The All Blacks launch their World Cup build-up as overwhelming favorites against a below-par French side today but cautioning against expectations of a substantial scoreline.
New Zealand's skipper Richie McCaw set the ground rules yesterday when he underlined the significance of the first of seven Tests the All Blacks, ranked the No. 1 side in the world, will play before the World Cup in five months.
"The guys are pretty happy to be back in this environment and are looking forward to what's going to be a big year. They want to start it off pretty well," he said. "It's important to get the first week right ... so hopefully we can put a performance together that we're happy with tomorrow."
PHOTO: AFP
While club championship play-offs in France forced French coach Bernard Laporte to field a "best-of-the-rest" team against New Zealand, McCaw said the All Blacks would still have to be on top form if they wanted to win.
"I don't think it's too difficult [not knowing the opposition]. We have had a lot of things that we have had to worry about ourselves, so in that regard it's made sure we look at ourselves first," he said.
In two Tests at the end of last year the All Blacks piled on 70 points against France. But with less than a week together since then, and hints of rustiness, coach Graham Henry cautioned their immediate focus had to be on getting the basics right.
"We just want to make sure our set piece is sound, we use the ball well ... that we play a very constructive game and build on that constructive game," he said.
Unusually for an All Blacks home Test, it is unlikely to be a sell-out crowd at Eden Park.
Henry said this suggested the public had decided the side would not be good enough, but that he did not see it that way.
"It's easy to play the underdog tag, and they can do that obviously, but I don't think we should be sucked in," he said.
Although France are without most of their senior internationals -- only lock Pascal Pape survives from the starting line-up when they last played the All Blacks seven months ago -- there are areas of the All Blacks play that they can attempt to exploit.
Isaia Toeava is given another chance in midfield after failing to fire last year, an out-of-sorts Joe Rokocoko could not make the Blues Super 14 side this year, and Chris Masoe is being tested as a back rower in case he is required to cover later in the year for the regular Rodney So'oialo.
Rokocoko is one of many All Blacks held back from the first half of the Super 14 competition under Henry's World Cup fitness masterplan because he did not live up to expectations when he began playing.
McCaw and kingpin flyhalf Dan Carter, among others, also turned in mediocre performances and Carter said they could not be expected to produce their best immediately.
"I wasn't too happy with my form but I feel more comfortable with each game and I'll be looking to progress each week," he said. "A lot of the guys found it pretty tough getting back into their franchises but it's been enjoyable getting back into this camp -- I know I tend to lift another gear when I put on the black jersey."
But even a sub-par All Blacks side should produce too much quality play for a French unit starting with six Test novices and with another five on the bench.
"It will be difficult to win with this young side," said veteran back Thomas Castaignede.
But grizzled backrower Sebastien Chabal demanded they ignore the form book and at least play like winners.
"If you don't think you can win you might as well stay at home and watch a good movie," he said.
Bologna on Thursday advanced past Empoli to reach their first Coppa Italia final in more than half a century. Thijs Dallinga’s 87th-minute header earned Bologna a 2-1 win and his side advanced 5-1 on aggregate. Giovanni Fabbian opened the scoring for Bologna with a header seven minutes in. Then Viktor Kovalenko equalized for Empoli in the 30th minute by turning in a rebound to finish off a counterattack. Bologna won the first leg 3-0. In the May 14 final in Rome, Bologna are to face AC Milan, who eliminated city rivals Inter 4-1 on aggregate following a 3-0 win on Wednesday. Bologna last reached the
If the Wild finally break through and win their first playoff series in a decade, Minnesota’s top line likely will be the reason. They were all over the Golden Knights through the first two games of their NHL Western Conference quarter-finals series, which was 1-1 going back to Minnesota for Game 3 today. The Wild tied the series with a 5-2 win on Tuesday. Matt Boldy had three goals and an assist in the first two games, while Kirill Kaprizov produced two goals and three assists. Joel Eriksson Ek, who centers the line, has yet to get on the scoresheet. “I think the biggest
The Minnesota Timberwolves, with so many promising performances spoiled by late mistakes fresh in their memory bank, sure timed this strong finish well. Jaden McDaniels scored a career playoff-high 30 points and spearheaded Minnesota’s stifling defense on an ailing Luka Doncic, and the Timberwolves beat the Los Angeles Lakers 116-104 to take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven Western Conference first-round series in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Friday night. “Jaden never looks tired. He looks like he could play 48 minutes,” said teammate Anthony Edwards, who had 29 points, eight rebounds and eight assists. Julius Randle added 22 points for the Wolves, who outscored
From a commemorative jersey to a stadium in his name, Argentine soccer organizers are planning a slew of tributes to their late “Captain” Pope Francis, eulogized as the ultimate team player. Tributes to the Argentine pontiff, a lifelong lover of the game, who died on Monday at the age of 88, have been peppered with soccer metaphors in his homeland. “Francisco. What a player,” the Argentine Football Federation (AFA) said, describing the first pope from Latin America and the southern hemisphere as a generational talent who “never hogged the ball” and who showed the world “the importance of having an Argentine captain,
RSS