World Cup history a rocky trail for All Blacks

By DANIEL GILHOOLY

It started with a bang in 1987 but New Zealand's relationship with the World Cup rugby tournament has since been marked by disappointment and recrimination.

Sixteen years and four months since All Blacks captain David Kirk hoisted the William Webb Ellis Trophy at Eden Park, three more New Zealand teams have travelled abroad and failed to repeat that success.

Third in 1991, second in 1995 and fourth in 1999 would make pretty consistent reading for most. But it isn't good enough in a land where the fortunes of the men clad in black impacts on its economy, politics and mood of its people.

It was party time on June 15, 1987 when a youthful team, playing with confidence and energy, beat France 29-9 in the final.

Outplayed by Australia a year earlier, the inaugural tournament was ironically the only World Cup which hasn't seen the All Blacks enter as favourites.

But their verve and energy in thrashing Italy 70-6 in the opening game ensured the tournament's success and announced they had left behind the simmering conflicts created by the 1986 rebel Cavaliers tour to South Africa.

Flanker Michael Jones emerged as a player of rare class while winger John Kirwan's solo 90m try would surely be one of the most replayed acts to ever unfold on a rugby field.

The style continued unabated as the All Blacks accounted for Fiji and Argentina with ease in pool play, thrashed Scotland 30-3 in the quarterfinal and Wales 49-6 in a glorified training run of a semifinal in Brisbane.

France's semifinal defeat of Australia was the match of the tournament but they couldn't repeat the heroics in Auckland a week later, strangled into defeat by a New Zealand team who scored tries to Jones, Kirk and Kirwan.

Key figures from the 1987 team formed the core of the 1991 Cup squad, who travelled to Britain and France as hot favourites. They were the world's best team in 1988-89 but chinks began to appear in 1990 as the Wallabies compiled a team on the rise.

Starting with a tight 18-12 over England at Twickenham, the Gary Whetton-led All Blacks accounted for the United States and Italy before stuttering to a 29-13 quarterfinal win over Canada.

It wasn't the ideal preparation for their semifinal against a Wallabies team boasting tournament stars such as winger David Campese, second five-eighth Tim Horan, halfback Nick Farr-Jones and lock John Eales.

Australia deservedly won 16-6, thriving on the support of an Irish crowd not enamoured with the dour, unfriendly image of the All Blacks throughout the tournament. The Wallabies beat England 12-6 in a forgettable final.

The experiment of using All Blacks co-coaches John Hart and Alex Wyllie was deemed an unadulterated failure and they, along with several older players paid the price as Laurie Mains took the reins.

By 1995 Mains had introduced a host of exciting stars such as first five-eighth Andrew Mehrtens, flanker Josh Kronfeld and young Tongan winger Jonah Lomu to unleash on the hard grounds of South Africa.

The All Blacks tore apart pool opponents Ireland, 43-19, Wales, 34-9, and Japan 145-17 -- the latter result creating a horde of test records likely to remain for some time.

Lomu continued to stand out in the 48-30 quarterfinal defeat of Scotland before exploding into the global conscience with four tries in the 45-29 semifinal thrashing of England.

It is said that Lomu's performance in Cape Town that day caught the eye of media mogul Rupert Murdoch and expediated the birth of professional rugby.

The All Blacks weren't allowed to free Lomu or any of their potent backline against a committed South Africa in a Johannesburg final that was tryless but sticks in the memory for its drama.

Playing in their first World Cup since re-admission to international rugby, the Springboks took the All Blacks to 9-9 at fulltime. It took a dropped goal from first five-eighth Joel Stransky late in extra time to give the hosts a 15-12 win.

The post-match ceremony transcended rugby when president Nelson Mandela, wearing a Springboks jersey, presented captain Francois Pienaar with the trophy.

Several All Blacks were ill during the final but Mains' assertion that his team were the victims of food poisoning two days earlier were never proven.

Still considered by many the best team at the tournament, the All Blacks were feted upon their return home -- a far cry from the scenes four years later.

The Hart-coached team of 1999 -- victims of five-straight losses the previous year -- had somehow garnered waves of optimism in New Zealand as they left for Great Britain and France.

After a stuttering win over Tonga, the confidence grew as the All Blacks impressively beat England 30-16 and ran up a century against Italy.

A narrow win over Scotland was followed by a game dubbed by neutral observers as a World Cup classic but regarded in New Zealand as little short of a disaster.

After beating France by a record 54-7 four months earlier, All Blacks fans anticipated a problem-free stroll to the final.

Up 24-10 at halftime at Twickenham, the All Blacks collapsed in the second spell, seemingly unable to cope with the aggressive French pack and their inspired back play.

The 31-43 defeat and subsequent loss to South Africa in the third-fourth playoff sparked weeks of analysis and mourning in New Zealand.

Hart and young captain Taine Randell returned home quickly in an attempt to placate their countrymen. It didn't work, with some of the venom directed at Hart now a source of embarrassment.

Four years on, it is widely hoped the fallout has taught New Zealanders to accept defeat more graciously, especially now that professionalism has levelled the international playing field.

France couldn't repeat their heroics against Australia, who won their second World Cup 35-12 in the final.

The percentage-based game of the Wallabies proved effective at the least-inspiring of the four tournaments which have become the focal points of modern rugby.

This year's version, played under a spring sky in Australia, promises to more closely resemble the South African model of 1995.

If so, most New Zealand fans will be hoping - not expecting - the All Blacks can go one step better.

- NZPA