Chris Rattue: Are the All Blacks really the best team in the world?

Opinion

The All Blacks were named the best sports team in the world today at the Laureus Sports Awards after winning a third World Cup title last year.

It was the side's sixth nomination for the award but first time they've come up with the silverware.

But is the best rugby team really the best 'team' in all sport? The category has been dominated by football teams with nine nations or clubs winning the award since 2000. The All Blacks were the third rugby team to win, behind Past World Cup champions England (2004) and South Africa (2012).

Formula One has produced two winners.

Here's a look at what the other nominees achieved over the past year.

Barcelona

The Spanish football giants won just about everything available to them - including a fifth Champions League. They also unleashed the Holy Trinity of strikers - Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez - who scored enough goals to keep most teams in corn for a couple of seasons.
For: A lot. What more could one team win, in the biggest sport on the planet. They were robbed.
Against: Nothing springs to mind.

Golden State Warriors

Beat LeBron James' Cavaliers to win the NBA for the first time in 40 years. Turned Stephen Curry into a world star, or maybe Curry turned the Warriors into world stars.
For: The three-point kings hinted that the NBA has a new dynasty.
Against: The NBA is not an international competition.

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Mercedes AMG Petronas

Won the constructors' F1 title for a second consecutive year, with world champ Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg totally dominating the series.
For: F1 should be about the drivers but has become team dominated, and Mercedes ruled absolutely.
Against: Image. Filthy rich team domination in F1 isn't actually a good thing, even if it is impressive.

USA women's football team

Won the World Cup for a record third time, with striker Carli Lloyd the tournament star and the wonderfully named Hope Solo the top goalkeeper.
For: The Americans remain at the top despite the growth of women's football around the world.
Against: Unfair? Maybe. But a women's team needs something more compelling to knock over the more glamorous and higher profile male contenders.

British Davis Cup tennis team

The Andy Murray-led Brits won their first Davis Cup in 79 years, beating Belgium in the final. It's the longest interval between titles in Davis Cup history.
For: Not a lot. In this field, one victory in decades doesn't really cut it.
Against: The Davis Cup struggles to rate as a major international event any more - neutrals are largely disinterested.