KEY POINTS:
The All Blacks are not chokers and look good enough to make the finals of the Rugby World Cup, said former Wallaby and All Black Des Connor.
"They're cheap shots. I don't think the All Blacks are chokers whatsoever. I've never known an All Black side that isn't ready to commit themselves 100 per cent," Connor said.
Connor is one of only a handful of players to represent the All Blacks and the Wallabies.
He played 13 matches for Australia between 1957 and `59 before crossing the Tasman and pulling on the black jersey to play 15 matches for the All Blacks between 1961 and `64.
Connor, nicknamed the Wallaby, said he supports the Wallabies and the All Blacks and it's more about the rugby than who wins on the day.
"I don't lean one way or the other but having played for both sides, I'm always interested in how they perform," Connor said.
Connor said the All Blacks deserve their status as World Cup favourites and have got what it takes to bring home the Web Ellis trophy.
He said the branding of the All Blacks as chokers in the media by former Wallaby coaches and players is a new thing.
"There's far more media coverage and in-depth coverage of the game than there was when we were playing. It's a different atmosphere and the media have got to report these stories to keep people up to date with what is going on," Connor said.
But the former half back said the label is not deserved and he's excited about the prospects of Brendon Leonard.
"He looks like me so he's got to be a good player. I've only seen him briefly but he looks to have potential. Whether he ousts Kelleher or not, I don't know," Connor said.
His other favourite team to watch - the Wallabies - are looking sharp too.
He said George Gregan has found form recently and his performances seem to lift the Wallabies.
"And Australian's second stringer, Cordingley, he's a good type of player. So George is not guaranteed of a spot in the side either," Connor said.
He said while Gregan's experience might get him a spot, the Wallabies' backline is full of good rugby brains like Larkham and the "wild card" Latham.
"Larkham is the key to the Australian performance. He's come back and started to find some good form," Connor said.
He said as far as the Northern Hemisphere is concerned, the French are the major threat.
"The French will do anything to win this tournament. The Europeans have a habit of lifting when it comes to tournaments like this, similarly in the soccer where Italy and France were always going to get to the finals and the same thing applies to the French," Connor said.
Final prediction
New Zealand versus France
The final result 28 - 15 to the winner. "They're not going to be the traditional high scoring games."
Des Connor's Wallaby career
Name Desmond Michael Connor
Born: August 9, 1935
Position: Half back
Debut: 1957
Caps: 13
Des Connor's All Black career
Debut: July 22, 1961
Points: 3, one try
Caps: 15, two as captain
Bob Luxford from the Rugby Museum of New Zealand said there have been a handful of All Blacks who have also played for Australia in rugby.
The first was Jim Wylie who toured with Australia to the US in 1912. A year later he played for the All Blacks, again touring to the US.
In 1932 Evan Jessep toured Australia with the All Blacks but two years later he was playing against the All Blacks, representing Australia.
In 1949 Keith Gudsell toured South Africa with the All Blacks before moving to Australia where he played three test matches for the Wallabies in 1951.
Owen Stephens is another, who in 1968 had one game for the All Blacks before moving to Australia and playing for the Wallabies for two years from 1973. He played two tests against the touring All Blacks.
YOUR PREDICTIONS
It's only weeks away from the Rugby World Cup and we want to hear your predictions of who will win. Who do you think will be in the final and what do you think the score will be?
We'll run your predictions online and you could be the winner by picking the right score.
The winner gets to the right to call themselves the Rugby Brain of New Zealand... and our sports team at nzherald.co.nz will also rustle up a prize for the most accurate prediction.
