World Cup latest – Fitzpatrick: Boks the biggest test
21 Jun 2011
Keo.co.za brings you news World Cup related news.
Fitzpatrick: Boks the biggest test - Sean Fitzpatrick has identified the Springboks as the All Blacks’ toughest opponent at the World Cup.
If results go as expected, the two sides should meet in the semi-final in Auckland.
The iconic former All Blacks captain said: ‘Probably the No 1 for us are the South Africans, I think they’ve got a huge amount of depth and experience and they’ve won two World Cups. And we play them, with everything going to plan, semifinal time in Auckland.
“They’re just starting to perform well, Super Rugby has shown that a number of their key Springboks are now starting to find some form.’
He was, however, bullish about the Blacks’ chances at the tournament they last won in 1987.
‘I think they’re as good as they have been in [coach] Graham Henry’s tenure, they’ve got a good blend of youth, they’ve got unbelievable experience, so all in all, they’re in a good space,’ he said. ‘The position we’re in now, I think the All Blacks can win the World Cup.’
He added the biggest challenge would be managing the massive expectation of the nation.
‘Playing for the All Blacks my biggest fear was that I was going to fail, that I was going to let down the nation, so harnessing that fear of failure is key and I think that this team is mature enough to be able to handle that pressure,” Fitzpatrick said.
‘But it’s great. All New Zealanders expect the All Blacks to win. In terms of pressure it’s never been any greater or any less really. So playing in NZ is wonderful. I played there in ’87 when we had the World Cup and the momentum, the wave of support we got from the four million shareholders was phenomenal.
‘I can remember we played Italy at Eden Park and then once that game was out of the way and NZ sort of realised the World Cup was under way, the momentum, that surge of support was phenomenal, this time will be no different.”
19 Comments
21 Jun 2011, 09:59 am
Time to rattle the supporters’ faith. And that begins with the Sharks winning on Saturday.
21 Jun 2011, 10:00 am
Damn skippy dragon
21 Jun 2011, 10:13 am
Kirk, Farr-Jones, Pienaar, Eales, Johnson, Smit… shame Fitzy could easily have firt in with that crowd with posh New-Zealand accent of his. haha
21 Jun 2011, 10:18 am
As always the ABs biggest opponent is themselves. RWC95 was the last time they performed well at a RWC since then they have been below par. This time they will be different however they are goin go to meet a Bok laden with experience. The Boks will make that semi fairly easily!!!
That semi will be the game of the tournament!!!
21 Jun 2011, 10:19 am
“..I think the All Blacks can win the World Cup..”
Doesn’t everyone think that every world cup?
21 Jun 2011, 11:17 am
A fair assessment from Fitzy – although I think the Aussies will be happy to have the spotlight on SA and NZ.@race of tan(race of tan)-4: Followed by the Bok / Wallaby final
21 Jun 2011, 11:49 am
meh NZ beat australia and boks by 50 points each in the 2003 tri nations. what happens now and in tri nations is not going to mean anything. depth and experience are one thing but they have no real leader and can not handle pressure. they wil be relying on gimmick bill williams. that kind of game is not very reliable at test level where time space are limited. i think henry must be very careful. but theyll have the refs in their pocket and that will probably be enough for a world cup win.
21 Jun 2011, 11:53 am
@race of tan(race of tan)-4: the Dork will have no plan for new zealand. but rassie does have some tricks up his sleeve. but we lose out in the biggest aspect of the game and that is the brains off the pitch. do you trust the Dork to use his bench? to select a strong team? to have a good plan in place? to sort out our defensive structures? or our backplay? i dont. we went into the 2007 wc with the best defence in the world and the most lethal counterattacking backline. organized and well drilled. we wont have that. we have nothing. its too much like 2003.
21 Jun 2011, 12:03 pm
This is True Okes.
24,000 NZ School Children were surveyed as to the out-come of this years WC.
The vast majority had NZ making final:
But losing to SA in the final.
What have we become!
21 Jun 2011, 12:04 pm
The above survey was commissioned by Tv NZ.
21 Jun 2011, 12:05 pm
@cane(cane)-9: now do the survey on adults! hehe
21 Jun 2011, 12:10 pm
I expect to see England in the final again.
21 Jun 2011, 12:12 pm
Like I said the two best teams if results go to form will play in the final…Aus and NZ!
Fitzy playing mind games with the boks as he knows the true games start at Semi final stages.
21 Jun 2011, 12:14 pm
England is the dark horse this year.
21 Jun 2011, 12:19 pm
@Blitzbok(Blitzbok)-11:
An Adult survey would most likely give the tournament to Aussies.
Real men,
who did not whinge about Referees,
do not poison the opposition,
no eye gougers in their Team.
A half decent National Anthem.
They will have at least about 3 Kiwi’s in their Team.
And Kiwi Coach.
Top S15 Qualifier.
(okay the National Anthem thing is an exaggeration).
8)
21 Jun 2011, 12:21 pm
@cane(cane)-15:
Aussie should have adopted Waltzing Matilda as their national anthem in the 70s…
21 Jun 2011, 12:54 pm
@cane(cane)-15: Are you picking them or dating them?
21 Jun 2011, 13:55 pm
@willievz(willievz)-12: Agree. A Boks vs Poms final again.
21 Jun 2011, 14:03 pm
@Sasuke(Sasuke)-18:
It could well be a Kiwi-Pom final.
But only if they play Ireland in the semis.
I can see the Boks losing to the Irish in the quarters as a tournament shock.
But if we get to the semis, the ABs are gonna have to know their act. I can’t see us losing that one
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