Semi-final time and New Zealand is partying like it’s 1987. The semi-finalists back then, at the inaugural World Cup, were also New Zealand, Australia, France and Wales (although the match-ups were different). New Zealand went on to beat France in the final, a feat they (famously) have not achieved since, and are desperately hoping to repeat this time.
In doing so, they will be relying on the replacement for Dan Carter’s replacement, with Colin Slade, like Carter, having been ruled out of the remainder of the tournament with a groin strain (what is with NZ fly-halves and their nether regions?). The new kid is just that – a kid. Aaron Cruden is 23 (but looks 16) and has played 8 tests, including coming on a substitute in the quarter-final against Argentina with his knee bandaged to cover up the graze he got falling off his skateboard last week. I wish I were joking.
Cruden: Mom, phone the school and tell them I'll miss a few days for this, like, rugby thing, k?
Cruden will, at least, be surrounded by familiar faces, notably Hurricanes teammates Piri Weepu inside him and Ma’a Nonu outside. Weepu has become the Mr. Fix-it of the All Blacks, leading the haka, starting at No. 9, covering No. 10, and even jumping out of bed to retrieve Cory Jane and Israel Dagg from a North Shore bar after curfew.
Cruden’s opposite number on Sunday, Quade Cooper, is looking to rebound from a pretty atrocious display in Australia’s quarter-final victory over South Africa. Maybe he was suffering from being booed every time he touches the ball (his status as Public Enemy No. 1 in New Zealand is not just because he’s a Kiwi playing for the enemy – Digby Ioane doesn’t cop the same sort of flak – but because he’s perceived as arrogant, and has taken a couple of cheap shots at Saint Richie). Or maybe South Africa just played him well. Either way, both sides will likely view the opposition’s Number 10 as a weak link defensively (but will be very wary of them with ball in hand).
The other big question mark for Australia is whether their bruising win over the Springboks will give them momentum or leave them exhausted. It is almost unbelievable that they came away as victors in that game, given the statistics – 76% of the game was spent in their half and they made 147 tackles to South Africa’s 53. But that sort of effort takes its toll, and a week suddenly seems like a short rest period. Whatever state they’re in, you can be sure that both sides will be up for it, and it should be an intense match. The long-awaited match-up between David Pocock (immense in the game against South Africa) and Richie McCaw (still nursing an injured foot) will be a key deciding factor.
Things should be no less intense on the northern hemisphere side of the draw, and possibly more entertaining. (For a Kiwi to say that about a match featuring two European teams, especially when the alternative is an ANZAC test, is high praise indeed.) Both France and Wales fully deserved their wins on Saturday, and look to be very evenly matched. Whether France can string two (or three) great performances together in a row is, as ever, an open question, but if they do, they will be a handful. Wales seem supremely focused, organized and fit, so France will have to be at their best. The Welsh kids (10 of them are 23 or under) are coming through with flying colours, although they will miss Rhys Priestland if he doesn’t recover from his shoulder injury.
From a neutral’s perspective, these are almost perfect semi-final match-ups, featuring the four most enterprising teams in the world in contests with rich historical resonance and for the highest stakes. I can’t wait for Saturday.
