Before Australia and New Zealand face off for the biggest prize in World Rugby, we sat down with a man who’s been there himself.
In 2003, Lewis Moody played his part in history as a member of the only European team to win a Rugby World Cup, as England overcame hosts Australia in one of the most memorable matches of all time.
Cool under pressure, Moody caught the lineout that led to Jonny Wilkinson’s match-winning drop goal after the English forwards had carved out a neat pocket for him to sit into.
With Saturday’s final looking like it might go to the wire in a similar fashion, JOE caught up with the former British and Irish Lions flanker to pick apart the habits of a winning team and make sense of the southern dominance.
Are you buying into the idea that northern hemisphere rugby is miles behind the south after this World Cup?
I certainly don’t think we’re miles behind the south. We’ve fallen afoul of not making it to the semi-finals but I think it was the first time in a number of World Cups that we’ve had at least four teams from this side of the world that have gone into it as real contenders.
France were always an outside bet coming into the competition but Ireland, Wales and England played really well coming into the tournament. You know, it’s obviously disappointing to see England not make the quarter-finals but ultimately one team was going to have to miss out – and it was going to be a good team missing out.
I think Scotland exceeded all expectations by taking Australia as far as they did and almost making a semi-final. It would have been wonderful to see them there, although I think they would have been soundly beaten by Argentina.
I don’t think it’s all doom and gloom like everyone’s making out. It’s certainly not ideal not having a side in the semi-final and we have to get that right. You look at Ireland and Wales – they certainly fell foul of injury issues. I think if Wales had their starting team back they probably would have progressed a little further.
Whether the four missing Ireland players would have made the difference, I’m not entirely sure. This Argentine side is a very strong one at the moment.
New Zealand are looking to become the first team to ever retain the William Webb Ellis trophy. Two defending champs have gotten to a final and lost. Can the All Blacks take that next step?
It’s very different New Zealand side [than in 2011]. History and everything is irrelevant when you come into a game because it’s just a one-off match. It’s about who delivers on the day. Matches of this magnitude are all about delivering the basics under pressure.
Scotland and England found out to their misery that if you don’t do the basics right then you don’t win games. The most obvious example of that was the Scotland lineout, and then another obvious example is with the England lineout. If you get those basics right in big games, then you’re more likely than not going to win games because that’s what it comes down to.
If, as individuals, you start doing things that you normally wouldn’t do because you think on the big stage you need to press, then you’ll probably go wrong. If you creak under the pressure of a final and start not doing the things that got you there then you’ll find yourself on the wrong side of a result.
It’s about believing in what got you to this game and nailing those basics under pressure. If you do – which New Zealand have done time and time again, over many years – then you’ll come out victorious. That’s why I don’t think you can bet against this New Zealand side.
Australia’s scrum has been very impressive throughout the tournament. Do you think they will try to attack New Zealand at scrum time?
I don’t think it will be an area that they will try to attack. I think both teams will try to get dominant in those areas – particularly lineout and scrum time. Australia have a very effective lineout defence. New Zealand and Australia both have very good scrummaging sides so I’d imagine they’ll be operating on pretty even keel there.
What will be more important is getting the ball away from those areas as quickly as they possibly can do so they can get their backs involved in the game. Then it’s up to dealing with the treats that both sides possess when it comes to retention of your own ball – Pocock, Hooper and McCaw, Kaino and Read.
It’s going to be an epic battle at the breakdown. As a former back-rower, I’m excited about it.
Who is your player of the tournament?
Nehe Milner-Skudder has just been sensational. I watched him play for his Super Rugby side all last season and he was thoroughly deserving of his place in this side. The fact that Schalke Burger has come back from a near-death experience – a genuine near-death experience – to play in his fourth World Cup and perform to the level he did has been remarkable.
In the other nations, Juan Imhoff for Argentina and Pablo Matera at six have been incredible all tournament. Stuart Hogg and Finn Russell for Scotland. There have been quite a number of players. I wouldn’t think any one individual out there has been an out-and-out show stopper.
What’s your prediction for the final then?
New Zealand to win it 29-25.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VC9t2vIqBIc&feature=youtu.be
Lewis Moody features in ‘NatWest presents The World’s Fastest Interception’ a spectacular rugby Guinness World Record™ [link to film]. NatWest is a partner of England Rugby and the WRU. Follow @NatWest_Rugby or like NatWest Rugby on Facebook for more
