Rugby Update: All Blacks top favourite for RWC 2011
According to a recent poll, statistics reveal that All Blacks are the top favourite to win the upcoming Rugby World Cup. To be precise 70.4 % votes have been casted in favour of All Blacks. Kiwis have blind faith in the team and are sure that All Blacks
will win the Rugby World Cup on their home soil.
All Blacks’ website revealed their 2011 calendar which included Tri Nations, Super Rugby tournament and also the Northern Hemisphere competitions. Understandably, all the attention will be at the World Cup as the first match kicks off on 9th September.
Former All Blacks Sir Collin Meads and Andy Haden were recently interviewed. They believed that their old team would have hoisted the Webb Ellis Cup. However, both of the ex-players think that All Blacks captain Richie McCaw and Daniel Carter are central to
the hopes of Kiwis.
Meads said, "On present form the All Blacks are the form team in the world at the moment but, you know, the World Cup is another year away.” New Zealand is looking very good on the pitch and still has that dominating attitude still alive in them.
Meads further added, “The only thing I can see interfering with us winning it will be injuries. If we were to lose Richie McCaw and Dan Carter, we would be in trouble."
Haden thinks that the team that won Grand Slam was actually All Black’s best ever team to appear in a World Cup. It’s the same team that scored a record score of 141 against Japan. Haden made it clear that it doesn’t mean the current team is not capable
to do so, but if either Daniel Carter or Richie McCaw is out due to injury then the chances of making it to the title will be demolished. In addition, from the most awaited matches of World Cup Rugby is the match between All Blacks and Wallabies. Australia
is the fiercest and the most dangerous Tri Nation rival for All Blacks this year.
The polling further revealed few more stats that included the greatest threat for All Blacks. Australia got 45.5% votes; Springboks got 24.7% votes, while France and England got 5.5 and 8% respectively. Springboks are expected to spring back this year after
their 32-12 defeat in Auckland from All Blacks recently. Revenge has always been a must for All Blacks. It was the match that assisted All Blacks 2010 destiny and mended the previous damage. Meads believe that it was the best match played by New Zealand in
past 20 or even 30 years. Meads then added, "We really thrashed them in every position and it gave our fellas the confidence to go through the year.”
South Africa is a very dangerous side and kills the opponent on the field, especially when it’s for revenge. “I think it sort of demoralised them, but South Africa will come back, you just wait and see."
said Meads.
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