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NEWS
N'Tamack attack...
Mon, 25 Oct 1999 13:48 GMT
While Jonah Lomu has been identified as France's bogeyman, the All Blacks have singled out 'sensational' French back Emile N'Tamack as the man most likely to spoil New Zealand's campaign to land two titles.
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All Black fullback Jeff Wilson sung the mercurial Frenchman's praises and warned that he could pose problems for the tournament favourites in Sunday's semifinal at Twickenham.
"N'Tamack is simply a sensational player," said Wilson. "On his day he's as good a player as anyone in the world. He has a wonderful change of pace and he can just glide past people. No matter what stage of the game it is, he's always dangerous."
Although New Zealand overcame Scotland 30-18 at Murrayfield relatively comfortably on Sunday, there is, according to Wilson, a feeling in the New Zealand camp that they need to step up a gear in the semifinal.
"There is no doubt that if we play against France like we did in the second half of the Scotland match then we will make problems for ourselves," he warned. "Everyone in the team is aware we need to play better."
New Zealand's impressive record against France - which includes a 54-7 tanning in Wellington in June and reads played 33, won 25 - is not been thrown about as a portent of Sunday's outcome. Over-confidence is a word that is notably absent from the All Black dictionary, according to Wilson.
"It will be different this time - there is a lot at stake," he said. "France have developed into a very well-rounded side who started to play really well at just the right time."
He said that the key to victory over France lay in careful preparation.
"You just have to be strong on defence, play your own game and be aware that anything can happen," he said. 'It is very much a case of expecting the unexpected. You know what the French can do; you just don't always know where the danger is going to come from. You have to be careful all the time against them."
Wilson went on to talk-down his side's popularity with the bookies.
"You can't take anything for granted because this is the semifinals of the World Cup," he said. "France have got talent throughout their squad and have been improving with every game. If we are not on top of our game then anything could happen."
New Zealand traveled from Edinburgh to their new base in Bagshot, south of London on Monday. They will announce their team on Thursday.
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