All Blacks have been world’s awe-inspiring team with a winning streak against all rugby-playing nations yet the first World Cup of 1987 is the only feat they have so far owned.
2007 results, the Tri Nations trophy and the Bledisloe Cup support All Blacks favoritism to end its 16-year run of the World title underachievement. Endowed with depth, leadership and strong set-players, the team has three of the best five props in the world, three of the best six second-rowers and adequate replacements everywhere so there’s hardly any doubt regarding their failure. Graham Henry, who got the New Zealand coaching job one month after the team was eliminated from the 2003 World Cup, has trained his players to the extremes.
Paris is all geared up to host tonight’s opening match between France and Argentina. A six week spectacle is likely to be the third-biggest sporting event, with rugby fanatics spread worldwide behind the soccer World Cup and the Olympics.
Amid other unpredictable bigger teams defending champions England are destabilized by injuries and retirements of top players. South Africa, winners in 1995, are a formidable prospect meanwhile Australia has a habit of timing World Cup runs right as France also fancies it’s chances to go all the way through.
Via: Bloomberg
