Our nation is counting down. It's been twenty-four years since Captain (David) Kirk held the Rugby World Cup aloft on behalf of the All Blacks and the nation. Tomorrow night, at the blessed time of 9 pm (blessed because after all Sunday services are finished), the All Blacks will run on to Eden Park, field of dreams, to play the French, the most challenging of all our possible opponents because they can win when least expected to. Tomorrow night could be very challenging because the French go into the final having lost two pool games which no finalist has ever done before, indeed no team has ever won the World Cup having lost any of its pool games.
However I think we are quietly confident. We have some real strength upfront in our scrum, some tall timber in our lineout, and, quite possibly, the best backline we have ever fielded in over one hundred years of playing test rugby: not one weak link, and some real stars who can slip past their opposite with silky skills.
It would be icing on the cake if we could win well, not just win. In fact a repeat of the pool game we played against France would be very good. The pundits paid to write about these things are predicting a close game with the All Blacks winning by a dozen or so points. I am predicting a win by 25 points or more. Allez les Blacks!
So, just a wee holiday from things Anglicana coming up. The Anglican Communion is not the only interest of mine which has its birth in England!
4 comments:
Beam up the Cup Scottie!
Best wishes for Sunday's final, and thanks for hosting a great rugby world cup. Laissez les bons temps rouler!
May the best team win! Whoever that may be. It's only a game.
And they did - eventually by 1 point!
Just goes to show, not too much between them. The French played a wonderful game, but the All Blacks that little bit better. Deo gratias!
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