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South Africa's Craig Joubert will referee the World Cup final between New Zealand and France — AFP
auckland: rugby/ world cup
'What's the problem?'
The Malay Mail Tuesday 18 OCTOBER, 2011
France happy to face men in black
Defiant Cooper says abuse will make him stronger as a Wallaby AUSTRALIA'S controversial flyhalf Quade Cooper believes the abuse he has suffered during their Rugby World Cup campaign will only make him stronger. He has been public enemy No 1 in New Zealand on account of the fact that he was born in Waikato and yet plays for Australia, and also because of his alleged feud with All Blacks skipper Richie McCaw. Consequently, the locals took great satisfaction out of Cooper's underwhelming display in Australia's 20-6 semifinal defeat by New Zealand in Auckland on Sunday. However, Cooper insisted afterwards that the constant stream of negativity which has been directed towards him over the past five weeks has actually been of benefit to him. "Everyone is trying to get at me," he said. "I'm definitely going to be better off for it. "The way everyone came at me from all angles, whether it be the media, the crowd, trying to make a big buzz out of it. I got used to it and I think I grew a lot of confidence out of it.
auckland
FIXTURES
MASO: France to give All Blacks the final jersey rights — AFP photo
FRIDAY THIRD PLACING Wales v Australia (3.30pm) SUNDAY FINAL France v New Zealand (4pm) (Live on Astro's CH 816 and CH 831)
"I'm not in a position to point fingers about that or have a cry about it. It's there, it's going to happen and it has happened. It was just about getting on and doing the best that I could for my team and I feel that I did that. "It's been the case throughout the whole tournament from the minute I stepped off the plane, to the minute — I'm sure — that I get on the plane. "I'm sure that everybody will have their opinion, their voices, and whatever that be I'm not going to try and make any perception any different. I am who I am. I'm going to play the way that I play and whether you like it or not, that's me." Despite the fact that he has been subjected to so much vitriol during his time in New Zealand, Cooper showed no bitterness or ill will towards
unwarrAnted abuse: Cooper plays with a football on Takapuna Beach near Auckland during a recovery session — AFP photo
the hosts after their semifinal success. "It was a very tough night. That showed by the intensity and accuracy that they brought to the game. Right across the board they were making it a personal contest between each player and at the end of the day they came out on top," he said. Still, while admitting that the Wallabies had come off a clear second best, Cooper b e l i e ve s t h at Au st r a l i a have plenty of grounds
for optimism. "We're down about losing a semifinal in a World Cup. For a lot of the boys it was their first World Cup, but I'm sure it won't be their last," he said. "Everyone is looking to the future because we can't get this game back, but we can look forward to what's to come." Australia and Cooper will now have the chance to restore some pride by beating Wales in the third placing clash on Friday.
NEW ZEALAND will wear their first choice all black strip in Sunday's final despite losing the toss to France in Auckland yesterday. France team manager Jo Maso correctly called heads when the coin was flipped to decide first choice of jersey and changing room at Eden Park. He could have chosen for France to wear their regular blue jersey and New Zealand to play in their all white strip but declined to do so. "We decided to allow the All Blacks the choice to play in black. It is a sign of respect and a way for our team to thank New Zealanders for a remarkable World Cup," said Maso. The president of the French Rugby Union Pierre Camou, head coach Marc Lievremont, team management and players supported the decision.
"It is an honour to play the All Blacks when they play in their black jerseys and it is logical with the World Cup final being held at Eden Park," said Maso. France, who will play New Zealand in white for the second time in a Rugby World Cup match, hope Maso winning the coin toss will be a good omen. He also won the toss prior to the 2007 edition's quarterfinal match between the teams. On that occasion, New Zealand were forced to wear their alternative silver and black strip and lost the match 20-18. It was the only time Les Bleus have not faced a predominantly black New Zealand jersey in World Cup encounters. Meanwhile, Australia will wear their traditional gold jersey and Wales their red one when they battle for bronze on Friday.
All Blacks have to cool it and focus on final
stayING wary: Henry attempts to open a bottle of water during a Press conference — AFP photo
N EW Z E A L A N D he a d coach Graham Henry urged the All Blacks not to get carried away with their impressive semifinal victory over Australia at Eden Park on Sunday. New Zealand comprehensively outplayed their bitter rivals to record a 20-6 win to book a final date against France this Sunday. The historic win, which keeps the All Blacks on course for a first World Cup crown since 1987, sparked jubilation among players and a capacity crowd at Eden Park but Henry warned that nothing has been won yet. "It's important we calm down," he said. "It was a huge game on the weekend, we can't stay up there. We've got to come down, get to base
again, clean sheet of paper and build again for this Test match on Sunday against the French. Although they didn't play particularly well in their semifinal, we know they got the ability to play outstandingly and they've done that in the past." Henry's biggest fear is that France produce another epic World Cup performance to end New Zealand's hopes of ending a 24-year drought in the sport's showpiece event. "The French can be the best in the world on their day," he said. "The All Blacks have had some great Test matches against the French during the last eight years, starting with that Paris Test in 2004, which was a game that put a lot of these young guys on the map and a lot
of them now have played 70, 80, 100 games for the All Blacks. But in 2007, after beating the French by 50 points or thereabouts in a game prior to that, we got beaten in the quarterfinal. That's the reality. "There's history in All Black-French Rugby World Cup games. Outside of that, apart from a Test in Dunedin, I think we've won every game. So we've won every game in France and lost one game at home over the last eight years to the French and lost a Rugby World Cup quarterfinal, which was the most bizarre game that I've ever been involved in. "There is a lot of history there, the boys respect the French team, they got a lot of talented players and it will
be a good final." South African referee Craig Joubert has been given the honour of taking charge of the final. An appointment welcomed by Henry and one that he believes will also please his players. "He's a good referee. He's a referee who relates well to the players on the field. He's clear on his instruction, he has a lot of composure out there. He's developed as the top referee or one of the top referees in the world over the last three or four years," said Henry. "It's pleasing because the players enjoy playing when he's refereeing and that's a sign of a good referee. He's cool out there, he communicates well and makes good decisions, which is critical."