Awesome All Blacks to rule world

Betting tips / Will Greenwood / 22 October 2011 / Leave a comment Bet Now View Market

I know what it’s like to walk out on to this sport’s biggest stage...You want to deliver and New Zealand will by around 18 points.

Will Greenwood has been bowled over by New Zealand's excellence and believes the men in black will send the host nation into raptures with a long-awaited World Cup final victory.

I backed New Zealand to win the World Cup at the outset and you won't be surprised to hear that I'm sticking with them in the final. I liked Australia following their Tri-Nations victory and thought that if anyone could upset the All Blacks it would be the Wallabies. But my word, Robbie Deans' men were humbled at Eden Park last Sunday. Those boys took one hell of a beating.

It was one of the great occasions and a great privilege to be there. New Zealand supporters have waited a long, hard 24 years since their team last won rugby's biggest prize. On Sunday night hope and expectation swarmed around Eden Park, turning it into a cathedral of passion and intensity and I was delighted that Graham Henry's men gave a worthy performance. Australia are one of the best sides at absorbing pressure but they didn't stand a chance against this ferocious All Blacks attack. Truly, it was one of the finest displays in Rugby World Cup history.

The odds of [9.2] on the French might look long for a two horse race but I believe the market is correct. We're going to see a comprehensive All Blacks performance, they won't want a tight game because they know that the French kicking has been reliable in the knock-out stages. The other area where Marc Lievremont's men are strong is the line-out. I keep banging on about this and it keeps being borne out, against England and Wales: in the second row and in the back row, France have excellent jumpers who are capable of winning ball against anyone. Expect Morgan Parra and Dimitri Yachvili to look for the touchline at every opportunity.

Plenty of people have mocked France and said that they're lucky to be in the final. Agreed, but the 18 other teams who have departed these shores would give anything to be where the French are. I know England certainly would.

A month ago I backed New Zealand to beat France in the Pool match, which they did, and observed that it would be ironic if Les Bleus were to meet the hosts in the final and reverse that outcome. That view was underpinned by the lingering suspicion that the French might have one great performance in them. I'm afraid I'm not having it this time.

New Zealand will come flying out of the traps so back an early score. They will take the game to a level where the French cannot compete. No disrespect to the great number ten but New Zealand didn't miss Dan Carter against Australia. Like all great teams they have absorbed change and they have a new hero: his name is Israel Dagg, he's my tip to be the next world rugby rock star and at [4.3] my bet to top World Cup try scorer. Dagg can run in a couple on Sunday and eclipse Vincent Clerc who currently has one more than him.

New Zealand will have the whole nation behind them. Richie McCaw may be struggling with an injury but he won't feel a jolt of pain for the entire 80 minutes because he knows what this match means to his countrymen. I've been there, I know what it's like to walk out on to this sport's biggest stage with so much hope on your shoulders. You might not think about it when you're competing but you feel it coursing through you. You want to deliver and New Zealand will by around 18 points.

Awesome All Blacks to rule world

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