All Blacks combine with Kiwis to double down on trans-Tasman dominance
In a show of cross-code solidarity, the All Blacks were on hand to lend their support to the Kiwis as the New Zealand footballing teams prepared for their respective clashes with Australia.
More than half a dozen All Blacks – including Will Jordan, Quinn Tupaea and Cam Roigard – were on hand during the Kiwis’ captain’s run on Wednesday ahead of their tournament-opening Rugby League World Cup clash against the Kangaroos. The rugby boys watched on from the sidelines at Allianz Stadium, before passing on some words of encouragement to their 13-aside counterparts.
The trans-Tasman rivalry is on in earnest in Sydney in the coming days, with the All Blacks clashing with the Wallabies on Saturday after securing the Bledisloe Cup with a 50-19 rout at Eden Park last weekend.
And the All Blacks were only too happy to provide inspiration as their rugby league counterparts prepared to take on the tournament favourites.
“Really good, really cool,” Kiwis coach Stacey Jones said of the support of the All Blacks.
“I know that our boys were watching their game on the weekend, and a lot of their players enjoy watching rugby league. So it’s great that there’s a connection.”
There once was a time when the rival codes wouldn’t be seen together. And despite the Warriors making inroads in All Blacks-mad New Zealand, union is still the preeminent code for the nation.
However, the chance to conspire against arch rivals Australia was too good to refuse.
“Very special,” Jones said. “Cross-code now is a lot closer than what it used to be. Obviously, [we are] getting ideas from what they do, and if they get some stuff from us, then brilliant. But yeah, it’s just got to benefit both codes …
“It’d be pretty special [for both New Zealand teams to win], particularly while some of these All Black boys are down to support us, and we’ll obviously be supporting them. So, it’d be huge for all Kiwis, especially those that are on this side of the Tasman.”
Kiwis captain James Fisher-Harris, who was involved in a jersey presentation with his All Blacks counterparts, said their presence was a timely boost.
“It’s pretty cool, hey?” Fisher-Harris said. “Obviously, the ABs and some of the boys, obviously the other code, but it’s just all love and supporting each other. I think there’s a couple of them coming tomorrow to watch the game, and hopefully we can go watch their game on Saturday, too, so it’s pretty special.”
Asked if they had been inspired by the All Blacks’ win over the Wallabies last weekend, the Warriors prop said: “Not just that test, but just in general – how dominant and how they go about their business and represent New Zealand. [There] are lot of things that they do that we look up to, so, yeah, it’s pretty cool.”
Much of the build-up to the World Cup opener has focused on the strength of the New Zealand pack. In Naufahu Whyte, Moses Leota, Joseph Tapine and Fisher-Harris, Jones has at his disposal a pack that – at least on paper – is one of the strongest assembled.
“We have the potential to be the best,” Fisher-Harris said when asked if the pack is the best he has played with.
The Australians go into this campaign without Payne Haas and Lindsay Collins, but coach Kevin Walters said his pack shouldn’t be underestimated.
“It’s a strong New Zealand side, certainly, but I feel like the guys that we have picked in the Australian squad, they’re not mugs,” Walters said.
“We’ve got Origin players, Test players, premiership winners, so that side of it – that’s what the World Cup is all about – seeing the best players on the world stage. Fortunately, from Australia’s point of view, we provide a lot of those players.”
Walters opted for Reece Walsh at fullback and Mitchell Moses at halfback for the opening game, but said James Tedesco and Sam Walker will get their chance in game two.
“Everyone will play next week who’s not playing this week,” Walters said.
“I feel that’s my objective as the coach is to give everyone an opportunity. I could happily play all of them tomorrow, but we’ve only got 19 positions in the side for tomorrow’s game, but that will change next week.”
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