Tough cup draw 'an advantage' says Fox

Former All Black Grant Fox says New Zealand's difficult World Cup draw will be an advantage because it will stiffen the team's resolve.

The All Blacks' final pool game against Wales on November 2 next year will almost certainly be the first of four challenging games in the space of 20 days if they are to win the tournament in Australia.

A likely scenario will see the quarter-final against either England or South Africa, the semifinal against Australia and the final against France.

Fox referred to the 1999 World Cup, when the All Blacks were upset by France in their semifinal, as an example of an easy draw backfiring.

"With the benefit of hindsight, perhaps the perception of an easier route didn't help us," Fox said yesterday.

"Technically, we thought it wasn't going to be that difficult for us to get through the quarters and the semis. We had beaten France by 50 points the previous time we played them in New Zealand.

"Maybe the tougher route this time will ensure we're absolutely focused on just the next game because that's what we are going to need to be if we're going to win this thing."

He said rather than worry about potential opponents, the All Blacks should focus purely on their own preparation.

"That [the draw] is the way it is, there's no point complaining about it.

"We have to do everything we can to make sure we have the capabilities of getting through those four matches in 20 days."

He agreed with former All Black captain Brian Lochore that it was time official world rankings were introduced as a guide to future draws.

He said the first and second seeds should be done on the previous World Cup, but the rest should be ordered by ranking.

"We need a system that is more up to date and has more relevance than a seeding system from an event four years ago."

Fox said it would be hard to create such a ranking, given the complexity of the northern and southern international seasons.

"Someone will come up with some sort of system, whereby there are weightings on who you play and perhaps the home and away factor."

- NZPA