A nation is in mourning. The expectations were so high, but in the end it came down to one match, and they failed. The underachievers of world cup rugby have failed again going down to a spirited French side in Cardiff.
The All Blacks promised so much and after a dominant first half it looked as if they would be cruising into the semi-finals. Dan carter got the All Blacks on the board first with a simple penalty goal and it wasn’t too long before it was 6-0 as Carter slotted a second penalty. Luke McAlister made a couple of breaks that could well of resulted in tries.
It was McAlister who set up the first try busting through a struggling French midfield defence before linking up with Jerry Collins then getting the ball back from Collins and his momentum carrying him over the line. Fans back in New Zealand would’ve been already organising what they would be doing for the semi-final.
France got themselves on the board just before half time as Lionel Beauxis got a penalty goal. New Zealand dominated the first forty and had they taken more of their chances they could’ve put the French out the match, this would later come back to haunt them. The French game plan of kicking wasn’t working and a change was needed.
A massive turn of events was about to happen. McAlister was then sin-binned crucially five minutes into the half in a very questionable call for impeding a chaser in a kick. France got another 3 points from that and got within seven.
Minutes later the French got a try through Thierry Dusatoire after persistent pressure on the All Black line. The sin-binning proved very costly for the men in black as the French piled on ten points in that period. Many kiwis described it as a case of 16 against 14.
The tides were turning and memories of 1999 were creeping into New Zealanders. Things went from bad to worse when playmaker Dan Carter went off injured, something the many kiwis dreaded happening.
The New Zealanders hit back hard though with a try to Rodney So’oialo, but it was crucially unconverted by Luke McAlister. Injuries continued to plague the All Blacks with second choice five-eighth Nick Evans and experienced hooker Anton Oliver just a couple of the hurting All Blacks.
Just as the All Blacks were being forced to make some unwanted changes the French were making some changes that would influence the match. On came fly-half Frederic Michalak and did he make a difference. With ten minutes to go and down 18-13 he played an influential role in a match winning try which saw fullback Damien Traille cross over and sink the hearts of 4 million kiwis. New Zealanders would have been yelling at their TV sets when young English referee Wayne Barnes missed a forward pass in that play.
The French had brought back some of that famous French flair and this key tactical change was about to win them the game. The All Black back line was not functioning the way it was in the first half, a result of injuries.
The kiwis refused to give up, plugging away at the French line, to no avail. The French were showing a huge amount of guts and determination; they looked like they wanted this win more then the All Blacks. They got within five metres of the line, There were a number of times when referee Wayne Barnes could’ve awarded a penalty to the New Zealanders. The crucial moment came when Sebastien Chabal got a crucial turnover to seal the game. Luke McAlister tried a drop goal, out of hope but wasn’t close. It was all over when The All Blacks lost the ball and French halfback Jean-Baptiste Elissalde ran across the field and booted the ball into the crowd.
The French were ecstatic, The All Blacks were humbled. Tears spread among the team as yet another world cup is gone. For mine it is all in the mind, something about the All Black mentality that they can’t perform at world cups. Yes, some of the refereeing was questionable, but the French showed more guts. So where to next for New Zealand rugby, who has the answer? All I can say with huge pain is that famous George Gregan statement “4 more years”.
e mërkurë, 10 tetor 2007
e enjte, 4 tetor 2007
Quarter-final previews
South Africa v Fiji
The Fijians will come into this game with nothing to lose. They will be proud of their achievements already and will do no more then give this their all. But the Boks have already experienced one scare from a Pacific Island team this world cup so they will be playing the game pretty safely. The Fijians will be wanting to play their natural fast-paced running game right from the start, but the South Africans will be looking to play it a bit more upfront. If we are going to see any sort of contest here the Islanders must start with a bang. I am tipping the South Africans to play a safe but sure game going for the win and progressing to the Quarter-finals by 25-30 points.
New Zealand v france
The All Blacks are yet to face any sort of challenge so far this tournament, they have easily won their pool as expected but they now must overwhelm a desperate French side in order to keep alive the hopes of a nation. Since an early hiccup, the hosts they have looked a much better side, they outclassed the Irish to claim second spot in their pool which now sees them playing away from home. I think this game will be won in the loose forwards, with both sides fielding world class players in that area who will be desperate to secure quality ball for their talented backlines. The All Blacks have the likes of Richie McCaw and Jerry Collins, not to mention the forgotten soldier, Rodney So’oialo. The French have caveman Sebastien Chabal to go with the talents of Julien Bonnaire and Serge Betson. The New Zealanders have been forced to wear their silver jerseys, a result off a loss in a toss midweek. Another intriguing battle will be that of five eights Dan Carter and Lionel Beauxis. We all know the class that Carter can reach, whether he will reach his potential is a different story. Beauxis is a relative newcomer in this team but has shown great promise early is his career, a bold move to start him ahead of Frediric Michalak. The Kiwis will come into this one as hot favourites but will have to get the evil monkey of ’99 off their backs.
Australia v England
The rematch of the famous 2003 final, but things are so, so different this time around. England have been a struggling team recently and hinge a lot on a couple of key players. The Australians look a solid team this world cup and will come into this one as hot favourites. This match sees the return of one key back for each side, Stirling Mortlock for the Wallabies and Jason Robinson for the English. Expect the poms to have a dominant scrum but that will be just about all that they dominate. The aussie lineout looks too strong and they will have too much firepower in the centres and outside backs. This will be a huge test for rookie fly-half Berrick Barnes as he comes up against the masterclass of Johnny Wilkinson. I cant see the English backs scoring to many tries themselves so if we are to see a closs one it will be a penalty scoring affair. I think the aussies will come hoe comfortably with a 15-20 point victory.
Argentina v Scotland
The Pumas have been the surprise pick in this tournament, winning the pool of death. But by no means was this a fluke. The Argentines actually look a quality outfit and have a very strong defence that has only conceded two tries so far in the tournament. They are a capable attacking side, strong off fast broken play. The Scottish attack looks incapable of breaking the Pumas defence. They were try less against the All Blacks and the Italians and relied on the boot of Chris Paterson to scrape home against the Italians. They do have a gutsy defence at times but I doubt they will be able to keep it up for the full eighty minutes. The Argentineans have too much class all across the park and a defence that the Scottish just can’t match. Expect a comfortable victory for the Pumas as they advance to their first ever world cup semi-finals.
The Fijians will come into this game with nothing to lose. They will be proud of their achievements already and will do no more then give this their all. But the Boks have already experienced one scare from a Pacific Island team this world cup so they will be playing the game pretty safely. The Fijians will be wanting to play their natural fast-paced running game right from the start, but the South Africans will be looking to play it a bit more upfront. If we are going to see any sort of contest here the Islanders must start with a bang. I am tipping the South Africans to play a safe but sure game going for the win and progressing to the Quarter-finals by 25-30 points.
New Zealand v france
The All Blacks are yet to face any sort of challenge so far this tournament, they have easily won their pool as expected but they now must overwhelm a desperate French side in order to keep alive the hopes of a nation. Since an early hiccup, the hosts they have looked a much better side, they outclassed the Irish to claim second spot in their pool which now sees them playing away from home. I think this game will be won in the loose forwards, with both sides fielding world class players in that area who will be desperate to secure quality ball for their talented backlines. The All Blacks have the likes of Richie McCaw and Jerry Collins, not to mention the forgotten soldier, Rodney So’oialo. The French have caveman Sebastien Chabal to go with the talents of Julien Bonnaire and Serge Betson. The New Zealanders have been forced to wear their silver jerseys, a result off a loss in a toss midweek. Another intriguing battle will be that of five eights Dan Carter and Lionel Beauxis. We all know the class that Carter can reach, whether he will reach his potential is a different story. Beauxis is a relative newcomer in this team but has shown great promise early is his career, a bold move to start him ahead of Frediric Michalak. The Kiwis will come into this one as hot favourites but will have to get the evil monkey of ’99 off their backs.
Australia v England
The rematch of the famous 2003 final, but things are so, so different this time around. England have been a struggling team recently and hinge a lot on a couple of key players. The Australians look a solid team this world cup and will come into this one as hot favourites. This match sees the return of one key back for each side, Stirling Mortlock for the Wallabies and Jason Robinson for the English. Expect the poms to have a dominant scrum but that will be just about all that they dominate. The aussie lineout looks too strong and they will have too much firepower in the centres and outside backs. This will be a huge test for rookie fly-half Berrick Barnes as he comes up against the masterclass of Johnny Wilkinson. I cant see the English backs scoring to many tries themselves so if we are to see a closs one it will be a penalty scoring affair. I think the aussies will come hoe comfortably with a 15-20 point victory.
Argentina v Scotland
The Pumas have been the surprise pick in this tournament, winning the pool of death. But by no means was this a fluke. The Argentines actually look a quality outfit and have a very strong defence that has only conceded two tries so far in the tournament. They are a capable attacking side, strong off fast broken play. The Scottish attack looks incapable of breaking the Pumas defence. They were try less against the All Blacks and the Italians and relied on the boot of Chris Paterson to scrape home against the Italians. They do have a gutsy defence at times but I doubt they will be able to keep it up for the full eighty minutes. The Argentineans have too much class all across the park and a defence that the Scottish just can’t match. Expect a comfortable victory for the Pumas as they advance to their first ever world cup semi-finals.
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