Who will feel the pressure at Eden Park?
Wallabies loose forward Rocky Elsom has dismissed suggestions that his team will be the ones under pressure in their crunch World Cup quarterfinal against New Zealand, pointing to the weight of expectation in the host country.
Kiwi supporters tend to promote Australia’s terrible record in New Zealand in the trans-Tasman rivalry, particularly at Eden Park where the Wallabies haven’t won since 1986.
But Elsom, who was stood down as Australian captain not long after their most recent loss at the Auckland ground in the Tri-Nations, dismissed the notion that there are any underlying concerns or anything haunting about the venue.
“I didn’t know there were any ghosts there,” he said. “Look, if we get a win up, we’ll be fine with it. If we lose, we won’t be happy. It’s as simple as that.”
The fact of the matter is that no team has beaten the All Blacks at Eden Park since 1994, which is something that may even increase the pressure on the home team who are desperate to shake off their ‘chokers’ tag.
“Forget about us for a minute,” Elsom replied to questions about the pressure on Australia to win at Eden Park on Sunday. “They’re the No. 1 ranked team in the world and they’re in a country where they expect them to win the World Cup – regardless of what happens, the public expects that.
“I can’t speak for them, but you get a feeling around town (the public) won’t tolerate anything less.”
“This situation is, not only are they expected to win this match, but then the next one as well,” Elsom added, for good measure. “So, there is a a hell of a lot of expectation. Just what that does to them, I’m not sure. But you definitely know it’s there.”
James Horwill became Wallabies captain when the World Cup squad was selected, and his first test in charge was the Tri-Nations decider against the All Blacks in Brisbane in August – where Australia won the Tri-Nations title for the first time in a decade.
He can’t see any bad omens about Eden Park, or recent form against New Zealand.
“It’s a ground that’s hosting the semifinal of the World Cup. It’s going to be a big no matter where it’s held – whether it was held in a park just down the road – it’s going to be a massive game. That’s the way we’re treating it,” the Australian skipper explained.
After a narrow 11-9 quarterfinal win over the Springboks, when the Australians surrendered the bulk of possession and territory and had to make three times as many tackles as the South Africans, Horwill thinks his team is ideally placed.
“We’re in the semifinals, playing with a chance to make the final,” Horwill said. “This tournament is about winning. We’ve made it to where we’re one win away from the big game. We’re happy with where we’re at, because we’re playing in the semifinals with a chance to make the final.”
SAPA-AP
