Colin Meads: Weepu holds final' key for the All Blacks

Weepu's kicking and forward power can secure a path to the Cup. Photo / Getty Images

Opinion

This is the World Cup final for New Zealand. Australia were desperately lucky to have beaten South Africa.

To me, I think the whole worry for New Zealand is about Richie McCaw.

That's a huge worry, but we're told he'll still be playing and even at 80 per cent he's still pretty good. And I think all the others have just got to step up another notch.

I think some of them are coming right. Brad Thorn was coming into some good form last week. And Jerome Kaino, while he's getting knocked around, is playing terribly well.

The big talking point last week was Aaron Cruden, but I thought he played pretty well. He was right on it, and it was good to see him, when Piri went off, step up and kick that goal. They were signs of a confident young player. You know, he'll only get better.

Australia will try to put pressure on him, but I think he's up to it.

I know a lot of Kiwis found last week tough to watch, especially in the second half - I found it tough myself. All it needed was a runaway try for Argentina to ruin things. But the boys stuck to it, that was the good part. The further into the game we got, it was a good workout for us.

I think that will hold us in good stead.

This weekend, the key to the All Blacks is Weepu - and the forwards.

If Weepu can kick as well as he did last week, there's no doubt we'll win it, because we should get enough territory.

We won't get as much ball as South Africa got, but we'll get our share. But I don't buy into this Eden Park factor.

You don't put that under your hat and say, "Oh we're going to win because we're at Eden Park".

This is World Cup stuff and it doesn't work like that.

So will the All Blacks win? The forwards can take Australia out in the scrum and put some heat on early, to demoralise them a little bit. The other keys are how long McCaw can play - can he play 70 minutes?

And as I keep saying Weepu - if he plays as well as he did last weekend, we'll win.

I'm picking the All Blacks by 12.

In the other semifinal I'd like to think Wales, but France are tough to pick. France stepped up last weekend when we'd written them off so I'm very cautious on this one. I think history might repeat itself and you might be in for a France-New Zealand final.

But Wales have a great chance and Warren Gatland is the sentimental pick. They should have beaten South Africa - if anyone can beat Wales, they'll be tough in the final.

A final thought is for the family and friends of great Aussie forward Dick Thornett. Dick was one of the toughest Australian forwards I ever played against. A triple international in league and waterpolo, he was a great guy and great player and I was sad to hear of his passing.

I pass on my sympathies to all concerned. Dick was a hard bugger.