KEY POINTS:
Here is an earlier selection of Your Views:
Heath (Mudgee)
It will be interesting to see how the ABs go with the travel and back to back tests. They should beat Australia in Melbourne, but the Wallabies do have a tendency to ambush the All Blacks in WC years. I'm just glad the ABs won in South Africa, it would be harder for the Aussies if the ABs lost.
Carsonator
The Boks were missing six of their best starting line up, Pierre Spies, Juan Smith, Bryan Habana, John Smit, Fourie Du Preez and Guthro Steenkemp. The Bok scrum will not get any better, their line out is the best attacking and defensive one in the world. Their loosies will be faster and stronger next time we play them and they will be fitter. Their backs offer nothing on attack so they will just live off drop goals, intercepts and mistakes for tries. At best they can improve by 10 per cent as they are not the same team away from home. The Boks just lost to an All Black Team which was not match hardened, made nine handling errors and was missing their three best locks. Carter missed nine points he would normally bank and we had most of the possession and territory. The All Black potential is scary. Only bad luck, bad weather or bad refereeing will stop us from winning the Cup.
Dick
Let's not get carried away. I am humble enough to have realised 4 teams are shaping up who could all win the world cup too. The All Blacks are top of the list. But in tournament rugby one loss will send you home. SA, OZ, France and Argentina COULD knock us out. I know the All Blacks are number 1 in the world and my heart and head says we CAN win it. Big-headed kiwi supporters or All Blacks who have it their own way in meaningless games (as the Tri-Nations will become if we beat the Wallabies on Saturday and Jake brings over a Springbok c team). We will fall hard if we lose just one game in France. Let's face it we could have lost on Saturday. Bounce of the ball, silly pass, dodgy refereeing decisions all turn games and are not guaranteed to go our way. In the round ball game Italy hold the world cup. Where they the best team in the world in the year they won it? No - not by a long shot. NZ need some humility and realism. We need to respect our opposition too.
Baz
I disagree with most of Paul's comments. Let's state some facts here for clarity.
The AB's chose to place their top players on a massive 14-week conditioning program so that when the World Cup period is upon us those players will be at their physical and mental peak. The SA chose to play all of their top players through every round of the S14. It makes me smirk when I read some comments about its worrying for Graham Henry that SA teams dominated the S14. Anyone with a decent understanding of Sport science will appreciate that collision conditioning and the split second timing and awareness only comes with high intensity matches - of course the NZ franchises were not going to be at their best. They still managed to get two teams into the semi's though. Paul's comments about England, Ireland and most notably Wales having a good chance in the World Cup are way off the mark and show considerably naivety. England went into the last World Cup as by far the most dominant team having beaten everyone away from home and it took millions of pounds to achieve this and they won - just against a team on its last legs. They have absolutely no chance this year and are highly likely to beaten in the quarter final stage by Wales. The Welsh could make the semi if they do away with the Scarlet bias that is ruining the setup at the moment, and select the form players namely James Hook at first five. Ireland are an ageing team and have a good backline, but sadly their forwards are simply not good enough and will be blown away by the big teams. Munster looked a spent team in this seasons Heineken Cup and Leinster proved again that having a superstar backline coupled with a weak forward platform only gets you so far. The AB's will win the World Cup and only SA and possibly Australia could spoil the party. The northern hemisphere countries are more interested in developing super clubs to the detriment of their international teams' ala soccer in England, which will be painfully exposed this coming October.
Jsinista1
I myself thought that it was just a bad game for the All Blacks and a good one for the Bokkies. But that doesn't mean we won't dominate the world cup. If we lose against the Boks or Wallabies then it will be a loss to a great team. You will know that it will be a hard fought match. I think he should stick to his northern hemisphere teams because at the moment, our women's and Junior All Blacks rugby teams could beat the current World Cup holders, with tries and not just kicks. The only chance the northern hemisphere teams have is if we wipe out each other, and that's the truth.
Allblacks 4 ever
All Blacks foreva matie. How many times do our All Blacks have to show you nothern hemisphere people how to play rugby at its best? Our All Blacks should be in a rugby hall of fame not just this team but all the others that have been and gone before them, and enter the Guinness Book of Records mate because they break all records to do with rugby mate. You are lucky the southern hemisphere aren't in your 6 nations competition mate, other wise you wouldn't stand a chance. For all you people who aren't up to date with the All Blacks, the NZRU is spreading the All Black name and going global and it started last year in France as a door opener to the Europe market and hopefully to America. It starts with the All Black name and the history the country and the culture which none of yous even come close to having but whinge and moan. Ackford, wake up and smell the coffee or in your case tea.
Treoes (Somerset, UK)
I agree Ackford is trying to make a column out of smoke and mirrors. The real problem the All Blacks will face is that all the teams playing them will go all out to win, there won't be "tactical" pool playing. Every country wants to beat the All Blacks, this unfortunately means each Country will put out its best team and treat the match as their RWC final. The wear and tear on the Kiwi players will be higher than a lot of other teams, Henry recognises this, and hopefully has enough players to cope with injuries. Carry on dismissing the NH sides, it gives them an edge they don't deserve.
Currently in UK
World Cup wide open? Certainly, the Springboks lost the match at the weekend rather than the ABs winning it. Having got themselves into a winning position, the Boks should have played total possession rugby for the final quarter. However, they changed a number of players in key positions which unbalanced the side during s critical phase of the game and kicked possession away. Had they marshalled possession properly, kicked when not under pressure and ensured they found touch it would have been a different ending - especially with the lineout domination they had. Put simply, inexperience and some poor subbing by Jake White gave the ABs the opportunities they were after and they said thanks very much. It also has to be said that the subs for the ABs were all outstanding in stark contrast to the Boks, which perhaps serve to prove that the Springboks have a very shallow pool of talent once they have a few key players injured. In short, would I bet on anything other than a repeat of this for the WRC Final? No. Same outcome? You betcha!
JP
Simple - our Junior ABs would beat all northern hemisphere teams at present with the only exception being O'Driscoll's crew!
Murdoch
The All Blacks make 14 handling errors, DC plays an average game and misses 4 penalty attempts. Aaron Mauger gives away 7 points with an errant pass and we still win by 5 points - at their home ground! We dominated the scrum, had superior fitness and were missing our best locks! Is there any room for improvement? Yeah, heaps! Did the ref suck? Of course he did! Does Paul Ackerford know what he's talking about? No way!
Don in Chiang Mai, Ex-pat
Akford must have watched an entirely different game to what I saw. Yes there were errors but the game was played at a very high pace, at which I believe that none of the 5 nations could possibly endure. Playing against South Africa in their home turf is difficult as England, Samoa and Australia have found out recently. NZ have gone there and won and showed character by coming from behind with 20 minutes to go, where most other teams would have been closed out. We had our first choice locks out but still contested well. I think this All Black team have yet to hit their straps and will go on and play an amazing RWC!
Hooters
Ackford is a pillock. The POM's love to knock the best and no better than this git! If he thinks that his beloved Ingalund has got a chance as a result of the ABs game at the weekend then I'm a certainty to start at halfback!
PS - Bollocks to the media for listening to him!
Andrew
Is Paul Ackford on drugs? A team, at home, gets within 5 points of the All Blacks and all of a sudden the world cup is "wide open", with the likes of Ireland and Argentina being touted as potential winners? Then I thought... well I guess he's just trying to stir up public interest in what will be a one (two at the outside) horse race. I wonder if Ackford will be betting any money on anyone other than the All Blacks.
Ireland
New Zealand are, without question, the best team in the world. However, I do think the World Cup is wide open. South could turn them over IF New Zealand under perform and if SA are at full strength. I do hope it doesn't happen, if Ireland don't mount a challenge then the I'll be cheering the ABs on, they deserve it. Ireland have a very very slim chance against them but only if we are at full strength and the ABs have a few injuries. We would also need a lot of luck on the day, and get the psychology right (have a talented but slightly flakey team). One area of weakness seems to be in the centre. They don't seem to be real game breakers. Definitely think that Mauger is a little overrated.
Tuaman (Tokoroa)
Yes the World cup is wide open - to Sth Africa and Australia, maybe a full strength France even. Do the math Paul, South Africa threw everything at the All Blacks and lost! Dan Carter had an average game, our 1st and 2nd string locks were injured, our scrum is seriously out-weighed Byron Kelleher was too slow, Mils had his 1st real game in ages and Isaiah is still learning his craft, on top of blatant cheating by Sth Africa and "dirty tactics" (see last test) - and we still won!! Of course we can improve, we played poorly by our own standards - and still won!
Mike, Kiwi (Uruguay)
Mr Ackford has the distinction is his international rugby career of having scored a single try (against Fiji) from 25 games at lock for England and the Lions. He played the ABs exactly once - on 3rd October 1991 - at Twickenham, a game England lost 12-18 and a game in which England scored zero tries, their points coming from 3 penalties and a drop goal. Perhaps his views with regard to the All Blacks - a team he was only ever deemed good enough by his peers to play once - should be taken in perspective. Paul Ackford has never played in a team that has beaten the All Blacks.
He does not know what it takes to achieve that feat, he has no idea of the level of passion and burgeoning pride that exists in NZ at the moment with regard to our national team, the extent of Graham Henry & co's preparations nor the level of commitment not only of current players in the side, but the continuing stellar and hugely significant contributions of the legends of the game - the men that built the All Black legend, the likes of Whineray, Meads, Fitzpatrick, Norton and others working in the background. I saw tears in the eyes of some after the 47-3 demolition of France. Go you good things, go!
Peow peow (Brisbane)
Ackfords a pommy idiot their English soccer team has more chance of winning the world cup! The ABs are the most prepared team in the world because Graham Henry is the man who will lead us to victory! He has shaped a team of men who the world fear now that they have shown the mental toughness they had from being down by so many points showed the never give up attitude, maturity and patience of a world class team. Before the ABs were known for power, pace and toughness now Henry has completed the puzzle. Henry has shown the world last year the dominance in aspects of the game by utilising individuals skills now everyone will be scared the new completion of dominance and we are not even firing on all cylinders! I was sceptical we would choke at the world cup but that performance has given me the confidence to back the ABs 1000 per cent instead of 100 per cent Kia kaha mangu kaha.
Bokjock
First up, NZ are clearly the best & no.1 team in the world right now. However that does not make them certainties to win the WC. Favourites definitely but the WC is a knockout tournament and it takes one slightly off colour game and you're out. NZ will also have to deal with the enormous pressure that is clearly building up with the expectation of the fans and country. The WC will be won by 1 of 4 teams - NZ, SA, Aus or France. France are at home and can beat (or lose - they are that up or down) anyone on their day. The Aussies might surprise, they have an experienced side and when it come to the mental/composure side of things, no one beats them.
Johnno
I can't see what all the hype is about. So we won a game in Sth Africa. Even if we win 10 or 20 or 30 in a row it doesn't ensure success in the world cup. That we should know by now. The Aussies were dreadful the whole year leading up to and including the 2003 cup but came right at the semi-final and almost nailed the final. Even Sth Africa were lucky to make the 1995 final let alone win it. All the All Blacks need to be concerned about is ensuring that when they get to the knockout stage that they are in with a fighting chance of getting through. There are only 4 teams that will have this fighting chance and, sorry Ackford, none of the home unions will be there.
Kiwi (Ireland)
Those comments just show how blind Paul Ackford & other northern hemisphere journalists are to the intensity of rugby between southern hemisphere nations. Apart from Australia or possibly a full strength French line-up in the intensity of a SA vs Nz test any other team would crumble under the pressure. Yeah we made mistakes, but so did they, and to come through with a victory under those circumstances is pretty close to playing in a World Cup final. Winning in France in October is going to come down to a final between either NZ, Aussie, SA or France, maybe Ireland if they can win their group, but I'd never bet against France to not make the final when they are hosting the event.
Bruce
Anything can happen in sports. And given that Ackford is on safe ground suggesting that the world cup is wide open (to four teams). Assuming there are no huge upsets, or games thrown; the way it pans out is you have France and South Africa on one side of the play-off draw, and New Zealand (having beaten Argentina in a quarter final match) up against Australia in the other semi-final. I see these four sides as having the potential to win their semi-final. And remember in the two occasions we've met Australia in a world cup play-off game, we have lost both times. The Australian's don't have a lot of players nor resources when it comes to rugby, but they've constantly out thought us. So a world cup final could easily be played out thus France/Australia, France/New Zealand, South Africa/Australia, South Africa/New Zealand final. That's fairly open to me!
Kiwi (Boston, USA)
Is the RWC open? You never can tell. Over the last three RWCs the ABs have gone in as favourites, only to be humbled. Is Mr Ackford right? I hope not. It would be good to read his comments IF the All Blacks can come through and win. My concern is, once again they have picked up a weak 'pool' to play in. They will certainly get through to the quarter finals. This is where they need to step up and play there style.
Jones
Stop being so one-eyed - Ackford is only expressing a well reasoned opinion. He, like pretty much everyone else still considers the ABs to be the favourites and best side in the world. However, if the most talented team always won the world cup then the ABs would have won most of them. As it is, it only takes one big performance from say, the French or the South Africans to stop them. Remember, the South Africans have arguably still got 5 first teamers to come back whereas the ABs can only really improve the second row. If you New Zealanders get it right then you should win the world cup with something to spare, especially now that you have rediscovered forward play for the first time in a decade to go with your super slick backs. But you are only one choke away from blowing it again so try and be a little more humble and open minded until you actually manage to become world champions, something you haven't been for a very long time.
Boomshanka
I wouldn't say wide open, maybe 3 or 4 teams in real contention. But judging from the performance in that last 10mins the boys would have to be favourites. P.S. the All Blacks made the front page of Wikipedia!
Jagfnz
Of course it was an error ridden game. What would Ackford expect at this level, at this time, from a game of this physical and emotional intensity between the two best rugby teams on the planet. The whole point of modern defensive, and attacking / counter-attacking, rugby is to create pressure situations where the opponents can and will make errors - and to capitalise on those errors.
Thank you Boks. At this time of in their training it is fantastic that the ABs were subject to pressure conditions that raised their chances of errors immensely. But at this level of play the worrisome errors aren't the physical ones: ball handling, or lineout or tackling. The serious errors are cognitive and emotional, in your head and in your heart - self doubt and lost confidence. And my god, the ABs made no error on that front. The message for the ABS, as much as for any opposing team, is strong and clear. You put pressure on us, we will make errors. And vice versa. But you'll have to keep pressuring us for 80 minutes to win. Coz' 40 minutes worth won't do. We can and will come back -somehow, someway, someone.
Mark (Thailand)
Yes the WC will be an open competition as it should be (open to the All Blacks kicking ass). It's never great seeing one team winning every game by large margins, I prefer the nail biting games like that one on Saturday, but I must say that Mr Wally Ackford's comments are a bit misleading, wouldn't you say. He should be writing for the Greenland times. Let's buy him a ticket - start packing Paul Ackford and don't let the door hit your ass on the way out of the office. Be gone O whinging pom.
Bangkok
Typical comment from a hack journo living in the land of "round ball". Don't know what game Ackford was watching but certainly there was a message sent that to win in Tri-Nations play, there needs a full commitment from all players of the hard graft for 80 minutes, which is less than has been offered by any northern hemisphere team of late.
Willnz (Noosa)
I don't think Ackford watched the same game I did! Furthermore, if the 'Boks continue with their thuggery, they will be down to 11 or 12 men at the World Cup - and you can't win with that number on the field.
Pierre, the Kiwi
Yes, I believe the world cup final, and for that matter the finalist (winner), will be one of the following; France, Springboks, Aussie, All Blacks. My two danger teams from an AB supporters point of view are France and Australia. Reason: France @ home can, and have done in the past, done the All Blacks. Ask John Hart what it feels like to be done by the French in 19999 semi. Don't believe press rubbish about French unreadiness, thats also what John Hart thought. Aussies: they've got the mental wood on the All Blacks from past crucial world cup encounters. They are able to make a mental and tactical step-up when it comes to a major match. There is no doubt we have all the skill needed and if we make final, a player like Dan Carter can destroy all the opposition's dreams. However I pick the French to shock and probably win this cup, with the ABs a mighty threat to all. My heart says Abs, my head says France in Paris (remember?).
Rob (London)
It's truly staggering that anyone thinks they can predict what will happen in a rugby match 80 odd days out from the event itself happening. Of course, this phenomena works both ways. The world and his dog has attached the chokers label to the All Blacks and now it has become a matter of national pride. The need to be identified with something successful seems grounded in nationalistic insecurity. As far as the likes of Ackford and old Russet Gusset are concerned, call it straw clutching and circulation tactics. If you want to truly gauge world-wide feeling about who might win a sporting cup, ask who would bet against the All Blacks winning it. Every world cup year we see the same desperate tinkering with national emotional triggers - we all said the same thing about England in 2003. The speculation is truly pathetic. They'll either win or they won't and you'll either face up to the idiots or you won't.
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