Antidote NZ

Seems disingenuous to mention the sympathetic referees of 2011 and 2015 while failing to mention the referee of 2007 or the Lions debacle.

I am the worst tipper in the world and when I put a bet on I always lose. I predict that NZ will lose their opening game to South Africa, then Ireland will knock us out in the QF. There, now it cant happen...

Biggest threat is the loss of Wayne Smith.

Claiming all the other teams except South Africa and Argentina are peppered with foreign players is a cheeky way of claiming NZ is guilty of player theft like the European sides. The fact is this is a lie perpetuated by Stephen Jones and Mark Reason when teams like Ireland and England are stealing players from NZs professional ranks, something incomparable to a person whos come to NZ with their parents as a toddler or voluntarily came here as a high school kid and made it like Naholo. Mark needs to admit there is a major difference. Reality is that a ban needs to be imposed of 7 years on a pro relocating before they are eligible to play for the country thats not the country of their birth. Another words if you are selected in super rugby and play then you can go play offshore as a pro but have no ability to play for that country for seven years unless its the country of your birth and the biggie... That country isnt allowed to approach you or pay you directly or indirectly an inducement to shift there unless its the country if your birth. Mark is also lying about the NZ player base, its larger in the UK and just as big in other countries.

I also have a feeling it may be an All Blacks-Springboks final.Both are obviously experimenting for the World Cup, will be playing in conditions probably more suitable than for NH teams, have a history of WC success, and cant meet in the QFs or SF.It is hard to write off Ireland, given how good they are right now, but they do have ageing players and lack of depth in certain positions, crucially 9 and 10. Although they have the worst WC record of any tier 1 nation, I dont think that will be a factor psychologically - but they may just have peaked too early relative to the other contenders.

the all blacks only face 4 real threats at this world cupEnglandSouth AfricaIrelandThemselves And looking at the list I might have it upside down

So NZ were gifted the 2011/15 world cups,according to Reason.Hilarious.This is the myth northerners constantly espouse to downgrade NZs wins.Where was the outcry after the 1995 final? Or the 2007 QF? We ( NZ) were told to get over it.Maybe the poms should try practicing what they preach.

There might be some other teams that will be the top dog, but not for many years. ABs always comes back, usually sooner than later.

The 2015 final Ref was sympathetic? Frankly it was fairly one-sided until he sympathetically sent Ben Smith to the bin. Aussie scored both their tries in those 10 minutes. Yknow the team that only got to the final on a huge Ref howler.The one who got the most Ref sympathy was Sekope Kepu, who managed a late charge, and not one, not two, but three head high tackles, two of which involved a swinging arm.

Thames Valley is in NZ, right? You may have found Gatland coaching there in 1994, after he finished playing in NZ, where he learnt how to play rugby during his 140 games for Waikato and 17 games for the All Blacks. Likewise, Schmidt wasnt unheard of in NZ, having played provincial rugby and coached the NZ schoolboys and Bay of Plenty. Most coaches that win the Ranfurly Shield have been heard of. Nice try claiming the colonists as your own, but in your words Way to simplistic an arguement[sic]

the go - to for a pom.I wonder how good Englands sports teams would have been over the years without all the West Indians,africans,and antipodeans.The biggest poachers of foreign talent would be the poms.Bar none.

Do you mean the North and South Islands?

NZ, supplying the world with rugby players and coaches so the rest of the world can be competitive.

The issue of the ABs form is a difficult one. Its probably less so much a poorer form from the ABs, but more an improving standard of rugby all round by the first tier teams - perhaps except France who seem to be the only team that has really struggled to maintain momentum in the last 4-6 years. Even so, they have knocked the ABs off their perch before so Id say be wary of them still. But agree on the #1 threat which is the refereeing. Sure, its a tough job and I think refs get far too much flak than they deserve. But wasnt consistency of refereeing the whole reason for bringing in the TMO? Sadly, since their introduction theyve only made the inconsistencies of before much worse. The IRB needs to look to cricket for how TMOs should work - you dont get nearly the same sort of controversy in that game when the Third Umpire is called (though the game has issues in other areas notably match fixing).

Until the ABs sort out a way to counter the rush defence - they are vulnerable. Great defense always beats great offense.

So its just a coincidence theyre NZers then? And that the NHs improvement has come at a time when their teams are filled with NZ players and coaches?Nice try...

The Allblacks like the Americas cup arent showing their approach until late next year.

30 years? Do you mean 130 years!

Agreed, South Africa have the physical presence to dominate any side. Still play old style rugby which is to dominate their opposite, and commit players to the breakdown by clearing out the opposition.

You could not be more wrong. He was very well thought of as a future top coach here well before his poaching by the north. You may not have heard of him, but those in the rugby circles were well aware of his talents. Obviously so to were those more astute in rugby than you from the north.