A World Cup final postcard from storm-lashed Brisbane

Eve of the World Cup final and Brisbane is once again clearing up after the third major storm to strike the city and surrounding area since Sunday. The Brisbane River is a chocolate-coloured slop filled with debris after what The Courier Mail described as "Nature's Fury" on its front page. Trees tumbled like wickets at the Gabba during a lively first two days of the first Australia-New Zealand Test. Parts of south east Queensland have been declared disaster areas and more storms are forecast for Saturday night, just as the Kangaroos are due to take on the Kiwis at Suncorp Stadium.

If my experience of the latest storm was anything to go by, it could be an eventful old evening. Brisbane looked more like Gotham City. The sky was permanently charged, from which emerged golf ball-sized hailstones and horizontal rain driven by cyclonic winds that ripped away hoardings and awnings and almost uprooted traffic lights. I abandoned my attempt to join a journos bash in Fortitude Valley, retreated to my hotel and battened down the hatches - just as the Kiwis must do in the final, which goes ahead despite damage to the roof and 400 mm of rain falling on the pitch.

Greatness is being bestowed on the Australian team before they have won the final - a formality, surely ? Is full back Billy Slater, named this week as international player of the year, a greater No 1 than Clive Churchill or Graeme Langlands ? That's the debate going on here. Former Kangaroos Benny Elias and Steve Walters reckon this is the best team to pull on the green and gold. Frank Stanton and Max Krilich, the 1982 Kangaroos tour coach and captain, disagree. Krilich can only find a place for Cameron Smith in his best team of the past 40 years. Stanton goes for Smith and Greg Inglis in his.

The point is, though, that this is seen as a special Australia side. Comparing eras is always subjective. The first World Cup final winning Australia team I came across in 1992 - who squeezed past Great Britain 10-6 before a 73,631 crowd at Wembley - contained Mal Meninga, Steve Renouf, Brad Fittler, Allan Langer, Glenn Lazarus, Steven and Kevin Walters, Paul Sironen, Bob Lindner and Bradley Clyde. Not a bad assortment. But if you ask me, we'll in future be waxing just as lyrical about the class of 2008 and the likes of Darren Lockyer, Johnathan Thurston, Cameron Smith, Israel Folau, Greg Inglis, David Williams, Steve Price and Petero Civoniceva.

Good luck to the Kiwis. I reckon the game will be closer than many, and certainly the bookmakers here, think, but when the storm hits them - either from the skies, what's in front of them or both - they need to weather it, and trust that fortune favours what bravery they can muster. PICTURES BY THE COURIER MAIL AND COL WHELAN/ANDREW VARLEY AGENCY

AUSTRALIA READY TO EMULATE MENINGA DYNASTY - Read Christopher Irvine's latest report from Brisbane HERE

Comments

[Tim]

Pure magic by the Kiwis and deserved winners.

[Mike Tolich]

Wonderful game

go the Kiwis

I never thought we would see the day

[Bleed Black]

Looks like Turkey Boy, Mike Hunt and Aussie should have heeded Mr Irvines afvice.

BTW how does foot taste ;)

N.Z World Champions 2008!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Tim]

Australia are a great side but were soundly beaten. If any Aussies think there players are the greatest then the kiwis are in a higher league.

[dave T]

bugger

[dave T]

bugger

[aussie]

Kangatoos 48 Kiwis 4

[mike hunt]

Australia 34 new zealand 14

[K Senior]

The Aussies can’t handle bad weather.

We at Leeds demolished Melbourne at Eland Rd in the bad torrential rain and swirling winds in this years WCC.

Whoop Whoop Oh yeah who’s the daddy!

[Turkey Boy]

A few drops of rain. Maybe some sort of hat would be in order. Good luck. Australia 42 New Zealand 10.