When the All Blacks run out onto the hallowed turf at Stade de France on Saturday, they won’t just be representing themselves, each other or the management in the stands. The All Blacks will be playing for much, much more.
Not many people expected the All Blacks to win the Rugby World Cup after their record 35-7 loss to the Springboks at Twickenham in August. The All Blacks, it seemed, had lost their charm and aura.
Former French international Olivier Magne called this All Blacks team the “weakest” in history ahead of their World Cup opener against Magne’s countrymen – which New Zealand lost 27-13 on September 8.
Big Jim Show – World Cup Final
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Big Jim Show – World Cup Final
Join Big Jim and guests before and after the final, live this Saturday on RugbyPass TV from 19:10 BST
Watch Free
But the All Blacks have continued to chip away week after week – away from the watchful eyes of even their most passionate fans. They’ve continued to back themselves as slowly, more and more New Zealanders dared to dream of another World Cup crown.
When the All Blacks run out onto the hallowed turf at Stade de France on Saturday, they’ll be playing for the legacy of the jersey and the pride of a rugby-mad nation at the bottom of the world.
“Part of the challenge is to discover that yourself. We get it from the history and the legacy of the jersey, which is massive for us. The people who have walked the journey we have walked are pretty special,” Foster said on Friday.
“The All Blacks have always had a special place in New Zealanders’ hearts. The amount of support we have got from our country has been quite overwhelming.
“We are generally a conservative bunch, we are generally cynical at times. We show our love and support while criticising yet that has swung around a little bit. Suddenly there is a lot of excitement from our country.
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“We get it from the people we represent, our families and our past. Then when we shut the door and get in a circle it’s also that group of people who are massively motivated to meet the standards we have set ourselves.”
This is the end of an era for the All Blacks. Many champion players from New Zealand’s triumphant campaign at the 2015 will don the coveted black jersey one last time in Saturday’s decider, including Sam Whitelock.
With more than 150 Test caps to his name, the most experienced All Black in history will look to bow out of the international game with a record third World Cup title. It’s a feat that, should Whitelock achieve it, may never be matched or broken.
But Whitelock is one of many. Aaron Smith, Brodie Retallick and Dane Coles are also retiring from the All Blacks – and this appears to be the end of the line for Beauden Barrett, Nepo Laulala and potentially Richie Mo’unga.
These players will be desperate to go out on top of the rugby world. With 1387 caps between them, this is the most experienced All Blacks team to ever play in a World Cup final.
“We have got a great balance of people that have been there and haven’t been there. When you ask the group to put their hand up if this is their first World Cup final or first World Cup, more than half of the team put their hand up and that includes some of the management,” Foster added.
“We have got a great mixture and the ability to have people who have been there to pass on some learnings has been special. The real message the experienced players like Sam and Dane Coles have passed on is not spoken, it’s done. It’s about actions. It’s just showing how to prepare, how to deal with the pressure.
“Those people have done a fantastic job and Sam is a massive example of that. It’s been a highlight reel of achievements for him the last five or six weeks.
“I remember being asked in a media conference a few weeks ago what also he could achieve, and being the first man to win three [Rugby World Cups] would be pretty special. We would feel a lot of honour if that happened.”
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