With just over four months before the Rugby World Cup kicks off in England, let’s see how the top three sides from each hemisphere are shaping up.
New Zealand
An obvious place to start given they are the current holders and world number 1 side.
To put it simply, they look frightening. It only takes a cursory glance at this year’s Super Rugby to see the outstanding depth of talent on offer to the All Blacks.
To start with they have four world class number 10s to choose from. Their talent in this position is so scary that the man rated as the world’s best 10 for many years, Dan Carter, is playing at 12 for the Crusaders to accommodate the excellent Colin Slade.
That is not to mention second rowers who can run 60-70 metres, fending off four challengers to score a try like Sam Whitlock, or a 36-year-old, 123-Test veteran hooker throwing a no-look pass to open up the opposition defence.
Australia
The Wallabies look vulnerable. Getting out of a group that includes England and Wales will be an achievement in itself. Unlike the All Blacks there is no world-class number 10 on offer. Even though there are other top-class players in the backline such as Kurtley Beale and Israel Folau who can break a game open, not having a top-class playmaker may hurt the Aussies.
Scrum time is also likely to be a key, area with both the English and the Welsh having imposing front fives. This isn’t a strong point with the Wallabies and will need to be resolved to ensure they aren’t exposed.
South Africa
The Springboks will be strong and always put in good World Cup performances. An impressive pack mixed with talented backs make this side one everybody will be looking to avoid come the knock-out stages.
Losing to Wales on last year’s spring tour will no doubt have been a blow to their confidence but they have an easy group that they should top.
They’ll have a tough quarter final against either Australia/England/Wales, then if they get through that a likely semi-final against the All Blacks, who have the wood on them – although who don’t New Zealand have the wood on?
England
In recent years they have been underachievers which carried on during the recent Six Nations.
Their big decision will be who to play at 10. The young George Ford performed well during the recent tournament but his kicking let him down. The other option is the very reliable boot of Owen Farrell but with ball in hand he is unlikely to be the man to unlock a tight defence in a crucial game.
They have a strong pack that will give plenty of teams a headache at scrum time. They should have enough to overcome the Wallabies and the Welsh, especially playing at home, but the real Test will come against the Springboks and All Blacks.
Wales
The crash-and-bash philosophy of coach Warren Gatland has served Wales well in recent years but in big games you sometimes need a plan B and this has often been Wales’ undoing. This is especially true against the Southern Hemisphere teams, against which they have a terrible record.
They have great leadership in the form of inspirational captain Sam Warburton and second rower Alun Wyn Jones. They won’t miss too many penalties if Leigh Halfpenny stays fit, and George North is a monster on the wing.
They are in the much talked about ‘group of death’, but I fancy them to have just enough to beat the Wallabies in a very tight game.
Ireland
Led by their talisman Paul O’Connell the current Six Nations champions could be a dark horse. They have the best number 10 in the northern hemisphere in Johnny Sexton and the best kicking scrum half in Conor Murray. Much will rest on their shoulders.
Injuries to any of their best players could expose a lack of depth in Irish rugby but their best XV is a match for any team bar the All Blacks.
Like the Welsh they can become a little too one-dimensional but their defence is notoriously hard to crack.
Matthew Skellett
Guest
South Africa look very good this time Fiji might prove a surprise . It would be interesting to see Skelton and Arnold work in tandem -doing da 'construction crane' trick against opposing rolling mauls lol Hope Cheiks gets them in a cohesive whole to be real contenders this cycle :-)
Alan
Roar Guru
Any thoughts on the Pumas Andy. My tip for them to upset Ireland or France in quarter-finals...
Birdy
Guest
Not the 'playing numbers' nonsense again Sheek. I'm not even going to bother...........
Birdy
Guest
Do you guys actually watch any NH rugby; or just assume what happens based on gut-feeling and views you formed 20 years ago? If you don't watch any, fine, but stop commenting on it with such certainty. Ireland are playing very effective rugby; they're not, by any stretch of the imagination, playing 'marvelous and attractive rugby'. I presume because they have a Kiwi coach the assumption is they're playing lots of 'ball-in-hand' stuff. Ireland kicked the leather off th4e ball in the last 6N and copped a lot of criticism for being 'boring'.
sheek
Roar Guru
Yes, I did have a crack at England, but there's frustration there, as a neutral observer. England created the game & have produced many wonderful players. They have, on occasion, even played an entertaining style. But they are just so damned frustrating. My comment about snatching mediocrity from excellence wasn't a jibe, even if it appears so, but a frustration that a potentially great rugby nation, can so often get it completely wrong. My frustration with Australian rugby is another matter altogether!
Johnny Boy Jnr
Guest
The good news is Kaplan & Bryce are gone The Kings of Biased and incompetent refereeing respectively Hooray!
Harry Jones
Expert
Louw has been in top form as Bath captain. He's one of the first guys Meyer will pick.
Johnny Boy Jnr
Guest
Mike, take your blue jersey off and open your eyes. Robinson is finished. Two consecutive Wallaby coaches feel the same way. All of these posters are providing stats and you're providing garbage. Time for you to log off
Johnny Boy Jnr
Guest
100% agreed
Johnny Boy Jnr
Guest
This Beale nonsense has to stop for the love of God. He has been a myth for several seasons now and should be nowhere near the 23 of the top 5 test nations. The players to unlock defences are really only Cooper, Kuridrani and Folau. Although prepared to hear a counter argument to Cooper as he has hardly played in a gold jersey since the 2013 Spring Tour. O'Connor has made a couple of good breaks but still doesn't seem as dangerous since returning from injury in 2012
wardad
Guest
Hahahaha you really kicked your own pompous butt there eh ? Sports mad pom from Adelaide is about as far from pom kickinn Kiwi as you can get .
wardad
Guest
"Oh lord its hard to be humble ,our teams perfect in evrey waaaayyy!' with apologies to Charley Pride . Should we tug the forelock a bit then ?
Taylorman
Guest
Hi ha Luke. Yes I think of all players sexton is the most valuable for any one side. Ireland place a huge amount of their success on Sexton. He's the type of player that could emerge as one of the best from this tournament. Sure hope he doesn't get injured before we get to see him manage Ireland around the field. Best Irish chance ever I think this year.
Good Game
Guest
Maybe a little too humble.
Serge Blanco
Guest
Eh oui, The french have been "dreadful" for the past couple of years. Looks ominous. Allez les bleus!
Not Bothered
Guest
And it wont happen. Usually the biggest detractors of players playing in the NH are people who dont watch it and simply dont know what they are talking about.
Tycoch
Guest
Whoever wins Pool of Death has reasonable path to final. Runner up in Pool of Death will likely have to go through Boks and ABs to reach final.
Tycoch
Guest
France have been dreadful for last couple of years.
Peter Hughes
Guest
Nothing has changed since last November - nothing, NZ are No 1 - daylight 2nd and will win the RWC unless they choke. SA are their most likely Final opposition imo. Aust will be lucky to make it out of their pool & won't progress past the quarter final. I see no improvement in scrummaging & Tight 5 forward play or available talent. In the northern hemisphere backs play 2nd fiddle to forwards.
Mike
Guest
Sorry the minutes I gave above are quite wrong and not what I intended to write - he has played much longer than that against both.