New Zealand - The All Blacks
Team Preview
Coach:
Graham Henry
Previous World Cups:
1987, 1991, 1995, 1999, 2003
Best Performance:
Champion 1987
Played:
31 - 26 wins, 5 losses
World Ranking:
No.1
Fixtures:
v Italy, Marseille, September 8
v Portugal, Lyon, September 15
v Scotland, Edinburgh, September 23
v Romania, Toulouse, September 29
Facts:
1. All Blacks winger Jonah Lomu holds the record for most tries scored in World Cup rugby with 15.
2. Lomu has also scored more touchdowns than anybody else in a single competition, with eight in 1999.
3. Five-eighth Simon Culhane scored a tournament-record 20 conversions against Japan on debut in 1995 and was dropped for the next match.
4. New Zealand, which co-hosted the inaugural competition with Australia, will also stage the next World Cup in 2011.
5. The All Blacks are the top-ranked side in the world and were the IRB's 2006 Team of the Year.
Key Players:
DAN CARTER
The 25-year-old Christchurch native dominates the points columns of most matches he plays, courtesy of a seemingly unerring left foot.
However, the dead eye is complemented by a quick mind and ball-handling talents to open up the three-quarter line. His nose for a try and ability to break the defensive lines time and again leaves opponents unable to predict what he will do next, nor respond, when he has ball in hand.
Four years ago Jonny Wilkinson was considered the rugby world's premier five-eighth but the combination of injuries that have restricted his number of outings and the way Carter has improved rank the All Black the current best in the No.10.
RICHIE MCCAW
While New Zealand lacks a dominating lock such as Johnson, Richie McCaw's leadership and expertise of the dark arts of the openside role gains the tournament favourite an advantage.
The 26-year-old combines strong leadership with a canny elusiveness at the breakdown.
He often runs foul of fans of the All Blacks' rivals, many of whom criticise a style that often pushes the laws of the game.
"There are obviously times when I push it to the limit and sometimes step over it but I guess if I'm not doing that then I'm not doing my job," he countered.
"I certainly don't go out on the field to cheat. I don't go out there to do things illegally. In my mind, I hopefully know what I'm doing at the breakdown and do things to win the ball back."
"I don't go out there to lie all over the ball and stop the game from flowing. That's not the way I operate and I would be a bit disappointed if people thought that was the case."
RODNEY SO'OIALO, CHRIS MASOE, JERRY COLLINS
While McCaw's subtle influence drives the All Blacks defence, there is nothing understated about the approach of his back row partners. Hurricanes loose forwards Rodney So'oialo, Chris Masoe and Jerry Collins will likely provide the support in two of the three spots.
The muscular presence of the Samoan-born, Wellington-raised trio perhaps belies a developed skill set. So'oialo will offer tireless work rate from No.8, while Masoe will cover the flank positions.
Collins, though, is the perfect foil for his skipper.
McCaw himself knows as much as any the bruising encounter assured for any No.7 going face to face with the Wellington Lion.
The recent history of the Crusaders v Hurricanes derby match is peppered by incidences of Collins and McCaw tussling, with the former frequently the antagonist.
Ultimately, Collins backs up McCaw to the benefit of the team.
AARON MAUGER
Aaron Mauger's presence as the outside half of the five-eighth pairing is vital.
The five-eighth pairing takes on great significance in New Zealand, with the No.10 and inside centre paired rather than the pivot and the halfback.
Mauger, heading to Leicester after the competition, lacks the physical presence of other contenders for the No.12 shirt.
But no inside centre in the country has his big-match experience, skills or intelligence.
Moreover, his long-standing partnership with Carter goes back to schooldays and they share an intuitive understanding through their shared provincial and international exploits.
OTHERS TO WATCH
Although World Cup glory is not built on individual brilliance, New Zealand boasts a number of players who claim to lead the world in their positions.
Props Tony Woodcock and Carl Hayman would pummel their way into any World XV, while hooker Keven Mealamu has emerged from a pack of talented front-rowers to take his place between the two.
Jason Eaton was developing into the undisputed locking star of the Kiwi game before a knee injury halted his progress. That means a swansong for the durable Chris Jack and his lineout partner, the irrepressible Ali Williams.
The tight five should have no qualms over facing down their equivalents, but it is the backline that provides even more optimism for Kiwi supporters.
Leon Macdonald has seen off the claims of the talented utility Mils Muliaina to take the fullback jersey. Muliaina could conceivably pop up in any backline role but is a likely No.13.
Fijian-born duo Sitiveni Sivivatu and Joe Rokocoko will likely inhabit the wings.
Both are physically intimidating, continuing the development of the outside back from the Jonah Lomu years.
Sivivatu has worked on his defence to become a more rounded player than the try-scoring machine of his earlier years.
Auckland's Rokocoko is a master of the big game - virtually anonymous at provincial level, and often toothless in the Super 14, he excels when handed the black jersey.
Inside them, Carter dominates.
But most international sides would beg, steal or borrow his deputy Nick Evans if possible.
Evans is almost as impressive an all-round five-eighth as the Cantabrian, while the more elaborate Luke McAlister is another option to cover Carter or Mauger.
At halfback, Piri Weepu and Byron Kelleher provide a physical presence that has evolved the prickly Justin Marshall's function as a fourth loose forward.
Kelleher's experience may earn him the starting berth, but Weepu's undisputed talent is hard to resist.
Coach Graham Henry has striven to enhance a pool of talent should any of these dominating players be unavailable come the big day.
But he would not countenance fielding a side in any of his vital matches this coming autumn without Carter or McCaw, his two stand-out performers.