Does anyone think the All Black's have peaked to early for next year's world cup ?

Question

Does anyone think the All Black's have peaked to early for next year's world cup ?

Answer 1

Naah i dont think that they've peaked too early. If you look at England in the last world cup, they were ranked one in the world well before the world cup in Australia. I feel the same for the All Blacks, plus they have strength in depth throughout their squad. But we can still hope that they have peaked too early!

Answer 2

I sure as h**l hope so! Lets face it if they haven't then no team on the planet is going to be able to live with them. However, in the last two World Cups they have peaked during the qualifiers and then got over confident. In both their semi-finals against France in '99 and Australia in '03 they have been the favourites and yet somehow been surprised by the other team's desire to win and failed to make the final. So even when they are at their best they are fallible. Here's hoping!!

Answer 3

Yes they always seem to do it

Answer 4

Its hard to say, they have created a benchmark.  It would be good to see the progress they could make if they get it together, and string together passes.  Leon Mc Donald was making good breaks up field but they didn't capitalise, Joe Rocokoko was open on several occasions but no one was supplying him with good ball.  They have to improve their line outs but apart from that a sound performance, not outstanding but good.

Next years Rugby World Cup is a year away and who knows what will happen.  I'm not confident after all the failures they have had in world cups but who knows it could be different next year.

Answer 5

They will keep improving and look good for next years world cup, its crazy they werent even favourites for the tri nations

Answer 6

No, this team's capabilities have far from peaked.

They need to realise themselves though that this is still a team in progress. Early success could hurt their chances.

To be honest they have beat 2 teams at their lowest for years. Thinking that's success would be folly.

NZ might make the final next year, if they don't choke on another wallaby. But France will win the Web Ellis Cup.

My own Sweet Chariot will perform well compared to the previous few years (rebuilding). But the sledging will continue any chance the Antipodeans get.

I didn't see the Bledisloe game, but wonder how many boos there were for the drop-goal.

Answer 7

No, with the fact that they as a nation have 2 brilliant teams witch they rotate the amount of games that they will play as players are cut to half, if you compare it with Australia and South Africa, both these countries are playing their best XV's week in and week out for example: Before the world cup a guy like S.Larkham will have played in 22Test matches whilst Dan Carter with the All Black rotation system will only have played in 12 Test matches, the same goes for a number of their big game players. I think, come the World Cup next year the All Black will play the same, if not better rugby than they are at the moment.

Cheers Schuan