So a few weeks ago I ran a pulse check on the nation to see if the All Blacks could defy the odds and win the Rugby World Cup. On the eve of their biggest game of pool A against bogey side France I decided to find out the feelings of the people. Arguably a strong win against the side that defeated the AB’S in the Quarter-finals of the 2007 Rugby World Cup will galvanize the nation offering the belief that finally the men in black can lift the Webb Ellis trophy, after 24 years of hurt. I decided to quiz some of my student hosts in Dunedin to get the low-down on this grudge match.
Shaun Ferguson- ‘I think we can beat the French convincingly’
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| Some of the students we have been hanging out with. |
Shaun was pretty confident on a big win for the All Blacks come tonight at Eden Park. ‘I think that we have had a good run in our first two games, even though Japan & Tonga aren’t the best sides we won convincingly and confidence will be high. We gave all the squad a run-out over the last two games and that’s good to get the winning feeling for the whole squad.’ When pushed on a score Shaun went for 31-18 All Blacks- ‘I think that’s a big enough margin to show everyone how good we are’
Dimitar Trifunovski- ‘I want a win by a margin 15 + points- that’s all.’
Dimitar was upfront with his score predictions for the big match tonight. ‘I have some money on a couple of results at the Rugby World Cup and if it comes off tonight, I will be in line for a big windfall.’ When asked about the game Dimitar felt Richie McCaw will be the difference. ‘He’s going to be the first All Black player to reach 100 caps tonight, he’s done it all on a rugby field- his experience will be crucial for us against the French.’ When it came to a score Dimitar just wanted the 15 points margin. ‘I don’t want to jinx it by putting an exact score to the game!’
Lloyd Campton-‘It’s a tight match to call but the All Blacks will just shade it’
Auckland born Lloyd thinks the All Blacks will do just enough tonight for the win. ‘We are strong at Eden Park- the crowd will be behind the boys 110% and I think we will win.’ Lloyd looked to France’s other pool games as a source of comfort for nervy All Blacks fans. ‘I know the French won both group games but the Japanese really fought back against them- could be a sign of weakness considering we destroyed Japan.’ When pushed on a result Lloyd went for a low scoring match up. ‘I think it will be down to a couple of tries and penalties for this one’ He called the game 17-10.
So the students of Dunedin have called an All Blacks win tonight. Whatever happens tonight a victory by any margin will go some way to banish the ghosts of that night against the French in the Millennium stadium. Hopefully after the win the AB’S and a nation again united behind them a place in the final awaits.
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