Competition for a place in Australia's line-up had inspired Bernard Foley to a match-winning Pool A performance over England at the Rugby World Cup, making them favourites to meet New Zealand in the final.
Spotlight on Wales fixture
Foley and his teammates say their immediate focus is on playing Wales in the table-topping decider on Saturday. But others are already looking at a possible Wallabies-All Blacks clash on October 31. The Waratahs fly-half did not know he would be Australia’s first choice No 10 before the tournament. But his 28-point extravaganza that buried hosts England’s cup dream last Saturday has raised his stock. Foley said the battle for places “has definitely helped”.
Two-horse race for title?
Foley said Australia must not be complacent after resisting England’s “extreme” pressure even though the victory has given them confidence. “We have to worry about Wales next week, and whoever after that we will focus on after that. For us it is week by week,” Foley said. However with England out and South Africa battered after their defeat by Japan, others are already looking to a first ever Australia-New Zealand final. If both top their respective pools, they will be in separate halves of the knockout stage draw and on course for a showdown.
There are obstacles
The All Blacks, sensationally beaten by Australia in the Rugby Championship prior to the World Cup, have already taken note of the way the Wallabies’ forwards dealt with England. But both sides still have many obstacles. New Zealand may have to play cup nemeses France in the quarter-finals at the Millennium Stadium where their hopes of victory in 2007 were destroyed at the same stage of the tournament by the northern hemisphere giants.
Impressive scrum
The All Blacks, who next play Tonga in Newcastle on Friday, have noticed how Australia’s well-drilled eight won five penalties at the scrums. “Australia’s scrum was probably the biggest thing,” scrum-half Aaron Smith said. “They looked really clinical, and they’re looking really good.”
‘Setting the standard’
Flanker Victor Vito was impressed by Australia’s tearaway backrow forwards David Pocock and Michael Hooper who are taking the fetching role, once ruled by All Blacks captain Richie McCaw, to a new level. “They’re been setting the standard all year,” Vito said.
Follow us on Twitter @NatSportUAE
