1
Ex-All Black 'quietly confident' of fourth Rugby World Cup win in France
By Ben Smith
Former All Black halfback and 2011 Rugby World Cup winner Andy Ellis is ‘quietly confident’ that Ian Foster’s side will go all the way and win New Zealand’s fourth William Webb Ellis trophy in France.
ADVERTISEMENT
Irish over-confidence stemming over the potential quarter-final match-up with the All Blacks has made Ellis smirk, while the former Crusader trusts that the All Blacks are timing their run.
The return of key players to full fitness is the key for the All Blacks to hit their straps at the right time in two weeks when knock-out rugby begins.
“They said from the start they wanted to peak at the right times in this tournament and they’ve been building for that nicely,” he told the Rugby World Cup podcast.
“They’ve had some of their injured guys coming back in the past weeks, which has boosted the side and strengthened the bench.
“I am a Kiwi so we’re pretty humble. We try not to talk up things too much but I feel quietly confident. I think we are in a good place.
“They’re all rolling back in. Sam Cane is now back in the mix again. He is fresh and healthy again. Shannon [Frizell] has come back and given that physicality we love at six.
ADVERTISEMENT
“All our locks are fully fit now. Jordie Barrett’s back, a bit of size in the midfield now. Tyrel Lomax, he strengthens that front row.
“The squad is in a good place to kind of leap forwards.”
Since beating South Africa 13-8 in their pool stage clash most of the talk has been about how the two sides will meet in the World Cup final again.
The dismissive attitude has not paid much thought to New Zealand or hosts France, who shape as likely quarter-final opponents for both.
Ellis hoped that the All Blacks could still ‘sneak up’ on Ireland despite making headlines with their 96-17 win over Italy last week.
ADVERTISEMENT
“Yep. It does yeah,” he said on whether the talk around Ireland makes him smile.
“I knew the All Blacks had a performance like the Italy one in them. The quality of the men and the way that they play, you know it’s there.
“But I would have quite liked them to have snuck up on Ireland, or whoever they play in the quarter-final, and really shown what they’ve got (then).
“But in saying that, they will take some good confidence away from that Italy game. Whoever they play in the quarters that team is going to be so ready and so well prepared.”
New Zealand and Ireland have forged a new rivalry since 2016 when the Irish broke a 111-year drought to register their first win over the All Blacks.
The second soon followed in 2018 on Irish soil in Dublin while Andy Farrell’s side have taken the rivalry to a new level with three wins from their last four, including a historic 2-1 series win on New Zealand soil.
Another quarter-final match-up will add a defining chapter to this rivalry whilst also being a pivotal moment in Irish rugby’s history as they look to get the quarter-final monkey off their back.
They called in New world order. Its about trophies in TBE cupboard. Before this world cup, rankings were not really a great talking point until Ireland became the “number 1”
The Irish never made a semi but they were talking about being world cup winners. Piss of all Irish supporters man
well history is a different senareo when it comes to stepping up on a international scale you will see who is the real heroes turn up the knockouts than semi, than finals come the full 80 minutes on the field head rush broken limbs broken bones dislocations that will be the team that will lift the Elli's web world cup 2023 trophy wining comes from the team with right heart not the talk of the town
I have been sitting on the fence biding my time, and analysing the way that the All Blacks have been playing! The warm-up against South Africa was disappointing, but not disheartening, then the game against France sent warning signs through the mind. My mind was saying ‘NAH,’ no show to winning the World Cup, based on the fact that the All Blacks should have won, but their defence, and fitness let them down, but my heart and soul overruled the mind saying that they have every chance of winning the World Cup 🏆 The next two games against Italy, and Uruguayan made up mind that they are in with a chance of winning the World Cup 🏆.
“BUT,” What team will we be watching when they play Ireland 🇮🇪, or South Africa. Will we be watching the pretty boy’s playing at a hetic pace until 50th minute then bringing on more pretty boy's to play at the same pace, running out of energy and losing like they did against France. Or do we bring on the ugly, angry, mongrel guy’s who know how to tackle as though their life, and country depended on them. In other words ‘DEFENSIVE, AND WIN AT ALL COST MINDED GUY'S?”
“ Good Luck To The Coache’s, The Medical Team, And The Mighty All Black’s! “
“Make Aotearoa New Zealand 🇳🇿 PROUD, Because Aotearoa New Zealand 🇳🇿 Are PROUD Of Our All Black’s!”
As an All Black fan I am not confident of winning but agree the team is looking okay. Lots of pundits wanting to take a cheap shot at them, but who else has put over 90 points on Italy in recent years? France put 15 points on Uruguay, the All Blacks put 73 points on Uruguay. Both France and All Blacks had plenty of second stringers in their teams…Every non-All Black fan is hoping they are going to lose out but frankly I think most teams would be very happy not to meet them in the quarters and semi finals of the World Cup. They may faulter in a close match or they may just blow you off the park…..time will tell…..
“Modest” Ex-All Black broadcasts in article that he is “quietly” confident of fourth Rugby World Cup win in France.
“Since beating South Africa 13-8 in their pool stage clash most of the talk has been about how the two sides will meet in the World Cup final again.”
Ellis said the talk around Ireland has made him smile yet the author Ben Smith misrepresents this as Irish overconfidence:
“Irish over-confidence stemming over the potential quarter-final match-up with the All Blacks has made Ellis smirk”
No Irish pundit or supporters have said that the likely final is Ireland versus South Africa. Immediately after that big match International rugby pundits said it was ‘good enough quality to be a final, and indeed the two teams might meet in it’. Or something like that.
Good on the modest Kiwi smirking at Ireland but stating NZ will win the tournament.
The AB’s are looking in good shape…..against poor old Italy tier 2 side. They’ll probably put a century on Uruguay tonight and the coach and fans will be harping on about the joy of running rugby they play.