Rugby World Cup

Murray Mexted would 'very much hate' All Blacks to play France in Cardiff with Wayne Barnes as referee

Brett McKay

Birthplace of Rugby feeling World Cup excitement

The All Blacks head to England as reigning Rugby World Cup champions with strong and genuine credentials to become the first back-to-back champions in the tournament's history; they are short-priced, if not unbackable, favourites given their 42-3-2 record since fourth-choice fly-half Stephen Donald kicked them to dramatic victory against France in the 2011 final at Eden Park in Auckland. But they are yet to win the title outside New Zealand, and former All Blacks captain Murray Mexted believes they are but one of four genuine title contenders in England; and the uncomfortable memories of 2007 linger firmly in the minds of New Zealanders.

Those memories, France in Cardiff; it's clear the scars of 1999 are still to fully heal, and that day and that pass are likely to haunt New Zealanders for some time yet. Mexted said as much when asked to name New Zealand's biggest threat in England and Wales.

"Wayne Barnes."

Cue laughter at ESPN's end of the conversation.

"You think I'm bloody joking," Mexted said.

"I would very much hate to get Wayne Barnes at Cardiff against France; and that's a possibility."

New Zealand, if they top Pool C, as seems likely, and France, if they finish Pool D as runner's-up, as is also possible, will indeed meet in the second quarter-final at Millennium Stadium on October 17. And, of course, Barnes could be appointed to control the game.

"It could happen yet; those referee associations can be funny buggers sometimes," Mexted said of Barnes' possible appointment with a chuckle, indicating he perhaps wasn't quite as serious as had been feared.

Wayne Barnes, in fairness, is now vastly more experienced and probably better as a referee than the 2007 model whom New Zealand isn't quite ready to forgive. But still he and the other Rugby World Cup referees will be under pressure and expectation during the tournament, the officials battling that ever-fine line between "letting the game flow" and "blowing the pea out of the whistle". No referee sets out to dominate a game, yet it can and does happen regularly.

And in fairness to Mexted, it's clear the scars of 2007 remain within the All Blacks' set-up, too, with Steve Hanson recently referencing the tournament they'd prefer to forget.

"No one's forgotten 2007," Hanson said prior to the team leaving New Zealand. "It's a great reminder to all of us that if you don't step up, you go home. We'll earn the right to get there first and then we'll deal with what comes after that."

Apart from the English referee, then ...

"I think that the Springboks, and the Wallabies, and England would be the three that I would say are the greatest opposition," Mexted said.

"And the reason I haven't included Ireland in that group, even though they are rated No.2 in the world, is that I don't think they can create anywhere near as many scoring opportunities. And I'd like to think that this World Cup, where rugby's matured so much in the last four years, will be all about teams who have the ability to create and score. And I see Ireland as being one step behind."

Mexted won't see the All Blacks losing a game as an upset, much as that is how the best team in world rugby dropping a game unexpectedly or, indeed, being knocked out of the tournament early almost certainly will be reported.

"I think that when you go to the UK, or anywhere in the northern hemisphere, as a southern hemisphere team, it's harder. There is no doubt it's harder. And that squares the tables, in my view.

"Because I do think that referees are influenced by media and crowds, particularly in the UK; and that influences the way the game flows and can indeed influence the results. So you've got to be 10% better, in my view, as a southern hemisphere side to win over there."

Mexted agrees the All Blacks made a slower-than-normal start to the international season, but also he thinks they have taken a lot out of their Bledisloe Cup loss in Sydney.

"I was surprised [at how far off the pace the All Black forwards looked], and it wasn't the same in Auckland. I don't know that Victor Vito did make the difference; I think it was more the speed of the ball.

"In Sydney, I thought the Australian scrum had an edge, and also at the breakdown; but a lot of the ball New Zealand was getting was slow, and therefore, you're starting from a disadvantage. If your backs are running forward onto the ball, and your loose forwards are half good, you'll win that tackle area.

© Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

"I don't think the scrum will be inferior; we've never had a problem in Europe with our scrum, with these same front-row forwards. We haven't had trouble against South Africa, either, or Argentina. I can't see that being a weakness. But I'm sure that experience in Sydney shook them up; it gave them a wake-up call."

Though Mexted has no problems naming whom he thinks are New Zealand's biggest threats, but he is more circumspect when asked who is capable of beating the All Blacks in the Rugby World Cup final - should they get there, of course.

"I've named those teams - three southern hemisphere teams and the host nation - but I have to say it's hard to answer that question, and I don't fence-sit.

"You'd have to say it would be on form. And I'll qualify that; Australia comes into this as well, but take South Africa. You tell me that South Africa isn't capable of beating any one of those other three teams?

"I think the rest of [the Rugby World Cup field] would battle to beat any of these teams, but South Africa could easily beat any of those three teams - if not all of them. At the moment they're not the form team, though. But they're still capable of winning the bloody thing!

"It will all be a matter of form leading into the semi-finals and the final, and what happens with injuries. All of that plays a part, and I think to speculate at this stage who the other finalist would be - should the All Blacks reach the final - I think it's still too early to say."

So what of the impending generational change facing the All Blacks after this World Cup? Does this current crop of players deserve to go out with another title under their belt?

"I think you deserve what you earn," Mexted said.

"Therefore, they have to earn it in this World Cup; and they're good enough to do so. But it's going to be a staunch challenge, there's no doubt about that."

© Brett McKay