The statistics don't lie and they make for very happy reading if you are a All Blacks supporter. Post 2007 Rugby World Cup New Zealand have played 43 matches, winning 36 and losing 7. That gives them a winning percentage of 83.72%. Scary stuff for sure, and when one looks back to the pre-2007 RWC stats they seem very similar. Played 43, won 38 and lost 5 equaling a 88.37% winning percentage.
Having said that we all know what happened in both those Rugby World Cups and we also know that the All Blacks went into those competitions as overwhelming favourites. The NZ public expected them to win and so did the rest of the rugby world.
The reasons I mention this should be fairly obvious. In light of what happened this weekend with the Crusaders against the Sharks at Twickenham some familiar memories came to the fore for me. I recall that before the last two RWC's New Zealand Rugby had never seemed stronger. They had most of the best players and still managed to fall short of the ultimate prize. The Crusaders made everything look so easy and the All Blacks did the same whenever they took to the field, and things seem pretty similar at the moment. The Crusaders play with such confidence, bordering on arrogance and a look I have seen before the previous two RWC's.
There is no denying that the All Backs have been the best team in the world for a very long time, but history has a funny way of repeating itself.
Don't be to surprised if we get to witness what would be the worlds biggest choke ever later this year.
I hear you boet! I really reckon if they dont win it this year they never going too. They have one of the strongest pool of players I have ever seen in my life. But only time will tell hey, plus we know how to beat NZ so if we do meet them, the pressure will be on them. Going to be very interesting!
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