After weeks of build up the Rugby World Cup final arrives this weekend. The All Blacks play the Wallabies for the first time ever in a Rugby World Cup final.
The winner will make history by being the first team to win the Webb Ellis Cup three times. If New Zealand (the first ever winners of the RWC in 1987) win they will be the first team to win the RWC back to back. It will also be the first time the All Blacks have won a world cup outside of New Zealand. If Australia (the first nation to win the RWC twice) succeed they will have beaten New Zealand in the world cup final of a fourth sport in the last 2 years (See Cricket World Cup, Rugby League World Cup, and the Netball World Cup). It will also be the second time the Wallabies will have won a World Cup at Twickenham. Either way history will be made this weekend.
The Trans-Tasman sporting rivalry has existed since both nations were colonies. Rugby Union has been a key factor in this sibling-like feud. The teams complete annually for the Bledisloe Cup, of which New Zealand have won the last 13 times in a row. This weekend will also be a record breaking fourth time either team has made it to the final.
Though not actually that popular a sport in Australia, Australian Rugby Union has enjoyed much success. The Wallabies are currently the holders of the Rugby Championship, as I mentioned earlier they were the first nation to win the world cup twice, they defeated the All Blacks in the Rugby Championship this year, and they came top of the ‘pool of death’ dispatching both England and Wales. Despite only narrowly and controversially defeating Scotland in the Quarter-finals, the Wallabies defeated Argentina by a sizeable margin in the Semi-final last weekend (29-15) – despite less possession and territory than the Pumas. The teams have met 3 times before in the World Cup of which Australia have won 2.
Australia’s players also have some insane stats. David Pocock has made 14 turnovers this world cup. Foley’s kicking stats are also mad – scoring 10 conversions and 15 penalties in 5 games, not to mention the two tries he has scored this world cup.
However, history and the All Blacks’ form are not on the Wallabies side. The teams have met a total of 154 times since 1903 with New Zealand winning 105 of these meetings. Since the last World Cup Australia have only beaten New Zealand once (also managing two draws), although, that match was this year. The current world champions showed their dominance against France two weeks ago, and won a tough match against the Springboks by 2 points last week (…making them as good as Japan).
Both teams have shown how strong they are defensively this world cup, with Australia’s valiant 13 man effort against Wales two weeks ago, and New Zealand not conceding a try against the Springboks. This game is going to won or lost at the breakdown. Australians will hope that Pocock can do his turnover magic against the All Blacks, however, the All Blacks are likely to try close him down. Despite that, if New Zealand don’t become more disciplined in defence (conceding 14 penalties against South Africa) Foley’s sure foot is guaranteed to score Australia some points.
Hopefully the weather will hold up this weekend so we see some more open rugby – the games last weekend boiled down to kick fests in no small part because of the rain. The All Blacks are the bookies favourites so it’s their game to lose. Australia are in the convenient position of not really caring about Rugby Union meaning if they win it’s all the more embarrassing for the Kiwis who consider it their national sport. If the Wallabies lose Aussies still have Australian Rules Football, Rugby League, Association Football, Cricket, and Netball to care about.
my ignorant opinion 