World rugby’s tectonic plates slowly shifting
World rugby’s tectonic plates slowly shifting
QUICK TAP: NEW ZEALAND DOMINATION AT THE DUBAI SEVENS
However, he warned that to succeed at next year’s Rugby World Cup the Northern Hemisphere sides would have to replicate the form they showed in the November Tests if they were to have a chance against the All Blacks.
De Kock said while two of the semifinalists in 2015, Australia and South Africa, both of whom New Zealand beat to claim the trophy, had dropped in the rankings he said he would still put his best money on New Zealand winning the Webb Ellis Trophy for the fourth time.
“However, with two wins against the All Blacks in the last three matches, it seems Ireland have got their number. Their success in Dublin proves that the All Blacks aren’t invincible and they will take a lot of heart out of that.
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“Ireland might feel like they are on top of the world having beaten New Zealand, but we cannot discount the fact that they are reliant on key figures in their team to stay fit.
“I think the All Blacks would be happy to have Ireland named as World Cup favourites, but the smart money would still be on New Zealand getting their third straight win come next year,” he said.
De Kock said the increasing competitiveness among northern hemisphere sides was the result of foreign influence in coaching.
“With New Zealanders Joe Schmidt and Warren Gatland in charge of Ireland and Wales, and Australian Eddie Jones at the helm of England, plenty can be said for the foreign influence in the north.
“The intellectual property the Southern Hemisphere coaches bring to the north is immense and that lends itself to the calibre of game improving.
“Players who are in their prime, or are experienced, are also drawn to play in the north which, for me, can only serve to strengthen the game there,” he said.