GRAHAM HENRY prefers to keep his emotions hidden from public view but he made a brief exception ahead of this weekend’s final. What, he was asked, would it mean to him and his family if the All Blacks were to rediscover the promised land again after 24 years? “Peace,” came the crisp reply. “Internal peace.” Every New Zealander will know where he is coming from.
For this is not just a country weary of being teased about its repeated World Cup failures since 1987. The Christchurch earthquake and the Pike River mining disaster have acquainted Kiwis with the real meaning of life and death. The sight of a French team parading the Webb Ellis Cup around Eden Park would do little to ease that pain.
Henry, as a native of Christchurch, fully appreciates his nation’s yearning. He also has vivid memories of four years ago, when his two sons flew into Cardiff the day before New Zealand’s quarter-final defeat against France to join up with his wife, daughter and friends. What was intended as a celebratory reunion turned into a wake. “Meeting up on the Sunday was a very emotional time. I’m just hoping we can get together on Sunday night and things might be a little bit different.”
Given the success Henry has enjoyed during his lengthy association with the All Blacks – his record stands at 87 wins and 15 losses since 2004 – a home win would also relieve those closest to him. “My mum’s still alive – she’s 95 – and she’ll be delighted when it’s finished. My wife will be rejoicing, too. When you’re at the coal face you can have some effect on what’s happening. But when you’re close to people doing the job yet not involved yourself, it’s a very difficult situation.”
Over at the French team hotel, peace, love and understanding remain not so much elusive as invisible. Marc Lièvremont and his squad are still estranged, the players and the media are openly sparring with each other and their English defence coach, Dave Ellis, is almost the only one still talking a good game. “Certain things have been taken out of context and turned into a bit of a soap opera,” Ellis said. “But it’s in the difficult times that you build strength in the group. What we’ve been through will give us mental force.”
Could it possibly be enough? France have a decent scrum, a first-class lineout and clever halfbacks. Their discipline has been good and Ellis enjoys recalling the defensive valour of 2007, when New Zealand went through 47 phases without scoring.
Liévremont may no longer have the ear of the squad but he is adamant France will not repeat the mistake of the 1999 team he played in, a side that reached the final against Australia but failed to do themselves justice. Les Bleus will bring a thunderous crackle to the early collisions. As England in 1991 and Australia in 2003 can testify, not all finals automatically go the way of the hosts.
A modern remake of 1987, when New Zealand eased past the French 29-9 with tries from David Kirk, Michael Jones and John Kirwan, still seems a likelier outcome. Since then there have been a mere five tries in the past five World Cup finals, which says everything about the fire-blanket nature of the big occasion. France will again seek to spoil and frustrate as surely as they did against England and Wales.
New Zealand, though, are a stronger all-round threat, from the wing Cory Jane to Tarzan-esque figures such as Richie McCaw, Jerome Kaino and Kieran Read in the backrow. Israel Dagg looks every inch the new Christian Cullen, while Kaino, Ma’a Nonu and Piri Weepu have all been nominated for the International Rugby Board’s Player of the Year award.
The home side also remain unbeaten at Eden Park since 1994, when France’s Jean-Luc Sadourny completed the so-called “Try from the end of the world” in the last minute. The footage is still there on YouTube and would make a handy French motivational tool if the present generation had the remotest idea how to reproduce such verve and elan. They looked distinctly leaden-footed in the final quarter against Wales; even an All Black side playing its 12th Test in 14 weeks will fancy their bench strength paying off in the latter stages. Henry is confident his team have enough quality – “You don’t deserve that title unless you earn it, but I think we’re good enough” – and the authority of New Zealand’s semi-final display suggests a home win by a 12-point margin.
