October 19, 2015
Mighty All Blacks look on target.
Mighty All Blacks look on target.
WILLIE JACKSON
Well , what a performance from our mighty All Blacks in their quarter final rugby world cup match against France. Who would have thought they could have put nearly 50 points on a team who had caused them so many problems at past World Cups 62 13 was an unbelievable score.
The performance is a reminder of how good this team can really be. At their best they are at least twenty points better than any other side in the world and that includes South Africa and Australia and when they are really on top of their game they can thrash anyone as France found out and Australia's Wallabies in the last Bledisloe Cup game. That’s how good they are, now of course we haven't seen that from them too often this year. In fact if we were to be honest they have been poor at times, games that stand out were the test against Samoa and the loss to the Wallabies in Sydney. As well there have been sub-par performances from them at this World Cup before their magnificent exhibition against the French and they have endured a lot of criticism from the public and media.
Many of us have questioned the form of Daniel Carter, Julian Savea, Jerome Kaino, Kieran Read and our front five, well all of them stepped up against France. Savea was sensational and finally looked like the champion he has been over the last few seasons. And Carter played his best test in recent years running to the line brilliantly and kicking superbly. They were set up though by a great performance from an under fire front five who now must re-produce that form this coming weekend against South Africa's Spingboks.
The Boks didn’t look good against an injury hit Wales and in fact only sneaked home , so I would be very surprised if they upset us. And yes I know the great history there is between the our two countries and the Boks will throw everything at us but there is a real gulf in class between the two sides. The Boks were humiliated in their first game at the World Cup losing to the Japanese in the biggest upset in rugby and World Cup history. They have redeemed themselves somewhat by making the semis, ultimate redemption for them though would be to beat the All Blacks and win the World Cup.
However our team should be too good to let that happen, they will not want to be seen as one hit wonders and their great performance against France would seem almost meaningless if they slipped against the Boks. Also the careers of our two greatest All Blacks of the last generation Richie McCaw who was magnificent against the French and Daniel Carter surely can't finish with a loss against our old foes . That seems inconceivable so expect another top showing from the All Blacks this weekend.
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