Normally yes but the World Cup seems to bring out something extra every four years in the teams which play. The All Blacks have had absolute dominance of the game internationally since the 1970s - yet they have seldom won a World Cup.
Which is great. The RWC would be boring if the eventual winner was a sure thing.
Personally I’ve enjoyed the rise of Japan.
No way! I’m not much of a gambler anyway, and while i’m an Aussie through and through, if i were being rational i would probably be betting on the All Blacks. I certainly think they deserve to be favorites based on form, although i think the Wallabies are capable of winning it.
Can i just say, by the way, that i think it’s really silly to have a third-place game. No-one gives a fuck, least of all the players who have just missed out on a spot in the final, and i think it’s unfair to ask them to play a meaningless game at the end of a long and incredibly draining tournament.
Yeah it’s not like they’re playing for Olympic medals.
I haven’t watched any of the third and fourth placed games in the past (not even in 2003 when New Zealand were in it) and won’t be this time either.
We should be in for a great final. Australia’s defence against Argentina really impressed me, as did their utter dominance in the breakdown.
Statistically the Wobballies are history but this is the World Cup. They may very well rise to the occasion. All power to them ( and well done for coming second…)
Lisiate has about the right of this. It’s about whether NZ can break Australia’s defence and/or capitalise on their errors. I said up thread that in the Scotland game, the tries were errors by Australia - they’ve only conceded 2 “proper” tries in the tournament thus far, against Fiji and England in the group stage.
NZ are the favourites for mine but, even though Australia don’t hold the Bledisloe, they did beat NZ in the Rugby Championship 27-19, so it’s not out of the realms of possibility that Australia can turn them over. Should be a very good game.
I was actually visiting Australia back in early August, and i watched that game with some of my mates over there.
I’d be very happy for a repeat of that game. The Wallabies played really well, and it seemed that the All Blacks were just a little off their game. I think that’s what it will take for an Aussie victory on Saturday. It could also come down, in the end, to one or two little things, like a knock-on at a crucial time, or a strange bounce of the ball on a kick.
Of course, a week after that victory, the Wallabies were thumped 41-13 by that same All Blacks side in Auckland. The home-field advantage is huge for New Zealand, especially at Eden Park. I’ll be interested to see how the two teams go on “neutral” territory.
It will also be quite interesting to see who has the most support in the stands at Twickenham, in terms of traveling fans and ex-pats from Australia and New Zealand, but also in terms of neutrals from the UK and other places.
I live in hope of Australia winning.
That being said, I think the odds about NZ winning are really wrong- $1.40. They deserve to be favourites but surely not that short.
Little bit of a shaky start by the Wallabies. Some bad decision-making, including running into the All Blacks while isolated and then turning the ball over. Still, the Aussie defense looks strong, and it appears that they’re about to try and equalize with a penalty.
Wow, the Aussie back row are absolutely superhuman at the breakdown. They’ve forced turnovers already, as well as a couple of penalties for holding onto the ball.
They’re the key for Australia, but it’s almost immoral how well they play. Maybe they have a secret ninja 4th back row guy.
Carter’s been hit a couple of times really hard.
It is evident that this game is very high pressure. Nigel Owens is having a decent enough game but even still, with 8 mins to go to half time, the collective penalty count is too high, we’ve had a number of niggly little incidents at set piece and players are doing their best to lie in offside positions to slow the ball down, especially when it looks like momentum can be gained. It goes to show that the ref can only go so far. The players must want to comply, but there’s too much on the line here. I’d be thinking about a yellow if I were Nige, simply to try and free the game up a bit.
Wallabies aren’t playing badly at all, but they’ve had almost no ball, and if they have to keep defending like this they’re going to tire eventually. The All Blacks are already starting to look dangerous out wide, and the Wallabies have started falling off tackles.
Good try that. Long way back for Australia from here.
Yeah, 16-3 is a big hole against the All Blacks, not helped by the fact that the Wallabies have had very little ball, and haven’t done enough with the ball they’ve had.
That pass before the third penalty was hilariously forward. Comically so.
Australia need more ball and need to get across the gain line. Kuridrani has barely had the ball and they need to send some of the forwards over the gain line too. The back row is playing very well but are constantly in the back foot.
Possession stat is 70:30 for NZ. Getting the ball and keeping it is imperative.
As we found out in the quarters, forward passes and knock one are not TMO calls, unless a try is scored. I am sure the Scots have a little schadenfreude over this particular incident.
If the All Blacks hadn’t got that last minute try I would have said the Wallabies won the first half purely on the back of awesome defence.
Giteau going off is a massive blow.
Good night Vienna. This game is over.