adminBagshot — New Zealand expect a barrage of high balls from Australia in the World Cup final on Saturday and they are confident they can counter it thanks to help from an Australian.
Former Australian rules footballer Mick Byrne has given the All Blacks confidence and moulded fullback Ben Smith into one of the world’s best handling the up and under.
Kicking for territory and to apply pressure has been a staple of World Cup finals and the looming showdown between the All Blacks and Wallabies at Twickenham should be no different. The Springboks used it successfully in the first half of their semi-final against the All Blacks, targeting Test novice Nehe Milner-Skudder who was repeatedly beaten in the aerial jousting by the much taller Bryan Habana.
But when coach Steve Hansen moved his high-ball ace Ben “Bender” Smith from fullback to wing the problem disappeared.
“Bender is our best high ball catcher,” Hansen said.
“That’s not to say Nehe can’t do it, but just let’s put our best guy there to catch it. Bender was brilliant.”
The slight but fearless Smith is expecting similar treatment from the Wallabies.
“We’ll prepare for a bit of high ball that’s just the way play off rugby is,” he said. — AFP
Online Reporter
Bongani Ndlovu