A leading sports psychologist is warning rugby fans not to become too superstitious about the ghosts of Rugby World Cup pasts when the All Blacks play France in this weekend's quarterfinal in Paris.
Professor Gary Hermansson has worked with the Black Caps and New Zealand Olympic and Commonwealth Games teams.
Professor Hermansson says while history shows the All Blacks do have problems at the elimination phase of the tournament that's no reason to be anxious this time.
"The French will obviously be inpsired by the history. The thing we have to watch out for is that we don't get anxious about the history," he said.
Neemia Tialata comforts Mils Muliaina after the All Blacks 2007 World Cup quarterfinal loss to France. Photo: Getty Images
"At the moment there is a lot of almost superstitours behaviour and discussion going on but the All Blacks clearly have to approach it as a clean start. The advantage for them is that last time they beat France twice at the world cup and they are the current world champions whereas if they had not won in 2011 this would be much more meaningful.
Sports psychologist Dr Gary Hermansson and Black Caps and Central Districts cricketer Ross Taylor. Photo: Supplied
Professor Hermansson said the risk for the All Blacks is that they try and play a different style of game come the knockout phase of the tournament which can lead to indecision in pressure situations and skills can drop away.
He said fans rather than players tend to be more superstitious.
Fans rather than players tend to worry more about Rugby World Cup history says Professor Hermansson. Photo: Getty Images
"If we get too worked up and anxious we can convey that (to the All Blacks) through the media.....but there are some interesting stories there to be developed and the risk with that is that they take on a momentum of their own and people start getting anxious about history and everything else which can become contagious and the problem further accentuated."
Professor Hermansson says coach Steve Hansen and sports psychologist Gilbert Enoka have worked hard on the side's mental approach.
"They've shifted from 'don't give any attention to the pressure' to lets regard it as excitement, let's us embrace the pressure and regard it as excitement and what we've been expecting all along. That shift is quite important provided of course it overides the other stuff that gets in the way..things like the significance of the ocassion and the catastrophe if we don't do well," he said.
For all of that Dr Hermansson is predicting an All Blacks win.
