The challenge

All Blacks’ skipper predicts difficult World Cup

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Posted: Thursday October 14, 1999 07:57 PM

John Hart's All Blacks fell to Australia 28-7 last month. David Rogers/Allsport

AUCKLAND (Reuters) -- New Zealand coach John Hart predicted on Thursday a difficult assignment for the World Cup favorites as the All Blacks assembled for their 24-hour trip to Britain.

The team, who are due to arrive at London's Heathrow Airport early on Friday, were set to travel on a specially decorated Air New Zealand 747 featuring a giant portrait of their Otago front row of Carl Hoeft, Anton Oliver and Kees Meeuws.

“I personally don't think favoritism means a lot,” Hart told reporters. “It you start listening to that you get into trouble.

“You've got a tournament of possibly six games. It is a different structure to anything else you do in rugby, teams can win and still lose.

“Look at England. In 1991 we beat them but they still made the final and could have won. But I do think it is a very difficult assignment because we are disadvantaged by the location, the way the draw has been done for a lot of teams and the home crowds.

“We haven't won a World Cup away so that is the challenge.”

New Zealand were handed a record 28-7 defeat by Australia in the Bledisloe Cup in Sydney last month and Hart said the team and management were acutely aware they could not afford any further mental lapses.

“I don't think that sort of malaise will creep in again,” Hart said. “I think there were lessons to be learned and we have talked about them.

“But if you dwell on that game then you go nowhere.”

New Zealand face Tonga in their opening match on October 3 before meeting England at Twickenham on October 9 in the key group B match.

After the squad's final practice session on Wednesday Hart said he expected a tough physical challenge from the Tongans.

“They've spent two months preparing in South Africa and they did beat France earlier this year,” he said.

 

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