Woodcocks five-pointer was well-practiced - Stuff.co.nz

TOBY ROBSON

Some simple maths, a bit of coaching nous and a nervous loosehead prop were behind the try that won the World Cup.

Tony Woodcock's eighth test try will go down as one of the most famous in the All Blacks' steeped history and would have brought a smile to every forward on the planet.

They have proof now of why a lifetime needs to be spent practising lineouts, and flanker Jerome Kaino has revealed the simple sum that undid France.

"We knew the French defensive lineout was really good and we knew they were going to get up [and compete]," Kaino said.

"With six people [in the lineout] – they had four lifters and two jumpers helping to get someone in the air – there is going to be space somewhere."

Eight forwards minus four lifters, two jumpers and the hooker left France with just one defender left.

Piri Weepu kicked a touchfinder to within 10 metres of the French line, hooker Keven Mealamu threw to Kaino at the back and he fired his clean take down to the rampaging Woodcock.

"We analysed the way they defended our lineout. We knew they were going to get two pods up, so yeah, it was rehearsed and something we worked on during the week," Kaino said. "What a good time for it to come off."

It wasn't the first time the All Blacks have used the move, with Kaino recalling that Woodcock had scored a try from the same move against Australia.

"Tony Woodcock's scored, I think, every time we've used it," Kaino said. "A lot of credit goes to [forwards coach] Steve Hansen and the coaches' homework and the work they've done for us to get that try."

For Woodcock, a survivor of the 2007 cup quarterfinal loss to France, his 15th-minute try did little to ease the nerves he has carried since a series of recurring nightmares began the night before the quarterfinal against Argentina.

"I had another dream last night too that things didn't go well," he said. "I'm just rapt it didn't come true. I had a dream the night before we played Argentina that things didn't go well and the same thing happened last night.

"It [the nightmare] was pretty much we were sitting in the changing room thinking, `How did they do that?' and that was pretty much it. They [the dreams] just started the last few weeks, so I'm pretty happy it's out of the way and the job's done."

He admitted his self doubt continued during the final, but he was strangely glad it was such a close match.

"It made it a real tough game and I wouldn't want it any other way, to be honest. We had to really fight for it and work hard, so when you have to work hard for things it's worthwhile.

"I was not surprised at all [by France]. We knew they were going to turn up. They probably turned up a wee bit more than we thought. We just had to get the job done."

- The Dominion Post

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