From the Cake Tin to Cape Town

BY DUNCAN JOHNSTONE

ALL Whites coach Ricki Herbert praised the new generation of stars and left the glory with his players after last night's stunning 1-0 World Cup qualifying win over Bahrain.

Herbert, a 1982 veteran, didn't want to delve into the past.

It was all about looking forward to next year's finals in South Africa.

"It was just so special for me to see the emotions of the players – wow, unbelievable," Herbert said.

"We're there, South Africa here we come.

"Tonight is about these boys who never stopped believing.

"We've all worked hard, we all backed the system and believed we could win.

"It's different for me sitting there on the bench screaming from the other side of the white line."

Herbert said Rory Fallon's headed goal just before halftime was a real boost, as was the penalty save from keeper Mark Paston just after the interval.

They were key moments in a match that had continual flow but one which New Zealand slowly took control of and looked the more likely in a winner-take all contest.

"We always knew they were going to be a difficult side. But we stepped up at both ends and didn't deviate from our plans," Herbert said.

The victory earned New Zealand a $10m windfall from Fifa's World Cup kitty, money that will secure the future of the game here.

Herbert pleaded for the riches to be wisely spent.

"We can't go down that road again," he said of football's inability to capitalise on their 1982 glory.

"These guys will go the World Cup and it will be lifelong memories for them.

"But we can't forget the young kids that are left here."

And rugby should be worried if the passion displayed last night overflows into the development ranks. The white army that invaded the Cake Tin put an All Blacks crowd to shame with their vocal support.

Herbert revealed he hadn't seen his side for most of the day, purposely giving his players space.

"I didn't go to breakfast, I didn't go to lunch but I liked what I saw this afternoon," Herbert said.

"I'm just so proud of them."

He felt they had made a nervous start but grew as the game went on.

"I thought we'd done a fair bit by halftime," he said.

"We changed things a bit at halftime – we were a bit flat across the front, (Shane) Smeltz was a bit too high.

"But it was about keeping the pressure on and this side plays its best when they are going forward."

Herbert showed that with his two second half substitutions.

They weren't changes aimed at bolstering the defence and seeing the win out. He brought on Andy Barron to give some fresh legs to his midfield and then introduced young striker Chris Wood late in the match as New Zealand kept pressure on the Bahrain goal.

Bahrain coach Milan Macala didn't front the aftermatch press conference as he was left contemplating another major failure.

Macala has now been in charge of six national sides without ever featuring at a World Cup.

- © Fairfax NZ News