NEW Zealanders waste fewer words than they do passes. The All Blacks
manager, John Sturgeon, told me in Dublin yesterday: ''We want to play
Scotland in the final. What's the point in us facing England -- we have
already beaten them in the competition and that wasn't exactly a match
to remember.''
After arriving in Ireland on Monday night the world champions went on
a two-hour training stint yesterday. They don't follow the England line
of punching each other but they don't hold back either.
One of the most active was flanker Michael Jones, who won't even have
a place in the semi-final line-up against Australia at Lansdowne Road,
as his religious beliefs do not permit him to play on a Sunday. ''You
have to stick to what you believe in,'' he said, and you realised you
were talking to a very big man indeed.
Coach Alex ''Grizz'' Wyllie was not too bothered that most of the
locals appear to have decided to support the Wallabies. ''Every neutral
roots against the champions -- we can handle it.''
It was a point I returned to with manager Sturgeon, a 52-year-old
colliery manager who has held his rugby post for the last four years.
Isn't it difficult when the All Blacks are always expected to win?
''Yes, people expect a lot of us, but then we expect a lot of
ourselves. Sometimes if we don't win by 20 points there is a lot of
criticism, much of it unfair, in the media. I suppose it's the same in
Scotland.''
No, no, I assured him, all the Scottish journalists were very
supportive.
Sturgeon is satisfied with the performance of his team so far. ''We
came a hard route, having to play England first. The Americans and the
Italians gave us good games too, and in the quarter-finals the Canadians
showed just how much they had improved.
''In the last World Cup we beat Italy by over 70 points. If the 1991
Italian team was to play their '87 side they would run up as big a
score. That is progress.''
What is he expecting from Australia? ''One heck of a lot of trouble.
We love to hate them, in a friendly way of course, and the team that
wins on Sunday will be the one which can handle the pressure.''
In that department the All Blacks' record is second to none.
I turned his thoughts towards Murrayfield on Saturday. ''I genuinely
believe Scotland can win, but they must play their own game; England
cannot be allowed to dictate the pattern.
''The Scots were most impressive the last time they came to New
Zealand. But I was most disappointed by the way they played at
Twickenham last year.
''You have to spin the ball out against the English. They haven't got
anyone like Gavin Hastings. His brother Scott is another potential match
winner and so is the one we lent you, Sean Lineen.''
We wished our respective countries good luck. ''Who wants to go to
Cardiff for the third place match?'' -- Sturgeon winced at the very
thought. Who indeed?
The All Blacks are treating only minor bumps and bruises, but the
injury saga of Australian captain Nick Farr-Jones goes on. He did some
light training yesterday then told me: ''My knee is much better but now
I am bothered by a twisted ankle. I'll get there.''
Winger David Campese, whose ankle was studied by no fewer than four
specialists, did not take part in training, going instead for a swim.
Nobody expects him to miss the match -- that would be like a Placido
Domingo concert with an understudy.
TELEVISION'S latest sports double act, Steve Smith and Gordon Brown,
head ITV's team for this weekend's World Cup semi-finals. Smith and
Brown have been selected to give expert opinion at both the
Scotland-England and New Zealand-Australia games.
David Kirk will also be at both matches, while former Bath prop Gareth
Chilcott will help out at Murrayfield. Australian Bill Calcraft will
join the team at Lansdowne Road on Sunday.
ITV's head of sport Bob Burrows said :''We are delighted to have put
together a team that has worked superbly. They have all played a
tremendous part in the success of our style of coverage and it's a shame
that this team won't have the chance to continue for the Five Nations
championship.''
Viewing figures for the World Cup quarter-finals, due out today, are
expected to be good.
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