Brad Thorn: Who can stay with ABs? Ireland perhaps
Brad Thorn has talked up Ireland’s Rugby World Cup chances, but ultimately likes the staying power of the All Blacks as they look to retain their title.
Thorn knows a thing or two about both countries – winning the last World Cup with the All Blacks and winning a European club title with Irish outfit Leinster the following year.
‘‘The All Blacks, at their best, well they’re pretty sharp. We’re going to play at a high intensity, and we’re going to put you under pressure,’’ the 40-year-old Thorn told The Independent.
‘‘Can you stay with us? Can you play at this intensity? For 20 minutes? Are you still there at 40? Still there at 60?
‘‘Maybe, but then it’s often in the last 20 minutes that you’ll see the All Blacks’ score blow out. The All Blacks will keep asking you questions.
‘‘Are you going to be switched on for the full 80? Are you going to get too relaxed, just before halftime, just after?
‘‘That’s when we’ll steal in with a couple of tries. You’ll need to be with us for the full 80.’’
But the rise of the Irish on the back of successive Six Nations titles and glory against southern hemisphere teams hasn’t been lost on Thorn and he likes the blend of youth and experience in Joe Schmidt’s team.
‘‘When you go into a World Cup – look at 2003 with England, 2007 with South Africa and in 2011 with the All Blacks – the thing you need is experience, older heads in the team.
‘‘With Paul O’Connell, Johnny Sexton – he’s not a young kid any more – arguably the best fiveeighth [fly-half] in the world at the moment.
‘‘And they’ve got an outstanding coach, Joe Schmidt, who I’ve played under.
‘‘They look like real good challengers.
‘‘In 2011, you had an old dog like myself, but a young Israel Dagg who tore it up. You can’t have a whole heap of old cattle, or a whole heap of young cattle. You’ve got to get the blend right. But you do need to have the experience, from what I’ve seen.
‘‘They’ve got belief. A big part of rugby, or anything in life, is belief. They believe in themselves.
‘‘I see those guys being genuine contenders. They’ve beaten South Africa, beaten Australia and they should have beaten the All Blacks.’’
Thorn questioned the experience factor in the England team and wondered if a lack of time together with their combinations would affect their fluency, especially in the toughest pool of the tournament.
‘‘For England, getting to the semifinal will be the pass mark. The hardest thing of all is getting to the final.
The All Blacks know that better than anyone.
The toughest part is getting there. Once you’re there, well, someone’s going to win it.’’