The man who won the last Rugby World Cup has endorsed the All Blacks winning the World Cup

The man who won the last Rugby World Cup has endorsed the All Blacks' prospects of finally ending their 24-year drought at the global tournament in New Zealand later this year.

Former Springboks coach Jake White, who guided South Africa to their second global crown in France in 2007, has said he believes Graham Henry's team will end their series of World Cup chokes when they host the tournament for the first time since 1987.

Incidentally, 1987 was also the last occasion an All Blacks captain raised the Webb Ellis Cup.

White, who has just agreed to a four-year deal to coach the ACT Brumbies from 2012, told Radio Sport in an interview from Cape Town he had no doubts the more attack-minded New Zealanders could prevail at this year's tournament.

"The laws are definitely going to suit the All Blacks and the way they play," he said. "One of the things they've got, and has always been a bonus, is that everybody in New Zealand plays the same style of rugby.

"I've got no doubt the All Blacks are favourites. They've got a wonderful group of players, they've got a coaching staff that stayed on, they've got a settled squad unlike the rotation policy they had in '07, and they've got some wonderful players coming through.

"I think they must be firm favourites.

"Any person who understands rugby will know it's very difficult to win in New Zealand, New Zealand are the form team, New Zealand want to win the World Cup, and it's about time New Zealand won the World Cup.

"Whoever is going to go there and try to win the World Cup in New Zealand is going to have to be very, very good to take it away from a country like New Zealand in New Zealand."

White also wasn't interested in any theory that the All Blacks' mental fragility would be exposed under the pressure of expectation. He says teams that go to New Zealand banking on that will be on a fool's errand.

"If the only hope teams have of winning the World Cup is because New Zealand are going to fold then you're not going to win anyway," he told Radio Sport. "If you're banking on some other team losing before you can win it you might as well not attend.

"If you look at history, teams who host World Cups play a lot better... there are two chapters you can read. Chapter 1 says New Zealand win World Cups they host. Chapter 2 says New Zealand don't play well away from home and don't do well at World Cups. It depends which chapter you want to stick to."

But White did caution that despite the current laws benefiting the attacking style of the All Blacks that "defence is vitally important" at World Cups.

"Big calls get made by refs, and there are not a lot of tries scored from the halfway line, and not a lot of tries scored from your own try line. You've still got to get field position, still got to hold on to the ball, and still get points on the board with good goal kicking."

New Zealand Players leading up to the World Cup

New Zealand
The question of Richie McCaw's back-up has gobbled up so much attention that last week's departure of Mils Muliaina for a month with a back injury went under the radar.
Although there is no suggestion that Muliaina won't be fully restored to take his place in the World Cup starting side, the lack of anxiety over his absence speak volumes about the Kiwis' plethora of outside backs.
And the continued growth of Robbie Fruean - who will already be giving Adam Ashley-Cooper nightmares - has further complicated a selection area that is stacking up to be the most hotly contested.
Expressed simply, the likes of Fruean, Isaia Toeava, Richard Kahui, Israel Dagg, Joe Rokocoko, Rene Ranger, Cory Jane, Zac Guildford, Sitiveni Sivavatu, Hosea Gear and now Sean Maitland can't all fit into the squad.
Of those Toeva and Gear most likely booked their places with strong end-of-season tours, but the rampaging form of Fruean - not even fear could take Ashley-Cooper from his grasp, although the Brumby oddly appears to be lacking some conditioning - has put the rest on notice.
Fruean's lack of versatility might count against him, although there is nothing to say that the All Blacks coaches won't see him as a centre who can cover wing. Certainly they have gone down that path with Kahui and the sight of Fruean terrorising Australian defences in concert with giant midfield mate Sonny Bill Williams must have them purring about his potential.
We suspect it's possible that, injuries permitting, the All Blacks might add Fruean, Dagg and Sivavatu to their travelling party with the unlucky Jane and Rokocoko to miss out. What a problem to have.
There must be delight too that Fruean, along with Dagg, Maitland and Guildford, are safely housed in the Canterbury environment.
Notwithstanding its reputation for developing potential all three are being given the opportunity of playing alongside Dan Carter.
The expectation of Carter's excellence has meant that his form has been something of the untold story so far this year. But there has more than just the fine goalkicking and game control. There is an explosiveness and acceleration this year that serious injuries in the past few years might have dulled.
Relishing the extra attention Williams is bringing - probably off the field as well - Carter has been quick to spot a half gap and put the foot down. He takes on the voracious Highlanders loose forwards on Saturday, but watch how he'll be trying to exploit the lack of familiarity in their 10-12 channel. He seems back to his very best.
The same cannot be said of Conrad Smith during the entertaining but error-riddled Hurricanes v Chiefs game, but the clever No.13 is one of those players who has built up a vast amount of much capital with the selectors in recent years.
Despite a few uncharacteristic errors on Saturday, Smith remains the best defensive back in New Zealand, in the most important position, and offers the perfect foil to the power that Williams or Ma'a Nonu bring at No.12.
The injuries: Ali Williams will miss a month with a hamstring injury and McCaw's recovery from his tricky metatarsal injury is taking longer than expected, which will be no surprise to fans of English football who have watched David Beckham and Wayne Rooney struggle with similar injuries and turn up to World Cups as shadows of their former selves.
The wildcard: Last week we mentioned one Highlander lock, Jarrad Hoeata, this week it's the turn of another, Josh Bekhuis. His tussle with Sam Whitelock on Saturday could be a cracker.

All eyes already on 2011 World Cup

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JUST REWARDS: All Blacks Richie McCaw and Kieran Read in action against the Wallabies.

Once again New Zealand have been the all-conquering, supremely dominant force in world rugby yet even a Tri-Nations clean sweep and a European grand slam are viewed as a mere warm-up for the ultimate validation in 2011.
Such is rugby's obsession with the World Cup that virtually every All Black victory is examined minutely to see how it relates to their hopes of ending the pain, frustration and embarrassment of five successive World Cup failures.
In recent years, All Black coaches have tried every imaginable approach to try to build towards the World Cup but Graham Henry finally decided this time that he might as well pick his best team every week and try to win every match.
He very nearly achieved it in a year that produced 13 wins from 14 matches -- the only blip being the thrilling injury-time loss to Australia in Hong Kong in October.
That ensured Lithuania would retain their unlikely record as the team with the longest winning run of 18 tests, set this year, but still there is no doubt which team are number one.
As ever, New Zealand seemed to adapt quicker and more fully to the latest tweaks to the interpretations of the game's laws. This season, these have centred on the breakdown, where the advantage has swung back to the attacking team and so encouraged and rewarded ball-in-hand, quick-recycling, multi-phased attacks.
Having swept to a clean sweep of wins in a Tri-Nations competition that averaged 55 points per game, the All Blacks cruised to their third grand slam in five years while at times barely breaking sweat against the four home unions.
They were named International Rugby Board (IRB) team of the year, Henry was coach of the year for the fourth time and peerless flanker Richie McCaw was player of the year for the third time.
MIXED SEASON
Flyhalf Dan Carter overtook Jonny Wilkinson as the game's leading scorer and will now need to match the Englishman's famed stoicism to deal with the potentially crippling load of World Cup expectation weighing on his shoulders.
Australia ended their 10-match winless streak against their neighbours with that Hong Kong win but had a mixed season. Their scrum continues to look horribly underpowered but the uncanny ability of their backs to find holes always makes them a dangerous team as they proved spectacularly when they finished the year by thrashing France by a record 59-16 in Paris.

All Blacks beat brave Wales to complete grand slam

RICHARD KNOWLER AT MILLENNIUM STADIUM - Stuff
Last updated 08:21 28/11/2010


Action from the test at Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.
All Blacks v Wales
1 of 11 All Blacks v Wales


There were no fist-pumps, high fives or backslaps for Dan Carter as he marked his world record in a typically understated manner when the All Blacks beat Wales 37-25 to claim the grand slam in Cardiff this morning.

After kicking the ninth minute penalty that pushed past Jonny Wilkinson's mark of 1178, first five-eighth Carter simply turned his back and, in that inimitable gait of his, jogged back to prepare for the restart.

It was far from his most memorable match but when he looks back in retirement, Carter will fondly recall the day he entrenched himself into the annals of history in front of a 73,000-strong crowd that recognises a champion when they seen one.

While the player himself and his team-mates refused to display any emotion, the ground announcer paid tribute to the great No 10, the crowd broke into applause and then it was back to business.

Ironically, for a bloke who would usually blow over kicks blindfolded, Carter had a far from memorable night with the boot and missed four of his first five shots at goal before converting five from nine.

The match started on a sombre note as a minute's silence was observed in memory of the 29 miners who lost their lives in the Pike River tragedy on the West Coast and the All Blacks also wore white armbands to pay their respects.

Prior to kick-off they stated they wanted to provide their fellow New Zealanders with a glimmer of sunshine in what had been a gloomy week and raced in a try to left wing Hosea Gear in the fifth minute; it followed after right wing Isaia Toeava dashed from the other side of the park to wrap around Sonny Bill Williams and shred four weak tackles.

Hopes Carter would equal Wilkinson's record with the conversion did not eventuate but minutes later he brought up the magical milestone and on the 22nd minute mark, fullback Mils Muliaina ripped through several weak tackles to nudge his side ahead 13-3.

Predictions the All Blacks' attack would incinerate Wales' defence appeared set to come to fruition and coach Warren Gatland must have been shifting uncomfortably in his seat as he contemplated another difficult week following the previous weekend's 16-all draw against Fiji.

Instead Wales roared back with first-five Stephen Jones' boot keeping them in touch.

Jones nailed three penalties in the first half and added three more in the second as the penalty count piled-up against the All Blacks with referee Alan Lewis caning them in the breakdown and the scrums.

Bouyed by their parochial crowd in full voice, Wales trailed 23-18 with 12 minutes remaining but their hearts were broken by late tries to Toeava and replacement tighthead prop John Afoa.

Toeava's effort started from a dreadful error by Wales second-five James Hook who was ankle tapped by Mils Muliaina as he tried to clear for touch inside his 22m zone; from the resulting counter-attack the All Blacks rammed home the advantage and replacement lock Anthony Boric sailed through a gap before feeding Toeava.

There was to be more pain for the Welsh to endure when a long-range movement that involved a sweet back-pass by Jimmy Cowan to Muliaina resulted in Afoa galloping 25m to crash over between the sticks.
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While the two late tries swept the New Zealanders to victory, they also had to call on all of their defensive will to shut out their opponents when replacement flanker Daniel Braid, who replaced the injured No 8 Kieran Read, was yellow carded for not rolling away at a ruck mid-way through the second half.

Although Jones was in fine touch with the boot, Wales were only unable to add three points while the New Zealanders, down to 14 men, scored through Gear after Jones missed a kick for touch from a penalty.

For the New Zealanders it was difficult to overlook loose forward Jerome Kaino as the man of the match; he was immense, smashing bodies in defence and proving to be the Kiwis everywhere man.

Skipper Richie McCaw was his usual industrious self, while the scrum again was under immense pressure and endured a torrid time under Lewis.

Muliaina and Toeava were the pick of the New Zealand backs, while for the Welsh, once they sorted out their defensive frailties this was a brave effort.

Their pack was outstanding and for Gatland the wolves have stopped circling. For now.

All Blacks 37 (Hosea Gear 2, Mils Muliaina, Isaia Toeava, John Afoa tries; Dan Carter 3 conv, 2 pen)

Wales 25 (Lee Byrne try, Stephen Jones 6 pens, conv).

Halftime: 13-9

Defence and lightning attack key for All Blacks

TOBY ROBSON AT AVIVA STADIUM - Fairfax Media

Last updated 09:05 21/11/2010

Action from the match at Aviva Stadium.

All Blacks v Ireland

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PETER MEECHAM/Fairfax Media Zoom 

Richie McCaw, Hikawera Elliot and Liam Messam perform the haka against Ireland.
Ireland provided a reminder that even the mightiest of All Blacks sides must earn the right to spread the ball at Aviva Stadium in Dublin this morning, before eventually falling victim 38-18 to the tourists' two most impressive traits.For half an hour the All Blacks ran themselves as ragged as their opponents with a lateral attack that laid its hope in Ireland missing tackles.The haka had an extra bite perhaps the result of more pithy and ignorant criticism in the Irish press on the eve of the match, or maybe tinted by thoughts of the men trapped under a West Coast coal mine.But desperate to provide some cheer to a nation in the financial doldrums, the home team were in no mood to fall off tackles as Scotland had a week prior.The longer the scores stayed close the more the Irish belief grew.There was leg drive and technical know-how from Richie McCaw and Kieran Read and had lock Tom Donnelly not passed so early it would have been 5-0 in the first minute.But there was nothing direct enough to keep defenders at the ruck. Perhaps it was why Ma'a Nonu was unusually ineffectual in the midfield before being subbed after the break for Sonny Bill Williams.And after tackling for 32 minutes Ireland took their chance to score the first try with Jamie Heaslip popping Stephen Ferris through a hole with a forward pass for a 13-9 lead.Dan Carter's boot knocked over the fourth of his seven successes of eight kicks at goal and lock Anthony Boric scored just before the break for a 19-13 lead.And then Ireland discovered what is making this All Blacks side great, desperate defence and an ability to score in bunches.McCaw's side protect their line like a loyal dog does its owner and Jerome Kaino again showed his value to the line.Ireland didn't unravel so much as blink and the game was gone as Sam Whitelock and Kieran Read scored tries within two minutes.Ferris and wing Luke Fitzgerald collided as Kaino surged down the right hand side to put his No 8 over and two minutes later yet another piece of silky skill from wing Cory Jane under the high ball launched a counter that ended with Whitelock's third test try, all against Ireland.Suddenly it was 33-13.Brian O'Driscoll sent a message he is no spent force and was probably Ireland's best on show, his running scoop earning a try with 23 minutes to play and a shred of hope.Jane was all class on the wing after two tests on the sidelines, a danger every time he touched the ball whether in contact or running in the open field.The much talked about Nonu-Conrad Smith midfield combination never really got going and Williams again looked confident in his 22 minute cameo.Read was superb in the pack, mixing tight work with open field link play and deservedly scored on full time to stretch the winning margin.And Carter, his injured ankle no longer an issue to his kicking, gave a master class before missing his final conversion and a chance to equal England's Jonny Wilkinson as the leading test points scorer.There will be plenty for the All Blacks to review before playing Wales and first and foremost they may look at tightening up their first half efforts.  Because as they will know tries come easier if they are earned up front first and international sides do not always roll over before kick off.All Blacks 38 (Kieran Read 2, Anthony Boric, Sam Whitelock tries; Daniel Carter 4 pen 3 con)Ireland 18 (Stephen Ferris, Brian O'Driscoll tries; Jonathan Sexton 2 pen con)Halftime: 19-13

All Blacks hammer Scotland

 

RICHARD KNOWLER IN EDINBURGH - Stuff

Last updated 07:04 14/11/2010

Highlights of the All Blacks' win over Scotland at Murrayfield.

All Blacks v Scotland

1 of 13

PETER MEECHAM/Fairfax Media Zoom

All Blacks perform the haka before the match against Scotland.

  More than a century of misery against the All Blacks continued for Scotland this morning after they were pounded 49-3 at Murrayfield.

Never did the New Zealanders' 105-year unbeaten streak look in doubt, with the tourists racing in seven tries against a Scottish side that was unable to match their precision, pace and, at times, sheer audacity on attack.
For skipper Richie McCaw and Mils Muliaina it was a fine way to mark their 92^nd test appearances, which saw them match Sean Fitzpatrick's milestone, and will certainly be broken within the next two weeks as the All Blacks prepare to complete another grand slam with matches against Ireland and Wales.
The best indicator as to just how much of an easy night this was for the All Blacks coaches' hearts was when they tugged openside flanker McCaw off the field with more than 20 minutes remaining, replacing him with Daniel Braid, to place him on ice as they looked ahead to Dublin and Cardiff.
For the Scots, who looked to still be searching for their combinations and rhythm after not playing together since June, this was just too big of an ask to expect them to create history.
Rarely did they look like scoring as the All Blacks defence proved impregnable and to darken their mood there was the worrying sight of Max Evans being wheeled off the field on a buggy after injuring his neck in a tackle on No 8 Kieran Read.
A pair of tries in the opening 12 minutes immediately had Scotland backpedalling, with Hosea Gear and Dan Carter racing over and seven minutes later Mils Muliaina added to their misery when he collected the third five-pointer.
Of the three, it was difficult not to be most impressed by Gear's effort; a pearler from a scrum inside the Scottish quarter, he hared off his left wing to pluck a juicy Sonny Bill Williams delivery out of mid-air and left the mesmerised defenders staring at each other with confused looks on their faces.
Gear had to work harder for the All Blacks' fourth try, although even he would have been surprised at the way the passive Scottish tacklers happily waved him through after he changed his angle and chopped infield unchallenged.
Four converted tries inside the first half hour and the match was over.
It was little wonder Scotland coach Andy Robinson was spotted out of his seat and leaning against a wall, looking as if he had just learned his superannuation fund had been plundered.
Granted, the All Blacks' dedication to eradicating the errors that had blotted their second half performance against England the previous weekend had paid dividends, but the Scotland defence was sadly lacking in desire.
From the opening whistle the New Zealanders signalled their attacking intent as they several times unleashed the ball towards Isaia Toeava's right wing in a bid to perforate the stretched Scotland defensive line.
One decent break by Toeava preceded a sweeping attack and it was Williams who gave him the vital space down a narrow channel near the touchline as he somehow flipped out a pass to the wing.
Prior to this match Williams expressed an eagerness to get more involved; having worn the No 13 jersey against England last weekend at Twickenham, the former rugby league star looked more comfortable at the familiar second five-eighth operating inside centre Conrad Smith.
The 25-year-old wowed the 56,807-strong crowd with his sheer audacity as he repeatedly untangled his long arms, and with hands the size of buckets, squeezed the ball out to his support runners.
Muliaina was another benefactor of the Williams magic as he crossed over for the penultimate try and Smith could also give the big nod of approval after he was involved in the movement that led to his five-pointer too.
All Blacks 49 (Hosea Gear 2, Mils Muliaina 2, Dan Carter, Conrad Smith, Andy Ellis tries; Carter 5 conv, Stephen Donald 2 conv)
Scotland 3 (Dan Parks pen).
Halftime: 28-3.