ABS tipped for Cup glory
The All Blacks’ are being hailed as a certain bet to return to Yokohama for the World Cup final – but coach Steve Hansen isn’t getting carried away.
A report in of London claimed it was ‘‘inconceivable New Zealand will not return to Yokohama’s Nissan Stadium next November to contest the Rugby World Cup final, and on current evidence equally difficult to see past the defending champions lifting the Webb Ellis Trophy there’’.
While the world’s media were impressed with the All Blacks’ five-try 37-20 win over the Wallabies on Saturday night, Hansen was keeping his feet firmly planted on the ground.
He warned a press conference that the All Blacks were only ‘‘guaranteed to play one game’’ in Yokohama – the tournament opener against South Africa.
‘‘We will come here to play what will be a massive game to light up the World Cup against one of our most traditional opponents, and who we have a lot of respect for.’’
Despite Hansen’s pragmatism, The Times’ correspondent Sam Peters clearly sees the All Blacks as the World Cup favourite.
His report noted Hansen’s men ‘‘brushed Australia aside . . . with consummate ease in a test run for a stadium whose main operational concern appears to be the poor state of its pitch, which cut up badly to stifle parts of the game’’.
‘‘The All Blacks, the world’s No 1 ranked team and favourites for next year’s tournament in Japan, won at a canter against a Wallaby team who will travel to Europe to face Wales, Italy and England on successive weekends, off the back of an unimpressive Rugby Championship contribution.’’
Despite The Times’ reference to pitch conditions, Hansen was diplomatic about the state of the surface. He said the All Blacks had learned a lot ‘‘from a facilities point of view’’ at the stadium and thought those running the facilities would learn too.