Former New Zealand captain Sean Fitzpatrick believes England and Ireland possess the greatest threat to ending the All Blacks’ hegemony at this year’s Rugby World Cup.
New Zealand are overwhelming favourites to clinch a third successive crown in Japan later this year but the natural order was disturbed by Ireland clinching a famous win over the Kiwis in Dublin last November.
Defeat for New Zealand came just a week after they were pushed all the way by England, who have beaten Ireland and France in the Guinness Six Nations recently.
The 1987 World Cup winner Fitzpatrick expects both northern hemisphere sides as well as Wales – currently on an 11-match winning sequence – to shine on the global stage.
But he thinks no top-tier nation can be ruled out of contention at a tournament where none of them can boast home advantage.
“No disrespect to Japan because they can beat the big boys as we saw in 2015 (when they defeated South Africa) but it’s the first neutral World Cup in terms of the home advantage,” the former All Blacks captain told Press Association Sport:
“The All Blacks are the defending champions, they probably are still the team to beat and I say that every World Cup.
“I always thought that the major challenge would come from the northern hemisphere and I still think that after what happened in the autumn and what’s happening in the Six Nations.
“England have really gone to another level, Ireland have real depth and to win World Cups, you need depth, and Ireland’s got that without question and so have England.
“I just think that England and especially Ireland have got our number in terms of the way we play the game. They play the game similar to us.
“You throw those two in there along with Wales, who are on the most unbelievable winning streak at the moment, and then you’ve got South Africa and you can never write Australia off. It’s going to be hugely, hugely competitive.”
Riccardo
Roar Rookie
Knock out football is a different beast from a Test Series for a start. While fans and bookies will pontificate on various favourites the real favourite won't be known till after the pool rounds at least. I would suggest that the best prepared team, that also has experience at the pointy end of this tournament, and crucially, who have the best depth across the paddock is who to put your money on and even then knock-out football could still change that outcome. As a three-peat is virtually impossible statistically, combined with a real resurgence in the North, one of Wales, Ireland and of course the Roses appear to be most likely. Add in the Boks, because... they're the Boks, along with the defending champions, and you have mouthwatering semi-finals with one of Ireland, Wales or England to bow out earlier.
Old Bugger
Guest
Aaaaah Henry if only the balls were honey filled then we'd all forget about the 2 converted tries that were throw-aways in that game......but who cares cos last year was then and it's done and dusted. This year is new and what needs dusting needs to be done. I don't think there'd be 14pts to throw-away this time.
Lara
Guest
The biggest game at the RWC besides the final is a pool game in the first week. The Boks n ABs , that result will cause major headaches for some teams. If the Boks win n they can,the ABs will be one wrecking ball team n with their depth , they can go hard from the quarters n play 3 tough games in a row , without losing to much....sure would be interesting to watch .
ScottD
Roar Guru
No matter which way you look at it the 2019 RWC is going to be a cracker. I am looking forward to my trip to Japan immensely Personally I am tipping a NZ v SA final
HenryHoneyBalls
Guest
You would think that alright however, NZ did lost to 7th ranked SA in New Zealand last year so there is always room for an upset.
TragicallySupportive
Roar Rookie
So, the teams ranked #2 and #3 are the most likely to beat the team ranked #1 to win the tournament? I would have thought that’s implied by the rankings.
ShaghaiDoc
Guest
PS Hopefully by November STOPs will have to use their arms in the tackle like the rest of the world.
Paton
Guest
Ireland has never been past the QF's and fellow serial chokers, the Slave Trading Opium Pushers, will need Wayne Barnes to beat the Kiwis. He has officiated more NZL losses than all other living whistleblowers. Quite an NH asset. If incompetent and biased referees don't intervene it looks like a re-run of the 2011 RWC Lottery where two qualifiers from the same group play each other in the final. 2011 NZL v FRA 2019 NZL v RSA Hopefully, two of Argentina, Oz, Samoa, or Fiji will make up the semi-finals to reinforce the emphatic dominance of the SH during the last Lottery.
Jigbon
Guest
Let’s be clear Australia are out and out favourites. No argument there. None of those teams have a chance against the wallabies. Zip.None.
CUW
Roar Rookie
i think its the team that has most experience who usually performs best at world cups - in any game. caps matter in a contest that goes into a couple of months in the same place with many mental things come into play. in cricket for eg - the long tours tend to take out a lot from players' mental capacity.
Old Bugger
Guest
I'm really not worried whether the ABs have the favourites tag come 2019 RWC kick-off. Why? Because it's taken them the best part of nearly a decade plus to learn how to live with and learn from, having that notoriety. The biggest positive is that over that same time-frame, no other side has approached an RWC season, with that tag and the onus will be upon those same sides, to live and learn how to hold that notoriety, when the big-show actually kicks off. It won't be easy and my tip would be on the side that handles that pressure the best....just watch them all tip the ABs as the side to beat and yet during this same decade, 4 or is it 5 teams, have achieved such an outcome but, have never been able to do so, at the big-show since 2007. That's a lot of experience built over a decade and a lot of learnings for the ABs to use, when that pressure starts to build.
Ryan
Roar Rookie
All Blacks favourites based on statistics, form and depth.
Ralph
Roar Guru
Anyone claiming anyone else is an overwhelming favourite is blowing wind up your skirt, or just pushing their own agenda.
Ryan
Roar Rookie
World Champions NZ will win in a canter - Ireland or England second.
Ralph
Roar Guru
"New Zealand are overwhelming favourites to clinch a third successive crown" No, no, no, England are clear out and out favourites. Or Ireland.