They may not have won at Eden Park since 1986 but the Wallabies have dumped their nearest and dearest out of the World Cup at the semi-final stage both times the two teams have met: who can forget George Gregan’s “four more years”. Deans would not be human if he wasn’t cooking up some Old Testament retribution for his country of birth; a plague of penalties would do nicely.
The Wallabies boast a history of valiant defence. Last weekend’s heroics against South Africa were more than matched in 1991 when, in the semi-final at Lansdowne Road, the Aussie defence restricted New Zealand to their lowest ever World Cup total of just six points.
It’s unlikely to be enough today, which is just one of the reasons Deans is backing his erratic playmaker Cooper to come good. It seems likely that this All Blacks side will score tries so the Wallabies must do likewise. They rode their luck against the Springboks but the Wallaby forwards will need to halt the Black tide in its tracks today if they are to have any hope of making an appearance in next Sunday’s final.
It’s too close to call. Deans has a point to prove and Henry a last shot at redemption, but whatever the outcome at least Warren O’Connor will have something to shout about.
No comments:
Post a Comment