There is home advantage and then there is Eden Park, the venue for today’s World Cup final between New Zealand and France.
Since the ground staged its first Test match in 1921, New Zealand have played 70 internationals at the Auckland ground, winning 58, drawing two and losing just 10.
And since an 18-18 draw with South Africa in 1994, the All Blacks have won 26 straight matches there, a run coinciding with the advent of rugby union’s professional era.
Photo: AFP
Only last month, New Zealand beat France 37-17 at Eden Park in a World Cup pool match, with the 20-point margin of victory — a sizable gap in rugby terms, but about average when it comes to modern All Black wins at the venue.
Yet Eden Park lacks the characteristics associated with many other rugby grounds.
There were more fans watching Wales’s semi-final loss to France on giant screens at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff than the 58,630 who saw the game live at Eden Park, where capacity has been boosted to 60,000 for the World Cup.
There is not as much noise as at Dublin’s Lansdowne Road. Nor is the wintry climate that led to Dunedin’s Carisbrook stadium, in New Zealand’s South Island, being dubbed the “House of Pain,” much of an issue.
Yet former Wales international Scott Quinnell is in no doubt about the difficulty visiting teams face at Eden Park.
“It’s the hardest place to play on Earth. Facing the All Blacks in Auckland is the ultimate test,” he said.
The ground’s history dates back to the early years of the 20th Century, with Auckland’s Kingsland Cricket Club renting land close to Sandringham Road, which runs past the modern Eden Park, from 1900-1910.
Shortly afterward, Eden Cricket Club purchased about 6 hectares on the same site and went on to build Eden Park.
The All Blacks are overwhelming favorites to beat France today in what is a repeat of the inaugural 1987 World Cup final, also held at Eden Park, which saw New Zealand triumph 29-9.
However, two of the greatest victories in French rugby history have also taken place at the ground.
In 1979, France marked Bastille Day, July 14, with a 24-19 win over the All Blacks for their first victory on New Zealand soil.
And in 1994, they became the last away side to triumph at Eden Park, winning 23-20 thanks to a sensational late score from Jean-Luc Sadourny that became known as the “try from the end of the world.”
Emile Ntamack, who played for France in that match and is now helping to prepare the current squad for the final as an assistant coach, said there was no magic formula for beating New Zealand.
“To win against the All Blacks, you must put them under pressure every minute everywhere. I don’t know another solution,” he said.
Manchester United on Tuesday confirmed Michael Carrick as interim manager until the end of the season, tasking him with leading the Red Devils back into the UEFA Champions League. “Having the responsibility to lead Manchester United is an honor,” said Carrick, 44, who won 12 major trophies in his 12-year playing career at United. The former midfielder previously had an unbeaten three-game stint as caretaker boss at Old Trafford in 2021. Carrick then took on his first permanent managerial role at second-tier Middlesbrough in October 2022 and was sacked in June last year after the club finished 10th in the
Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg on Wednesday was ruled out for the second half of their 118-109 loss to the Denver Nuggets after the No. 1 pick sprained his left ankle in the first half. Flagg was called for a foul while defending against Peyton Watson and turned the ankle as he fell to the floor with 6 minutes, 1 second left in the second quarter. Flagg limped to the bench and continued to the locker room, but returned for the final 2 minutes, 35 seconds before the break. The 19-year-old did not come out for the second half before the announcement that
Yassine Bounou on Wednesday saved two penalties, while Youssef en-Nesyri netted the decisive spot-kick as hosts Morocco secured a 4-2 shoot-out victory over Nigeria following a 0-0 draw in a tense Africa Cup of Nations semi-final in Rabat. Morocco, seeking their first continental title in 50 years, are to face 2021 winners Senegal in Sunday’s decider in Rabat, while Nigeria take on Egypt in the third-place playoff tomorrow. The 120 minutes before the shoot-out had few clear-cut chances for either side, but it was Morocco who created more opportunities, although they were denied by some fine saves from Nigeria goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali. Nigeria
Reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on Sunday sparked defending champions Oklahoma City to victory, while Anthony Edwards led Minnesota’s last-minute fightback to beat San Antonio. Gilgeous-Alexander scored 29 points while adding eight assists and five rebounds in the Thunder’s 124-112 home victory over Miami, improving the NBA’s best record to 33-7 after outscoring the Heat 70-53 in the second half. “We locked in defensively. We were finally able to get some stops,” Thunder guard Aaron Wiggins said. “We were able to get out in transition a little bit, get going offensively and find the flow.” Jalen Williams scored 18 points, while
RSS