'It's hard to beat' - Wallabies great Phil Kearns believes two teams can prevent an All Blacks World Cup hat-trick
It’s the new age Rugby World Cup which poses one of the sport’s oldest questions – will a good big man beat a good little man?
Hulking packs and rushing defensive lines are being touted as the recipe for success at the first tournament staged in Asia, where an attack-minded New Zealand will pursue a third-successive Webb Ellis Cup.
Wales and Ireland have emerged as genuine contenders to win a maiden title, the former having bludgeoned their way to Six Nations glory while the Irish are affixed with the world No.1 ranking.
However, former champions South Africa and England are being given the greatest chance of preventing an All Blacks World Cup monopoly this decade.
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Former Wallabies great Phil Kearns rates the Springboks and the English his co-favourites in Japan on the basis of their ferocious forward play.
Kearns believes coach Eddie Jones has got England peaking, with recalled midfielder Manu Tuilagi adding menace to complement their mammoth pack.
South Africa impressed in claiming the Rugby Championship although Kearns reckons their campaign could be on shaky foundations given the cloud over talismanic lock Eben Etzebeth.
Former skipper Etzebeth is being investigated by prosecutors over his involvement in an alleged assault and racial abuse during a bar brawl last month.
“With South Africa, I think Etzebeth is a critical player so depending on what happens with him will be important for their chances,” Kearns told AAP.
“But I just think the size of England and South Africa is going to be a difficult thing for teams to overcome.
“Both of them aren’t lacking pace either, so when you’ve got those physical capabilities it’s hard to beat.”
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Veteran coach Steve Hansen believes his All Blacks can overcome the inevitable suffocating defensive screens their opponents will erect.
He has played two trump cards in the lead-up, fielding dynamic pair Beauden Barrett and Ardie Savea out of position at fullback and blindside flanker respectively.
Both are potential tournament stars in a team whose high octane game plan has been designed with the firm grounds and hot conditions in mind.
“I think there’s definitely been a swing or bias towards defence,” Hansen said before his team left for Tokyo.
“But someone’s going to crack that nut – the defensive nut that needs to be cracked – because history tells us that will happen.
“When it does then it will open up the floodgates for the attacking game to become strong again.”
The size versus speed debate will get an early airing when the All Blacks and Springboks meet in Yokohama on Saturday in a highly anticipated pool opener.
Some patchy All Blacks form over the past two years has stripped them of the top ranking and eroded the aura they enjoyed at the 2015 event.
For that reason, the tournament is rated the most open in recent memory, with regular visitors to the knockout stage such as Australia, France, Scotland and Argentina also among those who can’t be discounted.
The dark horses are Fiji and Japan, with the hosts handed the sort of stage World Rugby has craved as it battles to expand its footprint in a potentially lucrative marketplace.
AAP
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Comments on RugbyPass
A Turtle has more pace and leg drive than Owen Franks, so it’s a good thing he only had to run 90 metres for that try.
2 Go to commentsOh Tamati Tua was in the vastly over-rated Leon MacDonalds Blues system? Well, no wonder he was wasted, much like Emoni Narawa and Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens under MacDonald. now look at them. Good thing Tua isn’t eligible, the Aussies latch on to any player who isn’t tied down.
2 Go to commentsMark Telea is a lot of things, but a defensive juggernaut has never been one of them. There will be far bigger tests in that regard for the youngster.
10 Go to commentsLove and respect to Fiji but not a chance outside of 7s
4 Go to commentsGood summation Ned. Agree the Canes were out-muscled for once (except at the scrum!) by a focused Brumbies outfit. Tua deserves consideration for higher honors after the way he humbled Jordie and the Canes defense. Thankfully, his lack of eligibility for Oz keeps him from Joe’s plans. While I also agree the injuries affected the Canes performance, some players seemed to lack focus and intensity for this match. Perhaps after the Blues demolished the Brumbies, they thought it was going to be easy? A good reminder that any slip up in preparation can have a big affect on the result. Brumbies deserved that win.
2 Go to commentsKarl Dixon should never have been appointed this fixture, absolute disgrace, He’s not much of a referee anyway, didn't have the balls to send his mate care off
5 Go to commentsBrilliant article! Harry of 8/9
1 Go to comments‘UK athletes' have been in the NFL from the start.
1 Go to commentsIt’s going to be Scott Barrett. He’s the coaches mate and captain of a previously elite team. Ardie a great option but scooter has worked with the coach and Ardie still as big a leader as needed.
23 Go to commentsI commend Colin Scotts bio All Balls. He was the first Aussie to make it to NFL. But he was poached and did a full apprenticeship at the University of Hawaii. He was 130kgs surfed played 1st grade cricket etc. big guy by normal but not NFL standards and a top athlete. Even then the nfl were picking up Tongans and Samoans for their natural size and explosive power. They want explosive power not cardio from the big boys so a guy like Taniela Tupou would have been good if picked up young enough. He has fast twitch and they’d bulk the little lad up and give him something to do. soccer teams set up academies and look for Over Sara’s talent eg Messi was at Barcelona since a teenager and harry kewell went to Leeds as a teenager like 16 or something.
11 Go to commentsThe article alludes to the fact that this isn’t about picking a captain. But picking a great captain. So who would make for a great All Black captain - not just an obvious or safe shoo-in? I’m not sure Ardie’s the guy and Barret doesn’t stand out either.
23 Go to commentsI guess we may all agree on the fact, that the ABs and Boks are the two in contest for No 1 in rugby history (the triple-A sort of) …. the Wallabies, England and France are the next tier, with Ireland being the new kid in town (AA) …. in my view it makes little sense creating imaginary competitions (unless you have too much time to waste)
45 Go to commentsWhat a joke. Total joke and the pundits commentating, all of whom know a bit about the game, could barely disguise their contempt. Reaching for the card then pulling back when he realised a red card would carry further match suspensions is simply not his decision to make. A clear and obvious influence on the outcome of this match and indeed, the championship path.
5 Go to commentsI like the idea, in NZ the Ranfurly Shield and NPC coexist, both having their own bragging rights. The World Cup would be the pinnacle, but the competition and travels of these trophies would be interesting.
45 Go to commentsDon’t worry Sonny bill Williams leave that awkward situation about the curfew in the pass whoever it was it doesn’t matter its no big deal we back our All Blacks through the storm and the thunder until we see the Sun light again.
42 Go to commentsWho listens to this retard? He was a massive liability as a player but obviously a media sensation
42 Go to commentsI’m not surprised by such ‘virtue signalling’ by Sonny Boy. Butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. He’s such a pious Islamic muppet, imo.
42 Go to commentsI’ve actually never heard of the guy (then I don’t watch League as it is boring). But if he is good enough.. then good luck to him. If not, well, he can always return to league.
2 Go to commentsIt is pretty clear that by almost any measure that NZ are a more successful rugby nation than South Africa. Quite aside from the distasteful events during the last RWC final. NZ lead SA in all significant measurements.
45 Go to commentsDickson went to his pocket for a card, saw who it was, changed his mind and spoke at length to TMO. One angle clearly shows Care diving over a Saints player to kill the ball. 1st yellow, reason given for not Red was player was falling backwards. He was only falling backwards after contact with Lawes. Graham try should have stood. Mitchell did not have both hands on the ball, ball went forward from a Saints boot dragging over it. 2 intentional knock-on's. One of which had an overlap on the outside. If Quins are happy to win by intentional foul play, then it does not say much for them. Would appear to be a bad day for Karl Dickson, also for the RFU in appointing a Ref who spent 8 years as a player at one of the clubs.
5 Go to comments