POOL A New Zealand v France:Venue: Auckland Kick-off: Saturday, 9.30am On TV: ITV, Setanta
FRANCE BACKROW Julien Bonnaire has begun the mind games ahead of tomorrow morning’s crucial World Cup clash with New Zealand by questioning whether the All Blacks will buckle beneath the weight of expectation.
Test rugby’s greatest team have dominated the game since the inception of the World Cup yet have won the tournament just once, the inaugural event in 1987.
With the 2011 competition being staged at home, the pressure is building and Bonnaire is keen to inject doubt in their minds. “The All Blacks know we are unpredictable, both in a good and a bad way actually. We can either fail or pull it off – and that is what they fear,” he said. “Clearly there are high expectations from a whole nation who support them fully – perhaps too much even. We experienced that ourselves in 2007 in France.”
Much of the build-up to the match has concentrated on what has been described in the New Zealand press as a second-string line-up. The claim does not stand up to scrutiny with a host of big names – among them captain Thierry Dusautoir, scrumhalf Dimitri Yachvili and winger Vincent Clerc – starting.
The main area of discussion has been on the selection of Morgan Parra at outhalf in what will be his first Test start in the position.
Muddying the waters on the debate over whether Marc Lievremont has selected a weakened side is the knowledge that defeat would place them in the easier half of the quarter-final draw where two of England, Ireland or Wales will lie in wait.
“Controversy is part of the deal,” said Bonnaire. “The media are looking to get their hands on anything. It doesn’t affect me. It’s up to us to prove them wrong on the field.”
France have become something of a World Cup nemesis for New Zealand after staging famous upset victories against them in 1999 and 2007.
All Black lock Brad Thorn admits Les Bleus can be unpredictable. “The French can play a really attractive game of rugby. It can be out of the box, it’s quite unique,” he said. “They can throw the ball wide off their own try line, so it makes for interesting footy. My message to spectators would be to enjoy the rugby. Cheer their hearts out. Get every cent’s worth out of their admission and just express themselves and have fun.”
Richie McCaw and Dan Carter return from injury for the Pool A showdown. McCaw will become the first All Black to win 100 caps after missing last Friday’s 83-7 victory over Japan with a calf problem as one of four changes.
Carter has overcome his back problem to start at outhalf while Israel Dagg has been selected ahead of Mils Muliaina at full-back. There is no place in the 22 for Jimmy Cowan with Piri Weepu preferred at scrumhalf and Andy Ellis offering cover from the bench.
Adam Thomson switches back to number eight to accommodate McCaw with Victor Vito dropping out of the 22.
