Gareth Thomas’ final preview: Key battles, coaching contrast and who will lift the trophy

New Zealand’s Steve Hansen coached me for Wales. He’s a really good bloke and really good man manager. He instilled a lot of rules and self-discipline in the squad.

We used to stay in the team hotel and no-one was allowed home. If one of us had to stay, we all had to stay - that was Steve’s ethos. He went round the cars early one morning to see if any of the players’ cars had a warm engine in case they had snuck home. And one of the players - I’d better not mention his name - had gone back to his house. Hansen dropped him from the game that week.

He makes the rules and says “it’s up to you if you break them” but if one of us is in, we are all in. And I like that. As much as you can say that is harsh, he policed it and tried to make us police ourselves. That’s the way he was and the man he is.

Australia’s Michael Cheika on the other hand has that human element to him – he’s someone who can have a laugh and wants the players to enjoy the rugby and the experience. So, it’s an interesting battle between two different styles but between men who are very successful in the way they coach with the added pressure of the final.

Will Steve, with his regimented self-discipline and organisational skills win over against the “go out there and enjoy the moment” approach that Cheika has?

The No 10s are key as they will be fighting for control of the game - it is such a pivotal position. The confidence of the playmaker runs through the teams in the way they play. It’s also relevant in how they keep the scoreboard ticking over.

Australia didn’t do that well in the semi-final as Bernard Foley didn’t play particularly well. The team came to life when he was on form and made some poor mistakes when he was playing badly.

For New Zealand you have Dan Carter playing his last Test and he also has to be at his best. He’ll be thinking “I may have been average up until now but forget about that, I’m here to win the World Cup.”You would be an extremely foolish man to bet against him. He is world class. He’s not in that bracket because he performs well now and again - it’s because he has done it consistently. This is an environment where the best stand out.

The back row will also be a crucial showdown as it is such a massive part of how Australia have become successful. For New Zealand it’s a case of nullifying the threat of David Pocock at the breakdown. But you look throughout the park and there are great battles all over the field. These are two great enemies that have been battling against each other to be the best in the world for quite some time.

It’s possible Australia have peaked already – but that’s because they had to. To get out of their group and then through the semi-finals they had to peak. So you wonder and hope that they can play at that level and intensity for the whole game but you look their battered bodies and it will be tough.

They also had a day less to prepare. Especially for niggly injuries, 24 hours is a long time. The extra day may not seem like much but for a World Cup final, when you get down to work on the finer details, the personal skills, the video analysis of the opposition, it can seem like a long, long, time. At this stage of the tournament it does make a difference in terms of recovery and preparation.

On the other side, New Zealand went up a level against South Africa to beat them and there is more in the tank. Sadly, but rightly I suppose, we are looking at two teams where, on a different occasion without the history of games behind them, it might have led to a different story.

The Kiwis have become famous for freezing in the World Cup. But this tournament will be the last for many of their players. If I was playing with Richie McCaw and Carter who have been such iconic figures for New Zealand rugby I would want to play a part in sending them off.

I think that will be an extra motivation for the squad because those players have been such an integral part of New Zealand rugby and the success of their team. So I’d think it will give them an extra boost and the game will have an extra edge.

In terms of whether experience counts, there is an argument for both sides. Australia have the younger squad and will be excited and have nothing to lose, whereas New Zealand have more caps and will know what it is to fail – so will they become more pensive and nervous?

Then again, this All Blacks team have been all over the world in hostile environments and won - they travel to South Africa and Ellis Park regularly, which is difficult. The environment which they are in at the World Cup is also nice for them - the crowd will be 50:50 and it will be a good atmosphere. Four years ago they were at home and that brings huge pressure to win. So to be in a neutral venue that eases the expectation.

I’d love it to be an open game but historically in World Cup finals, no-one wants to make the crucial mistake. New Zealand have such an ability to open the game up that I’d really love to see them do that but that is also Australia’s strength. This has been the best World Cup so far and the final could highlight that. I think both teams will try and play good rugby but the moment that the pressure of winning or losing is realised that’s when you go on your guard and struggle to open up the game. I hope Cheika gives Australia the permit to play freely.

I don’t think there’s ever been a World Cup final where it has not been close and I can’t see any difference this time. I think New Zealand will win because they have had to go up a gear as they progressed through the tournament, while Australia have stayed in full gear for such a long time. It’s been such a tough tournament for them, so I just think New Zealand will win because they have had an easier path through. It will come down to the last 20 minutes or so and the whole history of this World Cup will take its toll on Australia.