New Zealand favourites to win rugby world cup
New Zealand are favourites to beat France in the rugby world cup final on Sunday, but the Europeans say they should not be written off.
The All Blacks beat France in the 1987 final, but lost to them in the 2007 quarter-finals and 1999 semis. New Zealand are undefeated in the competition and will be on home turf at Eden Park in Auckland.
The French will be hoping to avoid the defeat they suffered at the All Blacks’ hands in the pool stages, when they lost 37-17.
On Friday, Australia beat Wales to take the bronze medal prize, having been defeated by New Zealand in the semis. France beat Wales in the semis and England in the quarters.
France wing Vincent Clerc said he accepted New Zealand were favourites, but pledged to put up a fight. “They are playing at home, and they will have a stadium jam-packed with New Zealanders, but we have not played the match yet. They are not world champions yet.
We will try to write French history. Vincent Clerc, France wing
“I do not feel I am in the skin of a future loser, someone who can’t win. That is not how I feel at all. We are capable of playing the match we need to play, and we are capable of beating the All Blacks.
“We have not always played perfect rugby, but we have beaten them in the past. We will try to write French history. It is not easy, but we have the tools, and you can never predict what will happen.”
The final will be outgoing New Zealand coach Graham Henry’s last game in charge and he is guaranteed legendary status if the All Blacks end their 24-year wait for global domination.
New Zealand’s Mealamu, who is poised to equal the record for the All Blacks’ most capped hooker, said: “He has been a very special man on and off the field. I’ve learnt a lot off him as a player, and he is quite a genuine man off the field as well. He really cares about the boys, so I know the boys will be wanting to put on a good performance for him this weekend.”
You just have to look at history to see how good they are. Mealamu, New Zealand hooker
Mealamu said France should not be under-estimated. “We haven’t under-rated them. We know the challenge we have ahead of us. I know a lot of people have written them off, but we know how good they are. You just have to look at history to see how good they are. We will prepare well and make sure we are ready for the French because we know from history that we’ve failed against them.”
Centre Ma’a Nonu agreed, saying: “France have been slammed and been under-rated, and that is when the French play their best rugby – when their backs are against the wall.”