodies and a disenchanted team of French. Don't get me wrong - I highly expect France to come together and fight harder than they did in pool play but it won't be enough. They will have 20 minutes (my opinion, of course) of fight and then the inevitable will happen.
Sir Richie McCaw will eat their rucks alive.
Our tight five will man-handle their scrums and have their line-outs for desert.
Aaron Cruden will, once again, make all the second-guessers guess no more.
Ma'a Nonu will slice, dice, and mangle their back line.
Isreal Dagg and Richard Kahui will score multiple times.
Cory Jane will fly and sore and own the sky.
Piri Weepu will show everyone that he not only leads the haka but he will lead his team to World Cup History.
Sonny Bill Williams - well he might be good for another yellow card...who knows.
Graham Henry - well Ted will finally be honoured as one of the best coaches in the history of sport.
In short - I can't say that the French have a chance. I really, really don't think that they do. This isn't 2004 and it isn't 2007. This is 2011, the year that the All Blacks win the World Cup.
Look at Ted and Piri and all the smiles. Just the way it is going to be in 7 hours...plus 1 really shiny cup named Bill.
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