RWC 2019 – The Competitors – New Zealand

The most successful country in the history of the RWC is New Zealand. The All Blacks are the only team yet to be defeated in a pool match and are the only three-time champions.

Their titles were won in 1987, 2011, and 2015. The first two came on home soil while the third was at the most recent edition, and was the most dominant title of all by any RWC champion.

There is no debate as to how good New Zealand’s test team has been in the past and continues to be in the present. Results at RWCs and in general international competition are further enforced by the official World Rankings in which the All Blacks have been ranked 1st in the world for over nine years.

 

WORLD CUP HISTORY

RWC	FINAL PLACING	RESULTS
1987	Champion	Won vs Argentina, Fiji, France, Italy, Scotland, Wales
1991	Semi Finalist	Won vs Canada, England, Italy, Scotland, USA Lost vs Australia
1995	Finalist	Won vs England, Japan, Ireland, Scotland, Wales Lost vs South Africa
1999	Semi Finalist	Won vs England, Italy, Scotland, Tonga Lost vs France, South Afrca
2003	Semi Finalist	Won vs Canada, Italy, Tonga, France, South Africa, Wales Lost vs Australia
2007	Quarter Finalist	Won vs Italy, Portugal, Romania, Scotland Lost vs France
2011	Champion	Won vs Argentina, Australia, Canada, France (2), Japan, Tonga
2015	Champion	Won vs Argentina, Australia, France, Georgia, Namibia, South Africa, Tonga

Overall Record: Played 50, Won 44, Lost 6

 

RWC 2019 SCHEDULE

As the top seed for the tournament New Zealand are the team to avoid. They are also the team which can most justifiably be asked to play on few match days and have their fixtures operate on shorter turn-arounds than others. In part this is what has happened, though, overall New Zealand is not in a difficult group.

The structure of New Zealand’s pool matches see matches against the toughest pool opponent first and the next best last. The opener against South Africa will be one of the feature games of the tournament. There are to be just three days in between this match and game two.

The second pool match will require strategic planning. Not only is it unfavorable in terms of the recovering time but a trip will be required of over 950km. To complicate matters further the All Blacks will then return to the Greater Tokyo region for game three, again with three rest days in between matches.

Despite the challenging dates and travel games two and three will be against Canada, and Namibia and not against Tier 1 opposition. This makes it incomparable to Uruguay’s schedule of facing Fiji, and Georgia with three rest days in between matches.

Game four will require New Zealand to travel again, this time at a distance of 320km to Toyota. They will have five rest days in between facing Namibia and completing their pool matches against Italy.

Based on the above it is highly likely that rotation will factor in heavily in the selection for New Zealand’s pool matches. The best team will certainly be selected to face South Africa while the reserves are highly likely to take to the field against Canada, with a hybrid line-up to then face Namibia.

DATE	OPPONENT	VENUE
Sat, Sept 21	South Africa	International Stadium, Yokohama
Wed, Oct 02	Canada	Oita Stadium, Oita
Sun, Oct 06	Namibia	Tokyo Stadium, Tokyo
Sat Oct 12	Italy	Toyota Stadium, Toyota

 

PREDICTED TRAVELING 31

Forwards: Dane Coles (Hurricanes), Nathan Harris (Chiefs), Codie Taylor, (Crusaders), Owen Franks (Crusaders), Joe Moody (Crusaders), Angus Ta’avao (Chiefs), Karl Tu’inukuafe (Chiefs), Ofa Tuungafasi (Blues), Scott Barrett (Crusaders), Brodie Retallick (Chiefs), Patrick Tuipulotu (Blues), Sam Whitelock (Crusaders), Sam Cane (Chiefs), Shannon Frizell (Highlanders), Kieran Read (Crusaders), Ardie Savea (Hurricanes), Liam Squire (Highlanders)

Backs: Aaron Smith (Highlanders), TJ Perenara (Hurricanes), Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi (Chiefs), Beauden Barrett (Hurricanes), Richie Mo’unga (Crusaders), Ryan Crotty (Crusaders), Jack Goodhue (Crusaders), Ngani Laumape (Hurricanes),  Sonny Bill Williams (Blues), George Bridge (Crusaders), Rieko Ioane (Blues), Waisake Naholo (Highlanders), Jordie Barrett (Hurricanes), Ben Smith (Highlanders)

 

PROJECTED MATCH-DAY LINEUP

1 Karl Tu’inukuafe, 2 Dane Coles, 3 Owen Franks, 4 Sam Whitelock, 5 Brodie Retallick, 6 Liam Squire, 7 Sam Cane, 8 Kieran Read, 9 Aaron Smith, 10 Beauden Barrett, 11 Rieko Ioane, 12 Ngani Laumape, 13 Jack Goodhue, 14, Waisake Naholo 15 Ben Smith

Replacements: 16 Nathan Harris, 17 Joe Moody, 18 Ofa Tuungafasi, 19 Patrick Tuipulotu, 20 Ardie Savea, 21 TJ Perenara, 22 Richie Mo’unga, 23 Jordie Barrett

Key Back: Rieko Ioane
Key Forward: Brodie Retallick
Talisman: Beauden Barrett

 

RWC 2019 PREVIEW

New Zealand go into RWC 2019 as tournament favorites, and justifiably so. The team is ranked no 1 in the world and this has been the case throughout the RWC 2015-2019 cycle. New Zealand is also the defending world champions having won RWCs 2011, and 2015.

Since RWC 2015 the All Blacks have played 42 tests. Their return has been impressive with them having lost just five matches during this period. Two were against Ireland, and one each against the British & Irish Lions, Australia, and South Africa.

Is the 2019 team as good as that from 2015, or 2011? Perhaps not so though is New Zealand of the standard required to win again in Japan this year? Absolutely.

New Zealand will face South Africa first up and will be happy to get the toughest match out of the way. The All Blacks are projected to win that game and then have no problems in completing bonus point wins over Canada, Namibia, and Italy. This will see New Zealand top their pool and reach the Quarter Finals.

Based on the above New Zealand would face the runner-up from Pool A in the Quarter Finals. That side is likely to be Scotland, but could potentially be Japan. Either way the All Blacks would be too strong and advance to the Quarter Finals.

There are multiple possibilities for the Semi Finals though at present England or Australia is the projected opponent for New Zealand. As such the most likely scenario points to New Zealand reaching the final for a rematch against South Africa.

 

Week 1 – Italy
Week 2 – Fiji
Week 3 – Japan
Week 4 – England
Week 5 – Namibia
Week 6 – Wales
Week 7 – Samoa
Week 8 – France
Week 9 – South Africa
Week 10 – Georgia
Week 11 – Scotland
Week 12 – Tonga
Week 13 – New Zealand
Week 14 – Ireland