/ 20 October 1999

MALLETT TIPS ALL BLACKS FOR FINAL

SPRINGBOK coach Nick Mallett says New Zealand are capable of thrashing any side at the World Cup and believes France’s management set-up has let them down. In a column on a rugby website, Mallett said the All Blacks, who fielded a reserve side for their 101-3 defeat of Italy in a group game last week, did not seem to have any true second-team players. “We … saw that New Zealand are capable of thrashing anybody, they are just technically so good,” Mallett said. “It was an awesome performance. It’s difficult to see New Zealand not getting to the final.” Scotland have a playoff against Samoa on Wednesday and, if they win, they face the All Blacks four days later in a quarter-final at Murrayfield – “a big ask” in Mallett’s opinion. “Then the All Blacks’ next opponent will be the Irish or the French, neither of whom are playing particularly well,” he said.