The Kiwis aren't going to win

[buffdaddy]

I don't care who wins in the Eng/Aus game.

the ABs would love either Rose or Roo for their 2nd Course.

First course, Rooster and Wine this weekend!

[wendigo100]

A myth given life by NH hacks and belived by ignorant jonny come lately fans. I am surprised you didnt mention poaching of players.....

A myth? Are you saying that they have had a mediocre team all the time since 1987?

[rootsnall]

A myth? Are you saying that they have had a mediocre team all the time since 1987?

I don't think they've had a really outstanding team except the one around 1995ish, the one with Fitzpatrick as captain when they won a full test series against RSA away from home. I think all the outstanding teams need a really good 9 and 10.

[wendigo100]

I don't think they've had a really outstanding team except the one around 1995ish, the one with Fitzpatrick as captain when they won a full test series against RSA away from home. I think all the outstanding teams need a really good 9 and 10.

They also had a good team in 2002 and 2003, when they won the Tri-Nations twice and regained the Bledisloe Cup.

[rootsnall]

They also had a good team in 2002 and 2003, when they won the Tri-Nations twice and regained the Bledisloe Cup.

They always have a good team but it wasn't an outstanding team and wasn't up to it when put under pressure in RWC 2003 by Oz. At that time South Africa weren't great and Oz didn't have a good pack so winning the Bledisloe and Tri Nations wasn't like winning the RWC. England had the outstanding team of that era with some world class players and a lot of good players to back them up and had a similar record to the current NZ team in the RWC build up.

[shaunbhoy]

England had the outstanding team of that era

England had a powerful pack, some reasonable backs, and a metronomic kicker in Wilkinson. It made for very effective rugby, but it is stretching it to use "outstanding" to describe their style of play. It bored the @rse off most people.
Oh yes, and NZ will win the RWC this year, you heard it here first!!

[DodgyAgent]

England had a powerful pack, some reasonable backs, and a metronomic kicker in Wilkinson. It made for very effective rugby, but it is stretching it to use "outstanding" to describe their style of play. It bored the @rse off most people.
Oh yes, and NZ will win the RWC this year, you heard it here first!!

I predict a Scotland vs England final so to all you southern hemisphere tossers.

[rootsnall]

England had a powerful pack, some reasonable backs, and a metronomic kicker in Wilkinson. It made for very effective rugby, but it is stretching it to use "outstanding" to describe their style of play. It bored the @rse off most people.
Oh yes, and NZ will win the RWC this year, you heard it here first!!

I didn't describe their style as "outstanding", your description of "a powerful pack, some reasonable backs, and a metronomic kicker in Wilkinson" is spot on. They 'stood out' in that they consistently beat the other teams including the southern hemisphere for a few years. They played some very good rugby for a spell but by 2003 the back row was getting too slow. Unbelievable that Dallaglio is still playing, he was struggling for pace in 2003.

[Mailman]

They always have a good team but it wasn't an outstanding team and wasn't up to it when put under pressure in RWC 2003 by Oz. At that time South Africa weren't great and Oz didn't have a good pack so winning the Bledisloe and Tri Nations wasn't like winning the RWC. England had the outstanding team of that era with some world class players and a lot of good players to back them up and had a similar record to the current NZ team in the RWC build up.

Being number 1 in the world doesnt guarantee world cup success, just as world cup success doesnt guarantee you will be number 1 in the world (just look at England ).

Ominously for everyone this AB team has only lost 3 games in the last 4 years, not forgetting a few of those wins were when the AB's put 40 plus points on the best team France could field!

This team isnt just a good team, its an outstanding team!

Having said that, no team is guaranteed to win every game and this current AB team is no different.

Mailman

[GeorgeGregan]

The wallabies will:

• Wipe the floor with England
• Trail the All-Blacks all game and then win by a point in the dying seconds with a controversial penalty goal
• Comfortably beat South Africa who will have half their players get sin binned

You heard it here first!