All Blacks Rugby World Cup 2007

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When All Black captain David Kirk held the William Webb Ellis trophy aloft after the All Blacks' win at the 1987 Rugby World Cup, nobody would have thought that twenty years on, Kiwi rugby supporters would still be waiting for a second New Zealand World Cup triumph. That, however, has proved to be, and the All Blacks travel to France with the pressure of history and the expectation of their supporters that 2007 will be the year for a New Zealand All Blacks win.

The form of the All Blacks

Over the past two years, with two Tri-Nations championships and an unbeaten tour of England, Wales and France, the All Blacks are justifiable favourites for the World Cup 2007. The team selected by Allblacks coach Graeme Henry has had an unprecedented preparation, including a controversial withdrawal of the bulk of players from the Southern hemisphere Super 14 competition. Every possible step has been taken to ensure they land in France as the fittest, strongest and best prepared team ever to leave New Zealand.

The Rugby World Cup contenders

Of the opposition, there are four teams who provide the biggest threat:

• England have struggled a little since their triumph in 2003. However they show signs of a return to the juggernaut of that year, with maestro Jonny Wilkinson behind an enormous pack.
• South Africa, 1995 winners, will be well rested and as tough and abrasive as ever.
• France have beaten England recently; a final against them on October 20 at the Stade de France would be an enormous test for the All Blacks.
• Australia, with mercurial captain George Gregan ever keen to assist the referee, have New Zealand supporters nervous. (There is always a feeling that when games between these old rivals are at their toughest All Black skill is equalled, and sometime surpassed, by Aussie cunning!)

Team All Blacks 2007

So what of the team in black that will represent the aspirations of 4 million Kiwis? The front row has not been equalled at scrum time in the last couple of years. New Zealand All Blacks Captain Richie McCaw is considered by many to be the best loose forward in the world. The acceptance of his interpretation of the tackled ball rules by tournament referees will be vital. Lineouts have not always operated smoothly for the All Blacks and injury to Chris Jack or Ali Williams could be devastating. The loose forwards are dynamic in both defence and attack, but there is a nagging feeling amongst some supporters that being shorter and smaller than some of the other leading teams may be a disadvantage.

In the backs the All Blacks provide a mix of the sublime and the ordinary, occasionally in the same match. The three halfbacks selected are all reliable, without being world leaders. At his best, Dan Carter (at fly half) is unparalleled, and his form will be of huge importance to the All Blacks team. His back-ups, Nick Evans and Luke McAllister, are hugely talented players themselves. The mid-field, however, has been of concern for some time; the Aussies have targeted this area and succeeded in unsettling the All Blacks. Wingers Joe Rokocoko, Sitiveni Sivivatu and Doug Howlett are as good at finishing as any in World Cup France and the fullbacks, McDonald and Muliaina are two excellent practitioners at the back.

So, is this team good enough? Does it justify the RWC favouritism? The answer must be yes, but with some reservations. The All Blacks 2007 have skill across the board. They are talented, tremendously fit, well coached and well led. They will set the tournament alive in the earlier rounds, with sublime running rugby football. They will attempt to carry that football into the quarter finals and beyond. Should all go well, they will sweep aside all opposition. However, should some unforeseeable events occur - extreme wet weather, referee interpretations that rattle or an inspired opposition, as with France in 1999 - the real mettle of this team will be tested to breaking point. Then, Allblack supporters will hunch over the edge of their seats in the darkness of the early hours, exhorting their lads to end the drought of twenty years. If you can't be in France clutching your World Cup tickets, be there on the couch with the rest of us. Go All Blacks!

All Blacks out of Rugby World Cup 2007

New Zealand's hopes were dashed on Sunday 7th October when France produced a second-half comeback to win the quarter final against the All Blacks, 20-18.

In the first 30 minutes, New Zealand was up 13-0 against the French, but lost their game in the second half. All Blacks captain Richie McCaw couldn't explain the defeat (France had earlier been beaten by Argentina), saying: "I'm lost for words. With France we always knew they could come back in the second half. We lost our composure. I thought we could get it back."

The French gained ground on New Zealand just eleven minutes from time, when Yannick Jauzion scored a try with the help of replacement fly half, Frederic Michalak. The conversion by Jean-Baptiste Elissalde brought the score to 20-18 in the final minutes of the match. In the last desperate minutes, New Zealand full-back Leon MacDonald tried, but failed to make a field goal, which would have won the match for the All Blacks.

So, what went wrong? The result was strangely reminiscent of 1999's semi-final failure, when the All Blacks lost 43-31 to France at Twickenham. The latest loss - the worst in our World Cup history - has been equally devastating for the team, with McCaw echoing the sentiments of every All Black fan: "It's a day you try to forget." The team didn't play badly, but they failed to play well enough. Possession of the ball, good scrums, well-placed line-outs, continuity of play - all of this wasn't enough to translate into points for the All Blacks. Coupled with controversial refereeing decisions and a questionable management decisions, the All Black fall from glory was sudden and has been devastating for players, coaches and supporters.

The "greatest rugby side on earth" will have trouble now dismissing the 'choker' taunts. Our one and only World Cup win was at the inaugural competition in 1987, when we hosted the tournament and were the most professional rugby team in the world. Today, sports commentator Brendan Gallagher notes that the All Blacks must "get over themselves and take a long hard look at the way the rest of the rugby world perceives them." Harsh but true? They may be the most consistently high-performing team in the world, but do they buckle under pressure when it counts or let their arrogance trip them up?

France went on to face old rivals England who had driven the Australians out of the running, beating them 14-9 to end any chance of a Southern Hemisphere win.

New Zealand now looks to 2011 when the Rugby World Cup will be held on home turf.

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Sports images from Flickr: All Blacks Haka, Yachts and Cricket.