Macqueen: At their peak when it counts
Wallaby coach tips Springboks for World Cup
Posted: Thursday March 11, 1999 03:48 PM
| |
Macqueen said the Northern Hemisphere teams had all made a conscious effort to play a more attacking game. Craig Prentis/Allsport |
SYDNEY, Australia (Reuters) - Australia's rugby union coach Rod Macqueen said Wednesday that he remained convinced that South Africa was the team to beat at this year's World Cup.
Macqueen said England's surprise victory over the Springboks last year had done nothing to change his opinion that the tournament would be won by a team from the Southern Hemisphere.
He said New Zealand and Australia were the biggest threats to South Africa.
"They are definitely the team to beat," Macqueen said. "I think they were just a little bit tired when they lost that game and will be at their peak when it counts."
Macqueen said he had been impressed by the way the leading European teams had adopted a more expansive game in this season's Five Nations championship.
He said it appeared the Northern Hemisphere teams had all made a conscious effort to play a more attacking game but said he would be surprised if they could go all the way and win the World Cup, which will be played in Europe in October and November.
"Obviously teams like England and France have been right up there for quite a while but now teams like Wales and Ireland are starting to throw it around as well," Macqueen said.
"It's obvious that they've started copying the Southern Hemisphere but it's still early days yet.
"I still think it's teams like South Africa and New Zealand and hopefully us that will be the ones to beat."
The three previous editions of the World Cup have, in turn, been won by New Zealand, Australia and South Africa.
The Wallabies beat England in the final of the 1991 World Cup at Twickenham and Macqueen is quietly confident they can win again in 1999.
His said his biggest concerns were injuries and the manner in which his team adapted to the way different referees interpreted the game's laws.
Australia has already lost several key players, including their inspirational captain John Eales and fullback Matthew Burke, for this year's Super 12 provincial series.
Both are expected to be back before the World Cup but Macqueen said the Wallabies could ill afford to lose any more leading players.
Macqueen said the Wallabies had consulted a leading sports expert about player burnout and had decided to stand players down from this year's national provincial championship, to be held just before the World Cup.
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
| 
