‘Had to get that job done’: Brad Thorn reflects on Rugby World Cup glory

The All Blacks have gone into every Rugby World Cup with a demanding sense of expectation resting on their shoulders. New Zealanders expect nothing but the best at the sport’s marquee event, as dual international Brad Thorn alluded to this week.

Thorn spoke at a media event in Brisbane on Tuesday, as World Rugby celebrated the 500 days to go milestone for Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027. The ticket Application Phase opens at 3:00 AEST on Tuesday and closes at 6:00 pm AEST on June 2.

The former All Blacks lock reflected on what it means to play at the marquee event, as the hype continues to build for 2027. Thorn was named in the All Blacks squad for the 2011 tournament, which saw the New Zealanders bring an end to 24 years of hurt.

New Zealand went into practically every World Cup as the favourites, but time and time again, trophy-winning heroics remained out of reach. David Kirk led the All Blacks to glory in 1987 but the All Blacks’ second World Cup title didn’t come for more than two decades.

Four years on from the disaster of a shock quarter-final exit to France, the All Blacks had another shot at the crown – this time on home soil. New Zealand overcame Argentina and Australia during the knockout rounds, setting up a shot at history against France.

Tony Woodcock scored the sole try for the All Blacks, with injury replacement Stephen Donald famously slotting a crucial penalty later on. Thorn started alongside Sam Whitelock that evening, with the All Blacks getting the job done 8-7 at Eden Park.

“We had a 24-year drought… for me personally, I had to just get that job done and I could get on with my life, but that’s sort of how we are in New Zealand with rugby,” Thorn told reporters in the River City.

“You’re seeing teams start to make their run and the Wallabies… have been building nicely.

“It’s going to be an awesome tournament. It’s just a massive festival so it’s going to be so good for the country economically as well.”

While that was Thorn’s final match in an All Blacks jersey, Richie McCaw and co. stayed on, steering the team to a repeat of those efforts in 2015. The All Blacks became the first team in Men’s Rugby World Cup history to successfully go back-to-back.

But the Springboks have been the dominant force at the last two events, with rugby guru Rassie Erasmus the mastermind behind those successes. 500 days out from next year’s World Cup, many would consider the South Africans to be the favourites once again.

South Africa took out The Rugby Championship title last season and remains the number one side on the World Rugby rankings. But France are shaping up as another contender, while the likes of Ireland and England also showed signs of promise in the recent Six Nations.

“For 24 years we had form in between World Cups… it’s a different animal, it’s a different beast the World Cup,” Thorn reflected.

“One team has to show up on the day and if they get that job done, anything can happen.

“England won back in 2003. I’m sure they’ll be all gunning for it but so will everyone else.

“Southern Hemisphere teams, Argentina as well, we get up for World Cups.”

The 2027 World Cup will be the second of three major rugby events held in the country over five years. After the record-breaking success of the Women’s Rugby World Cup in England last year, the tournament heads to Australia in 2029.

There was also the British & Irish Lions Tour in July and August last year, which included a three-Test series played in front of sold-out crowds. While the Lions won the series 2-1, the Wallabies put up improved efforts in the second and third Tests.

“The Lions Series was really cool,” he added.

“Highly competitive. It went down to the final play of the second Test.

“I played under Joe Schmidt. I got to win a Heineken Cup with Leinster. I knew he’d do a great job there, [incoming Wallabies coach Les Kiss] will do a good job.

“Australian rugby I think, again, is in a pretty good space. Coming off the Lions and then you have this next year, this is going to be massive. Going forward from there, Australian rugby should be in a really healthy space, not just financially but all the kids wanting to play footy.

“There’s nothing like this that I’ve experienced.”