All Blacks, just don't read the Herald

French rugby writer Ian Borthwick says the French "heart" will make up for their lack of talent against the All Blacks. Photo / Getty Images

The worst thing the All Blacks can do before Sunday night's Rugby World Cup final is read praise of the team in the New Zealand Herald, rugby writer Ian Borthwick says.

All Black management were yesterday vowing not to underestimate their French opponents but many rugby pundits have already started writing Les Bleus off, after they stumbled to a 9-8 win over a 14-man Wales on Saturday.

Sunday Times rugby writer Stephen Jones said the All Blacks just have to turn up on Sunday to win the Rugby World Cup.

However Ian Borthwick, a New Zealand-born rugby reporter for French paper l'Equipe, said you could not count out the French, whose "heart" makes up for their lack of talent.

The All Blacks will trip up if they think the game is over before it has begun, he said.

"If they start believing that hype now, if they start believing what they read in the New Zealand Herald when they wake up in the morning, then they will fail against this French team," he told Campbell Live last night.

However he still picked the All Blacks to prevail this Sunday.

Jones, who has not always been the most complimentary of the All Blacks, said the boys in black should have been awarded the Willliam Webb Ellis Trophy on Sunday night, after defeating Australia 20-6.

"There is nothing more for the All Blacks to do," he told Campbell Live. "There are no more teams standing in their way who are within a mile of them."

In 1999 France defeated the heavily favoured All Blacks in the semi finals in one of the greatest Rugby World Cup comebacks ever. Four years ago Les Bleus dumped the All Blacks out in the quarter finals.

However, Jones rejected the prospect of a French upset this time around, as the team is wrought with internal disputes and have yet to put together a convincing performance in the tournament.

"This team in New Zealand 2011 is not capable of being any good at all. Their best performance has been in a defeat against Tonga.

"I think it is quite possible New Zealand can win by 40 to 50."

The Sydney Morning Herald's chief rugby writer Greg Growden said France do not deserve to be in the final and New Zealand would win comfortably on Sunday.

"The All Blacks should win this by 30 to 40 points, because this French team is a debacle," he told Radio Sport.

Growden's colleague Mike Robinson called the French "the worst team ever to grace a World Cup final".

"Once upon a time, 17 years ago, France came to Eden Park and defeated New Zealand with the try from the end of the earth. Sadly, that grand tradition has been defiled," he wrote. "Les Bleus are leached of colour, a pale imitation of the past."

Sky Sports UK Stuart Barnes said France lack the "gloire" of past French teams.

"This is no time for neutrality. The sport needs a New Zealand victory. Forget the Francophile leanings and the great wines of Burgundy and Bordeaux. The game needs to see that the flair of Israel Dagg and Corey Jane and the willingness to play rugby with ambition and not self-imposed limitations, is the winning way."