Game on: All Blacks launch RWC defence
Steve Hansen and Richie McCaw’s sortie to conquer the rugby world finally begins in London on Monday morning (NZ time).
This will be the final time All Blacks coach Hansen and his trusted captain McCaw travel on a World Cup adventure together, and they are desperate to end their partnership by becoming the first men to help their team claim the Webb Ellis Cup on successive occasions.
Having sucked on the sweet and sour in previous tournaments, they know how difficult this will be.
McCaw participated in two failed World Cup campaigns before leading the All Blacks to glory in 2011. Hansen was head coach of Wales when they were knocked out in the quarterfinals in 2003 and was also an All Blacks assistant when they bombed out in 2007.
‘‘You understand what it takes to win by going through disappointments of not winning,’’ McCaw said. ‘‘Obviously last time we got there and you realise how much effort and energy it takes.
‘‘If you think about outcomes and what it is going to be like at the end, then you take your eye off the ball and what you have to do first.’’
For the All Blacks it begins with their opening pool match against Argentina, a side that has never beaten the New Zealanders in 21 tests, at Wembley Stadium.
The tournament, to be staged in 13 venues in England and Cardiff over the next six weeks, has been promoted by the world governing body as the rugby extravaganza to beat all others.
Those evangelists who bow at the rugby altar refer to the code as the ‘‘game made in heaven’’, but even if they are dull and the spirit is mean, World Rugby will still be rolling in money.
World Rugby expect to make a record 150 million pounds from the event which they claim will be accessible to a potential reach of 772 million households in 209 territories, making it the most viewed World Cup ever.
Some numbers are eyewatering: 2.25 million tickets – 95 per cent of those on the market – have already sold, surpassing the record set in 2007. About 400,000 visitors are expected to flood into Britain for the tournament.
Many All Blacks fans – some who have shelled out tens of thousands of dollars to follow their team to Britain – couldn’t care less about World Rugby’s overflowing coffers.
They believe the sight of McCaw, who is expected to announce his retirement posttournament, becoming the first Kiwi to accept the Webb Ellis Cup after the final at Twickenham on November 1 would be priceless.
Hansen, no doubt, sits among that number because, more than anyone, he has watched the old warrior feed his body into the physical and emotional wringer on numerous occasions.
But fairytales rarely come true at World Cups.
The reality is any number of captains could lift the trophy at ‘‘Twickers’’: Chris Robshaw (England), Stephen Moore (Australia), Jean de Villiers (South Africa), Sam Warburton (Wales), Thierry Dusautoir (France) and Paul O’Connell (Ireland) are among those who fancy getting their claws on the little gold cup.
Little wonder, then, that Hansen says several teams can win the thing.
‘‘There will be lots of variable pressures on different teams for different reasons,’’ he said. ‘‘And how they cope with that, we will see how they go I guess.’’