Home favourites feeling the weight of great expectations
NO one knows a weakness like family and Australia, the big brother in the trans-Tasman sibling rivalry, are poking away like mad at the All Blacks in an attempt to induce an implosion in Sunday’s semi-final.
The Wallabies know full well that little brother has a knack of collapsing under pressure at the World Cup and they have been heaping it on in the build-up to the game.
Australia back row Rocky Elsom believes expectations for New Zealand to win the Webb Ellis Cup for the first time in 24 years are intolerably high. School holidays have been shifted to allow the country time off to watch the long wait come to an end and the day after the final, a national holiday, has been set aside for the celebrations.
“They’re the No1-ranked team and they’re in a country where they expect them to win the World Cup,” said Elsom.
“You get a feeling around town that the public won’t tolerate anything less. Not only are they expected to win this match, but then the next one as well so there is a lot of expectation. Just what that does to them, I’m not sure. But you definitely know it’s there.”
They’re the No1-ranked team and they’re in a country where they expect them to win the World Cup
Australia forwards coach David Nucifora was in charge of the Auckland Blues four years ago when New Zealand crashed out in the quarter-final to France and recalls the sense of despair which met their exit.
“I was here the last time in 2007 and it was pretty glum,” said Nucifora. “It means a heck of a lot to New Zealanders, the game of rugby, so I think that just puts a lot of pressure on their team. The players know and understand the expectation that sits on their shoulders to win a World Cup. It has been a long time.
“You only have to walk the streets – it’s everywhere around you at the moment. The pressure is mounting.
“It’s a massive game and how players deal with pressure during the game will dictate what the outcome will be. If there is scoreboard pressure on the New Zealanders, then that will make it interesting to see how they hold it together.”
Steve Hansen, his All Blacks counterpart, acknowledged the stress levels are rising in the New Zealand camp ahead of their meeting with the Tri-Nations champions – but he insists the favourites are coping.
“Everyone feels pressure – it’s how you react to it that’s the key and we’re really excited and looking forward to the challenge of the semi-final,” said Hansen.
“As long as you can walk towards the pressure then you are in control of it, it’s not in control of you.
“It’s a massive game clearly, and the winner gets to carry on. I like to say ‘do’ rather than ‘die’.” There will be no Dan Carter to bale them out if things do start to unravel at Eden Park and with his deputy, Colin Slade, also out for the tournament, it will be rookie Aaron Cruden who will have to direct operations.
He has only seven caps to his name and the Wallabies have made no secret of the fact that they are lining him up. “He’s not the biggest bloke so we’ll look to send a bit of traffic at him and wear him out a little bit,” said Australia scrum-half Will Genia.
Hansen said it was up to New Zealand’s senior players to rally round Cruden. “It’s not Aaron Cruden who has to do the extra bit,” he said. “Your top players in the big games have to play as top players, you can’t afford them not to be world class.
“We have a simple game plan so it’s not too hard to learn it and it’s just a matter of understanding it.”
Captain Richie McCaw has been named in the All Blacks line-up, despite suffering from a foot injury.
NEW ZEALAND: I Dagg; C Jane, C Smith, M Nonu, R Kahui; A Cruden, P Weepu; T Woodcock, K Mealamu, O Franks, S Whitelock, B Thorn, J Kaino, R McCaw (capt), K Read. Replacements: A Hore, B Franks, A Williams, V Vito, A Ellis, S Donald, S Williams.
