Wynne Gray: Final shootout could be nightmare end

Ma'a Nonu. Photo / Paul Estcourt

The All Blacks reckon they have covered every scenario teams could face in the seventh World Cup.

Selections for tonight's opening game against Tonga hint at those ideas with positional shifts in vogue in the back four.

But you wonder how much goalkicking practice blokes like Andrew Hore, Sam Whitelock, Adam Thomson, Ma'a Nonu or Conrad Smith have done in the side's meticulous preparation as they begin their search for rugby's Holy Grail.

The All Black staff, players and advisers will have pored through research on all sorts of areas from referees, doping regulations, weather forecasts, injury regulations, traffic snafus, pitch invasions as well as the standard game plans.

But goalkickers outside Daniel Carter, Colin Slade, Piri Weepu, Israel Dagg and Isaia Toeava look a little lean. Forwards like Zinzan Brooke always used to engage in kicking competitions but none of the current mob look likely.

It's hard to imagine Brad Thorn drilling a toehack or even superman Richie McCaw going round the corner with any accuracy. Someone might have to put their hand up for a shot though.

Why do you ask? World Cup rules have brought in some complex kicking regulations in case there is any repeat of the dramatic 1995 World Cup final.

Springbok Joel Stransky broke that deadlock with a dropped goal as South Africa scraped their way to a thrilling 15-12 win against an All Black side battling illness.

But consider this. If this tournament's finalists are tied at fulltime, there will be extra-time of 10 minutes each half.

If there is still a deadlock the sides will play on for a further 10 minutes with the first side to score any points declared the winner.

Should the stalemate remain after the extra 30 minutes play, the match officials will keep both teams on the ground at Eden Park with only those players allowed into a kicking competition to decide the Webb Ellis Cup. Five players from each side will place kick from three different spots across the 22m line.

The first place will be in front of the posts, then 15m to the left of the woodwork and 15m to the right.

That kickoff will continue into sudden-death if the teams cannot be split after the initial 15 shots at goal.