Rugby World Cup favourites New Zealand have turned to the heavens for help in ending their 20-year quest for victory at the sport’s most prestigious tournament.
Ken Ring, a New Zealander who produces weather forecasts based on the movements of the moon and planets, has provided the All Blacks with weather predictions for the Cup which, he said, coach Graham Henry may use in making difficult team selections.
Ring, who has previously provided weather information to racehorse trainers and America’s Cup sailing teams, foresees a mainly fine and warm World Cup, with occasional humidity and moderate winds.
”I was approached and asked to do [a forecast] by one of the All Blacks management team,” Ring said on Tuesday.
”My understanding is that the information was to go to Graham Henry, who might use it in deciding which players to use in certain games. I made my predictions into a proper report with weather maps, which I hope will be useful, but I don’t know what kind of official sanction they will receive.”
Ring has published a summary of his predictions in his regular email magazine.
He predicts dry conditions, temperatures of 16 degrees Celsius and winds of up to 40km/h for the All Blacks’ opening game against Italy at Marseilles on September 8.
Ring sees cloudy and showery conditions with light winds for the second match against Portugal at Lyon on September 15 and cool temperatures and light rain for the September 23 match against Scotland in Edinburgh.
Fine, clear and warm conditions are predicted for New Zealand’s September 29 match against Romania in Toulouse.
Showers or light rain could affect the All Blacks’ quarterfinal and semifinal matches — if they progress that far — but the tens of thousands of fans travelling to Paris for the final might be heartened by Ring’s prediction of perfect rugby conditions.
He foresees morning fog giving way to dry and calm conditions for the tournament decider at Stadium Francais on October 20.
”It should be a really good day for rugby,” he said.
Ring has provided the information at no cost, saying he was as keen as any New Zealander to ”do his bit” for the All Blacks’ Cup campaign. — Sapa-AP