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'I'm personally not as optimistic as I have been for any of the other World Cups'
By Ned Lester
It’s been an eventful World Cup cycle for the All Blacks, with historic wins and losses in the bank and while the team never strays far from the Rugby World Cup favourites debate, this year more than ever, the famous black jersey has been named on the outside looking in when projecting the tournament’s winner.
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In between retaining The Rugby Championship each year, New Zealand have suffered debut losses to Argentina, both abroad and on home soil, a maiden match and series loss to Ireland at home, and most recently, their largest-ever defeat thanks to a ferocious Springbok performance at Twickenham.
The believers have kept faith but the results have seen a fair amount of doubters state their worries.
New Zealand-raised former Springbok halfback Kevin Putt has added his voice to the chorus of concerns over the All Blacks’ World Cup chances while lending the discussion some perspective.
“You’ve got Brian O’Driscoll, who is saying ‘shivers, this is Ireland’s time but I’m scared of New Zealand’,” Putt told SENZ when asked to rate the All Blacks’ World Cup chances out of 10. “Going over to the UK, you’ve got a couple of the top players hitting us with this ‘but, New Zealand, but New Zealand’.
“I think they’re more scared of us than we are actually optimistic of our own chances in this World Cup. I won’t write the All Blacks off at any given stage.
“I’d put us up there around about a seven, but I’ve got to be honest, I’m personally not as optimistic as I have been for any of the other World Cups that I’ve been to.”
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The infamous All Blacks aura is enough to make teams wary, and that’s what has commanded the opponent’s respect more so than any recent form in the eyes of Putt.
“Our history is enough to put the fear up anyone, you don’t become a successful team and then become a crap team overnight.”
The pundit shed further light on his lack of optimism over New Zealand’s World Cup campaign.
“For me, it’s actually come around from the dismantling by a couple of teams that have played us.
“Ireland’s up there as the top team in the world, when they came to New Zealand we gave them one smack at Eden Park and then by goodness did they not only turn it around, in one week, you can sort of write it off.
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“They dominated the ruck and the defence and that’s what scares me about them.
“This is going to be a World Cup that’s dominated, I’d love to say it will be about expansive play and all the rest and some of the pool play may be that, but to win it, it’s going to be around how you handle those dark places; The defence around rucks, the pick and go.
“Ireland are the best team from five meters out in the world, they keep the ball, they’re tough. So that’s what I’m nervous about. We’ve been dismantled by them, we’ve been beaten by France, in France quite convincingly previously.
“So, I’m picking snippets of big games, not how we play against Australia – I mean who cares?”
I'm South African and agree I think the AB has lost that fear factor they held over say France & Ireland, with the Boks it was mutual respect as they new the Boks can beat them on any given day. My heart is with the Boks but if I was a betting man you have to go with the AB's. My prediction Boks - All Blacks final as in 1995, then because I'm a Bok supporter I would say it is fair to call it 50/50.
The All Black's will meet SA in the quarters and produce another RC 2023 type performance to cruise into the semis. The permutations are just too numerous to predict what happens after that. The Australians are coming off a shocking run but they somehow always manage to gel come the RWC, a dark horse for a finals birth in my book.
Think the Boks will come second in their pool after Ireland and will play France, meaning Ireland will play All Blacks. Don’t think All Blacks stand a chance vs Ireland. This WC is Irelands to lose - they’re the most polished side in all facets, they’re on a whole different level.
Should be picking a bigger loose forward trio good bye cane no disrespect but you’re just not dominant or good enough