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Ex-Wallabies coach believes All Blacks are ‘very capable of winning' World Cup
By Finn Morton
Former Wallabies coach Robbie Deans believes the All Blacks are “very capable of winning” this year’s Rugby World Cup, but said the stars may align for the French.
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Ahead of the 10th instalment of the Rugby World Cup, there’s a fair bit of uncertainty about the how tournament may play out. The event has never been this competitive, and that’s great for the sport.
Many rugby fans around the world expect northern hemisphere heavyweights Ireland and France to challenge for the Webb Ellis Trophy, but they’ll have to rewrite history to do so.
World No. 1 Ireland have never made it past the quarter-final stage of a Rugby World Cup. Looking back four years, many expected them to at least make the semis – but they lost to the All Blacks.
As for France, they’re widely considered to be the favourites going into this year’s event on home soil.
But the All Blacks can’t be forgotten or underestimated.
Following a disastrous start to last year’s international campaign, the men in black turned a corner to finish their end-of-season tour on a seven Test unbeaten run.
New Zealand appear to be building quite nicely ahead of the sports most prestigious event, and former Crusaders coach Robbie Deans believes they can “get the job done.”
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“We have ample talent to get the job done but obviously there’ll be elements of chance, elements of luck and that’s what captured the interest of everyone,” Deans told SENZ Mornings.
“The All Blacks look very capable of winning it for sure.”
But again, Les Bleus are considered to be the favourites for a reason.
While their impressive winning streak was brought to an end during the Six Nations earlier this year, the threat that they pose hasn’t wavered at all.
Led by star halfback Antoine Dupont, France will go into the World Cup with plenty of confidence and belief.
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“The French do look formidable because they’ve got depth, playing at home and the fact that they’ve never won it, that factor is relevant,” Deans added.
“They’ve got the blend of depth, of belief, the chance of creating history, they’re playing at home – we’ve experienced that.
“The fact that they’ll believe the stars are aligned is critical for the psyche of the French; if the stars are aligned nothing will stop them.
“But they do have a history of getting in their own way as well, so how they manage the mind will be pivotal.”
The opening match of this year’s Rugby World Cup will pit two traditional rivals against one another.
New Zealand, who have never lost a pool match, will take on hosts France in Paris on September 8th.
Never rule out the Flying Fijians to reach the Semis