Henry goes with tried and tested
Henry predictably retains the side that crushed semi-final opponents Australia last weekend as the All Blacks bid for a first world title since 1987.
The only switch is among the replacements, where flanker Adam Thomson has recovered from an ankle strain to take over from Victor Vito.
The New Zealand team contains a total of 708 caps, and they will start as red-hot favourites against a French side they have already beaten in the tournament’s pool phase.
“This is the biggest game of the players’ lives,” said Henry, who will step down as coach following the final.
“And there is obvious excitement and anticipation at what lies ahead.
“To be playing in the final of the Rugby World Cup in front of our home crowd is going to be massive, and a very special occasion for the team as well as our fans.
“The support the team has received from New Zealanders throughout the tournament has been incredibly humbling, and we know the country will be right behind us on Sunday.”
The All Blacks back-row of Jerome Kaino, Richie McCaw and Kieran Read will play their 21st Test together, breaking the previous New Zealand-best held by McCaw, Jerry Collins and Rodney So’oialo.
And hooker Keven Mealamu wins his 92nd cap, joining Sean Fitzpatrick as the most capped New Zealand hooker of all-time.
New Zealand beat France in the 1987 final, but Les Bleus triumphed in a 1999 semi-final at Twickenham and again four years ago when they knocked out the All Blacks during the quarter-final stage.
Meanwhile injured superstar Dan Carter believes New Zealand must “expect the unexpected” when they face France on Sunday.
While Carter mirrors an expectant mood of the New Zealand nation, he also knows France are dangerous opponents — especially when they have been written off. “France are our nemesis at World Cup time — we all know the past that we’ve had with the French,” he said.
“They are such a dangerous side, especially when their backs are against the wall. Having a lot of doubters, that is when they step up, which they showed in 1999 and 2007 (against New Zealand).
“We have to expect the unexpected. The French are the best at doing something to surprise us, so the guys realise that we are in for a huge challenge.”
Carter reflected on the emotions he has gone through since seeing his World Cup ambitions so cruelly destroyed by injury.
“I was pretty gutted the first few days. I guess anger did creep in a little bit because I was just so gutted and didn’t really want anything to do with the World Cup.
“And then it kind of hit me after five or six days that I realised the World Cup is here in my home country and I was going to make the most of it, like everyone else, and get to the games.”
- TOURNAMENT organisers have announced they have achieved their revenue target with two matches still to be played.
Revenue from ticket sales has surpassed the NZ$268.5m (€155m) target set by RNZ 2011 more than two years ago. Overall, 87% of available tickets have now sold. Sunday’s final is sold out.
NEW ZEALAND: I Dagg; C Jane, C Smith, M Nonu, R Kahui; A Cruden, P Weepu; T Woodcock, K Mealamu, O Franks, B Thorn, S Whitelock, J Kaino, R McCaw (capt), K Read. Replacements: A Hore, B Franks, A Williams, A Thomson, A Ellis, S Donald, S B Williams.
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