Rugby World Cup 2015 final: Sir Graham Henry sees problems with All Blacks and Australia

Name: All Blacks: Twin threat of Pocock and Hooper
Uploaded: 2015-10-27T05:25:12+13:00
Duration: 181 s
Description: The All Blacks say that to combat Pocock and Hooper they have to do things better, not change their ways to nullify the twin breakdown threats. Also Dane Coles has dreamed of this moment since a boy and Sam Cane says the AB's will 'walk towards the challenge'.

NZ Herald

26 Oct, 2015 05:53 PM2 mins to read

The All Blacks say that to combat Pocock and Hooper they have to do things better, not change their ways to nullify the twin breakdown threats. Also Dane Coles has dreamed of this moment since a boy and Sam Cane says the AB's will 'walk towards the challenge'.

Sir Graham Henry says the best teams have made the World Cup final but he wasn't overly impressed with New Zealand or Australia in the semifinals.

Sunday's final will "come down to who is the most composed and clinical in what should be a cracker" he told his Guardian readers.

The 2011 World Cup winning coach highlighted individual performances in the All Blacks win over South Africa, picking out the team's defence and lineout work, and praising Ben Smith and Sam Whitelock in particular.

But he said the scrum is missing Tony Woodcock, they kicked too much in the first half, and were turned over in the tackle.

Henry wrote: "Mentally they were not at the same pitch as the previous week (against France)...there was not the same ruthless mentality and physicality and that was reflected in a hope rather than make-it-happen mindset."

Argentina - Henry was an advisor to the Pumas after the last World Cup - started their semifinal against Australia "with a hangover resulting from their exhilarating win against Ireland in the quarters."

"After a false start, Argentina produced another inspired performance, dominated territory and possession and embarrassed the Wallabies' scrum.

"Australia...have concerns: Israel Folau is clearly not right physically and that is affecting his confidence, the impressive reformation of the Wallabies' scrum took a backward step and the fitness of Scott Sio is critical; the blitz defence that cut down the Pumas' ability to attack wide looked vulnerable in the inside channels.

"But Australia...showed a team whose players battle for each other."