Former Wallabies captain Phil Kearns believes Australia can beat New Zealand in their semi final clash at Telstra Stadium on Saturday night.
Australia’s most capped hooker is well qualified to assess the Wallabies chances, having packed down in the front row for 18 of his 67 Tests against the All Blacks between 1989 and 1999.
But Kearns says Australia can expect a torrid encounter against a Cup hungry All Blacks starved of success since the inaugural Tournament.
“New Zealand haven’t won the World Cup since 1987 so they’re manic about doing it,” Kearns told rugbyworldcup.com.
“I expect a pretty fiery aggressive performance from them. They are probably one of, if not the most focussed team in the Tournament.
“So they’ll be going berserk is my guess. Australia have to match that aggression and power, if they do that they can win.”
Plucked from obscurity
Kearns, a member of Australia’s victorious Rugby World Cup squads of 1991 and 1999, was plucked from Randwick reserve grade to make his Test debut against the All Blacks in 1989.
“I recall it seemed to go really quickly and people seemed to hit you a bit harder,” he said of his Eden Park debut.
“Certainly the pace of the game from second grade at Randwick was immense to say the least.
“I had played a couple of games for New South Wales in between so I certainly had had a taste but things get tougher the higher up you go.
“But to be facing New Zealand in your first Test was a pretty wonderful experience.”
Play hard
Kearns came through that Test with flying colours and the 36 year old believes Australia can do the same on Saturday.
“I think the key is don’t be overawed by them. Just play them like they’re another team, but play them hard and they’ll certainly respect you a lot more if you put that passion and aggression into your game,” Kearns said.
“That’s the way they like it and that’s the way you should play them.”
Kearns captained the Wallabies on 10 occasions, including a Bledisloe Cup victory in 1994 – one of his career highlights.
“It’s right up there, anytime you beat them is great just because they’re such a great rugby nation,” Kearns said.
Unblemished Cup record
Kearns also played in the one and only previous Rugby World Cup encounter between the Trans-Tasman foes, a hard-fought 16-6 victory in the 1991 Tournament.
“We were lucky enough to beat them in ’91 in that semi final in Dublin, which was a great afternoon for us. One from one is not a bad record.”
Despite the All Blacks' domination of Australia in the Tri-Nations this year, Kearns remains confident in Eddie Jones’ men.
“Obviously, New Zealand are going into the game as favourites. They’ve performed probably the best of any team in the World Cup. The speed of their side is phenomenal,” Kearns admits.
“But over the last decade we have performed pretty well against New Zealand and we can beat them. If we finally put it together, then there is no doubt we can win it.”