'Different animal': Ex-All Black on the northern hemisphere's World Cup hopes

Labelling it a “different beast”, Brad Thorn has warned northern hemisphere nations lead-up form counts for little ahead of next year’s World Cup.

The cross-code great was on hand in Brisbane to mark 500 days until the Australian showpiece, relishing the chance to hold the Webb Ellis Cup again.

Thorn’s World Cup win with the All Blacks in 2011, as a 36-year-old, was his final Test and followed NRL and Super Rugby titles, a European Cup and appearances for Queensland and Australia in rugby league.

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“We had a 24-year drought and it was just something we had to get; personally, I just had to get that job done,” Thorn said of New Zealand’s breakthrough on home soil.

“It was almost that then I could get on with my life. That’s sort of how we are with rugby in New Zealand.”

New Zealand had won the first World Cup in 1987 and have three overall, while Australia have won the event twice and South Africa four times.

England’s 2003 win, against Australia in Sydney, is the only northern hemisphere triumph in 10 World Cups.

France and Ireland will again arrive confident of joining the winner’s list but Thorn, who has enjoyed coaching schoolboy football since leaving his post at the Reds in 2023, warned against writing off the southern rivals.

“It’s okay having form, but for 25 years we had form and didn’t get the job done,” he said.

“It’s a different animal, a different beast, the World Cup.

“A team shows up on the day, anything can happen.

“England in 2003, I’m sure they’ll be gunning for it and southern hemisphere teams, Argentina too, we get up for World Cups.”

Thorn, also working with Malta as a forwards and strength and conditioning coach, saw enough from the Wallabies in their 2-1 loss to the British and Irish Lions last year to offer hope.

“That was really cool, highly competitive, down to the final play in second Test and I played under (coach Joe) Schmidt in Ireland,” Thorn said.

“He’s a friend and knew he’d do a great job.

“Australian rugby, it’s getting to a pretty good space.”

The second phase of World Cup ticketing will open on Tuesday, with fans able to apply for any game in a two-week window. A ballot will be used to allocate tickets when demand is high.

More than 750,000 presale tickets were sold to fans in 135 countries.

“It’s special,” Thorn, who played for New Zealand in Australia’s 2003 Cup, said of the World Cup experience.

“Other codes are doing their thing but there’s nothing like this, that I’ve experienced.”