World Cup Final Preview: All Blacks vs France

All the talk surrounding this game is about France the ABs' bogey team. Opinion is divided over whether New Zealand will win with ease or if France will turn the tables yet again. Yet it is this very history that will make sure of an All Black victory on Sunday. There is no chance of underestimating the French. The All Blacks will turn up as if they are playing the world #1. In '99 the French played a phenomenal game scoring 4 tries to put the game out of reach of a shell-shocked ABs. Phenomenal it was, but 3 of the 4 tries came from kicks, some from the most extraordinary bounces. The All Blacks are prepared for this. In 2003 a not ready, thrown in the deep end referee refused to officiate offsides, meaning despite dominating the game, not being given one penalty in the 2nd 40, one penalty which would have changed the result. Dominating the 2nd half to such an extent the French captain, Dusautoir, made more tackles than the entire New Zealand pack. An offside game that prevented New Zealand from playing their wanted expansive game. New Zealand are prepared for this. The AB pack, led by Jerome Kaino, have taken it on themselves to step up 3 weeks in a row over the knock out stages. They have to set the Black juggernaut in motion. Arguably 2011 has seen the most destructive pick & go ever in rugby. New Zealand have been true professors this cup at knowing when to send the ball wide. And not before the hard yards are done. Of course, it helps having such talent out wide.

Discussion about whether this is the worst team ever to make a Rugby World Cup final....quite possibly. It's a toss up between them & both the 2007 finalists. There's discussion about whether this All Black team is a better model than 2007. Personally I believe the 2006 All Black team was the greatest rugby team there has ever been. What the 2011 All Blacks are is the greatest prepared team to win a Rugby World Cup (perhaps coupled with the '95 team). The 2011 model has a mix of youth & experience. With guys like Israel Dagg & Sam Whitelock still babies on the international stage you'd hope their best is yet to come. The '95 team was prepared physically to run every single team off their feet. Ask any player....they went through hell to prepare for that cup. The 2011 team is prepared over the board...physically & mentally. The plan & mindsets were planted long ago.

Despite some of the talk coming from the French camp about being up for this game it's impossible to see. We all know how unpredictable they can be but it will require a colossal dropping of the guard from NZ. There have been comments about intelligent French play with a record low 9 penalties/game against them...I attribute that to not even competing. And if it was intelligence remember they still gave Wales plenty of 3point opportunities to win their semi. I argue that France's best game to date was their group game vs New Zealand. In that game they differed somewhat by not actually playing the first 20mintues yet showing some steel later on (though the final score was padded somewhat by a dodgy Yashvili try).

Basically, France have to show a lot more than the 20 odd minutes they have put on vs other opponents to date. And even then I can't see it.  I would say this All Blacks are even prepared for the proverbial kitchen sink. I heard comments regarding NZ only beating Aussie by 14.....but sit down and look at the game. They shut Australia out. No tries and one penalty goal in 80minutes of rugby vs the world #2? And France are going to bring a lot less to the table than Australia. They seem a team totally bereft of ideas and resort to a kicking game...and not even a good one. On top of that New Zealand have frustrated teams all season into kicking the ball away such is the solidity of their defensive line. I'd suggest they need Trinh-Duc to have a hope of getting kicks in behind the NZ back 3 and pressuring the All Black lineout. Playing Parra yet again at 10 only really leaves them to play a chipping game which New Zealand have had covered all season. But with the back 3 on song defensively (Corey Jane is a one man bomb disposal unit, added to the danger of their countering) maybe the chip game is France's only real hope....hope to find turf and hope for that crazy bounce yet again. A chance to get in behind a solid defensive line & show that French flair.

The French pack will man up....for 20 minutes...maybe even half an hour. Then they will do well to keep it respectable.The All Blacks will be brutal, & a lot will depend on how long the French stay interested. Tournament long they have shown no unity or cohesion, no common objective apart from trying to play the game. There has been no structure, followed by......kicking.

So, put that up against a great team. A great plan to take the referee out of the equation and and even greater team to execute that plan. And, a great team that can afford to moderate their game in order to follow through. The All Blacks have showed their cards in bits & parts all season. But what you saw last week is the real deal. Expect more of the same on Sunday.