It doesn't get much better than this!

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Category: rugbywc2011

Published on Saturday, 15 October 2011 21:36

Written by Administrator

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Nowhere on a rugby field is a match-up more fierce than between New Zealand and Australia, with the top-two ranked nations facing each other for a place in the World Cup final.

After a month of eventful rugby, it's down to the last four at Auckland's Eden Park with two compelling semi-finals on offer: tournament revelations Wales against the great enigmas France and another instalment in the long-standing All Blacks-Wallabies rivalry.

Ironically, the same semi-finalists that lined up at the inaugural World Cup in New Zealand will do so again this time out - albeit with a twist. But the big question on everyone's lips is whether we'll see a repeat of the 1987 final. For that to happen, New Zealand and France must prevail in their respective semi-finals. Easier said than done.

The pressure is certainly on the host nation to produce the goods - not only have they failed to make it into a RWC final since 1995, the last time they lifted the Webb Ellis Cup was 24 years ago.

Twice they have been eliminated at the semi-final stage by Australia, in 1991 and 2003, and now face a monumental showdown with their trans-Tasman foes in one of the games of the tournament.

Only a month before this World Cup, the Wallabies downed the All Blacks 25-20 in Brisbane to claim their first Tri-Nations crown in a decade. Whilst losing to Australia always hurts Kiwis (in all sporting codes), defeat on Sunday would be catastrophic for the rugby-mad nation and the dreaded 'c' word will no doubt be doing the rounds in the morning papers.

Since 1903, the All Blacks have had the upper hand over the Wallabies. This weekend will be their 168th international meeting, with the All Blacks winning 115 times, the Wallabies 47 and five matches drawn. Now take all those stats and bin it, as past results always take a backseat when it comes to the Rugby World Cup - especially knockout matches like these.

To get here, the backs-to-the-wall Wallabies somehow conjured a fighting 11-9 win to knock out defending champions South Africa, while New Zealand took an hour before subduing Argentina's resilient Pumas.

Australia will be buoyed by the way they hung on to edge out the Springboks in a match where South Africa were on top on the stats sheets but not on the scoreboard, and now get a second bite at the cherry after surviving last weekend's onslaught.

Like a cat with nine lives, some will argue if the Wallabies even deserve to be in the semi-finals after losing to Ireland in the pool stages and then winning a quarter-final they should have lost to South Africa. But will they care? Hell no. At the end of the day, they've managed to use their "get out of jail" card in this World Cup and achieve what 16 other teams couldn't - a place in the last four.

It doesn't matter how Australia got there, all that counts for them is that - despite ongoing injury concerns - they are still alive and kicking with an opportunity to make it to their fourth World Cup final where they will strive to win a record third title.

Unlike the Wallabies, New Zealand have gone through this World Cup unbeaten, but much like Australia, their campaign has been plagued by one injury crises after another that has almost overshadowed the All Blacks' performances over the last few weeks and is now beginning to take its toll on the top-ranked team.

Star fly-half Dan Carter is already out of the tournament, as is his understudy Colin Slade while centurion Mils Muliaina's World Cup is also over and a grey cloud still hangs over the head of captain Richie McCaw and that right foot of his that is fast reaching the same celebrity status that was bestowed upon David Beckham's prized asset.

Injury setbacks aside, whilst some may say that the All Blacks have had more of a challenge in their games leading up to the semi-finals compared to 2007 when they were found wanting by France in the quarters

Simple wins over Tonga, Japan and Canada were expected while their "toughest" opposition in pool play (an out-of-sorts French team) was brushed aside easily enough. Argentina proved to be a handful, but were never going to last the whole nine yards and withered away as the clock wound down.

The All Blacks are yet to be tested mentally and physically over the entire 80 minutes, and could come unstuck against a Wallabies side who know all about soaking up the pressure as seen in last week's win over the Boks.

If there was any better time for the Wallabies to pounce, it's now.

Ones to watch:

For New Zealand: While the All Blacks undoubtedly miss Dan Carter's game management, the fact the rest of the team has taken on more responsibility will at least soothe some nerves. But the butterflies will be fluttering profusely in Aaron Cruden's stomach as he finds himself in the hot seat. After initially being left out the All Blacks' 30-man RWC squad, the 22-year-old has been promoted from third-choice fly-half to first-choice in the space of a week. Sunday's match will be only his second Test start, and the rugby world will be watching to see how Cruden can cope in the cauldron of a World Cup semi-final. No pressure then!

For Australia: Scrum-half Will Genia has proven to be a sharp thorn in the All Blacks' side of late and holds the key to the Wallabies unleashing something special in front of a capacity crowd in the Garden of Eden. With halfback partner Quade Cooper misfiring more often than not at this World Cup - where's Matt Giteau when you need him eh Robbie? - it will be up to Genia to try turn the screw on New Zealand. Arguably, the best number nine in the business, Genia reads the game well, has got super vision and chooses his time to attack well. He's the real mastermind of the Australian side and particularly their backline.

Head to head: There will be mouth-watering duels all over the park, but without question the breakdown battle between New Zealand's Richie McCaw and Australia's David Pocock will have everyone licking their lips in anticipation. They go by various names: fetchers, snafflers, pilferers. They're open side flankers and the Rugby World Cup will deliver one of its most compelling individual contests when the best in the world in that position face-off in this do-or-die spectacle. This master versus apprentice face-off has the ingredients of sports' greatest confrontations.

 

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