Relax (yeah right)

Piri Weepu, the All Blacks' goal-kicking director of operations. Photo by Reuters.
Piri Weepu, the All Blacks' goal-kicking director of operations. Photo by Reuters.
So this is it. This is bigger than big. Bigger than the hole in the navigational charts on the Rena.

But are we doomed? Is the generation-long curse of the All Blacks never winning the Rugby World Cup going to continue?

It's semifinal time and the captain has a crook foot, cannot train and according to some is on the downward slide.

Our key back is out injured and the back-up to his back-up should really be on the big screen appearing in the Smurfs movie.

David Pocock is on fire on the open side of the Wallaby scrum and it's entirely possible the man New Zealanders love to hate - Quade Cooper - will silence the hecklers by playing the game of his life.

Is it going to be four more years of pain and sorrow?

Simple answer: Nup.

It's the All Blacks who are playing the Wallabies in tomorrow night's semifinal.

At home.

With all the advantages that offers.

The Wallabies have not won at Eden Park since Adam was a cowboy.

Our tight five will eat theirs for breakfast, dinner and tea. Their scrum has a reverse gear that would not disgrace a Ferrari.

Sure, Richie McCaw may not be 100%, but look on the other side of the scrum.

Jerome Kaino is in the form of his life. He is knocking over people left, right and centre. In the key position of halfback we have our Piri.

Weepu is kicking goals, throwing huge and accurate passes, and he has even lost some weight.

Outside him, the Manawatu midget Aaron Cruden may not bowl anyone over - but when did first five-eighths start tackling?

The rest of the backs all have absolute star quality, from Ma'a Nonu to Israel Dagg.

Surely a player named after the country in which Jesus was born has God on his side.

And then take a look at the bench.

No, not Ben Franks, good player and all. I'm talking Sonny Bill Williams. If ever there was an impact player, he is the one.

So relax, sit back and enjoy it for what it is. A game of rugby between two talented teams.

One in which the All Blacks should - and will - prevail.

Of course, I could be completely and utterly wrong. Perhaps. If so, don't blame me. That is the sheer beauty of sport - that is why we watch.

Oh, one more thing: Wales plays France at 9 o'clock tonight in the other World Cup semifinal. Or, as we like to call it, the curtain-raiser.


10 reasons why the ABs can't lose:
- 1. The match is being played at Eden Park.
- 2. In Richie - and Izzie - we trust.
- 3. Jerome Kaino.
- 4. The match is being played at Eden Park.
- 5. Piri.
- 6. Our bench (yes, that's you, Sonny Bill Williams).
- 7. The match is being played at Eden Park.
- 8. They can't drop goals either.
- 9. Our tight five.
- 10. Did we mention the match is being played at Eden Park?

1 reason why they can:
- 1. It's a Rugby World Cup semifinal against Australia.


 

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