New Zealand to face stiff challenge in Cup hat-trick bid

New Zealand can win their third successive Rugby World Cup later this year in Japan but are set to face more competition than their last triumph four years back, the 2011 winning coach Graham Henry has said.

Henry guided the All Blacks to victory in 2011 at home while his assistant Steve Hansen repeated the win in England four years later.

Henry, however, said he was more confident of New Zealand’s success in 2015 than the upcoming tournament and added that several teams are capable of lifting the Webb Ellis trophy in Yokohama on Nov 2.

“I think our buildup into the World Cup was very positive and we won just about everything,” Henry told radio station Newstalk ZB yesterday about the All Blacks’ form ahead of the 2015 tournament.

“In the last couple years, we haven’t looked as (good).”

After a superb 2016 Rugby Championship season when they took their game to a new level, the All Blacks lost to Ireland for the first time in Chicago, then drew the Test series against the British and Irish Lions in 2017.

Last year they lost to South Africa in Wellington, sneaked to a lucky one-point victory over England and lost again to Ireland in Dublin.

“I went on the tour last year to England and Ireland when they played in those two Tests in October or November, and they looked fat,” Henry said.

“And they didn’t play particularly well against the Lions (so) I don’t think they’ve had the same buildup as they’ve had for 2015.”

Despite his concerns about the progress of the All Blacks, and the challenge from Six Nations teams like champions Wales, England and Ireland, Henry was confident Hansen would have a side capable of winning the tournament.