Only one team can stop the All Blacks according to ex-World Cup-winning coach
Only England are capable of toppling the All Blacks at this World Cup.
That’s the verdict from England’s former World Cup-winning coach Sir Clive Woodward less than a fortnight out from the tournament’s opening week of the knockout stages.
Writing in his column for the Daily Mail, Woodward maintained that the All Blacks were “unquestionably the favourites”, even with his assertion that Eddie Jones’ side are the firmest challengers to dethroning the three-time champions.
“In fact, the only team I can see beating them is England,” Woodward wrote.
“All their (New Zealand’s) traditional qualities have been to the fore: pace, high tempo, brilliant handling under pressure, the ability to absorb a team’s best shots and then counter-attack 90 yards to score.
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“That opening win against the Boks decided the pool there and then and they will be looking to finish with a full-bore performance against a disappointing Italy.”
The All Blacks face Italy in their final pool clash in Toyota on Saturday, while England close out their round-robin schedule in a Pool C-defining clash with France in Yokohama.
Woodward emphasised the importance of England upholding their unbeaten run at this World Cup with a victory against the lacklustre French, who spluttered to a 23-21 victory over Tonga last night.
Tonga's quarter-final aspirations evaporated with a defeat to France on Sunday. #RWC2019 #FRAvTGA https://t.co/T2pCMUIlWR
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 7, 2019
An English win would ensure the 2003 title-winners of top spot in the ‘Pool of Death’, and would mean they wouldn’t have to play against the Kiwis until the semi-finals.
Conversely, an unlikely defeat to Les Bleus would see England finish second in their group, which would make it possible to only play the All Blacks in the final.
To get to that stage, though, they would have to topple the winners of Pool D, which is shaping to be Wales, and then overcome either the winner of Pool A or the runners-up of Pool B, which currently looks to be either Japan or South Africa.
Woodward noted that no side had ever won a World Cup after dropping a match in the pool stage, and stressed how vital it is that England maintain their momentum heading into the play-offs.
“Losing has the potential to slow England and sow seeds of doubt. The pressure would crank up, people might get twitchy and everything would look more problematical,” he wrote.
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“I don’t see England losing, in fact I am confident they will put France away in considerable style, but if I was in Eddie Jones’s shoes this week I would be painting the match as a do or die game of the utmost importance. Because it is.
“England must use this game to really lay down a marker. They need to take their game up a notch or two. Their path to the quarter-finals has been pretty straightforward and undemanding.”
Woodward believed that England’s discipline and strong tight five could be their key to success in Japan.
Dane Coles said he would describe Steve Hansen's verbal spray of the All Blacks as a nine out of 10 on the Richter scale. #RWC2019 #NZLvNAM https://t.co/nKZDTSDwLz
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 6, 2019
He reckoned their low penalty count works in favour of this strictly-officiated tournament in which referees have come under severe scrutiny for their calling of high tackles.
He also said England’s tight five helps bring out the best of star flyhalf George Ford.
“The front five are looking as good as any in the tournament and England have real strength in depth in that area, where the attrition rate can be high.
“And England have been keeping the penalty count down and not irritating referees. That needs to continue.”
Matt Giteau and Mike Tindall predict their World Cup winners:
Comments on RugbyPass
I bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
19 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
7 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
19 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
9 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
9 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
28 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
19 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
28 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
19 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
90 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
4 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
9 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
19 Go to comments