NEW ZEALAND

WORLD CUP BEST: WINNERS — 1987, 2011, 15 COACH: STEVE HANSEN BEEN there, done it, got the t-shirt. Took Wales to the 2003 tournament, assisted Graham Henry’s All Blacks in 2007 and 2011 and masterminded New Zealand’s brilliant campaign in 2015. A re-assuring presence, somehow manages to shield his team from the hype of the New Zealand media and keep their feet on the ground. This will be tricky, though, as they have shown signs of vulnerability recently. CAPTAIN: KIERAN READ A FABULOUS player but the two-time World Cup winner has been struggling these last couple of seasons with a back injury. Seems back to full health but can he go to the well one more time? Has his own quiet captaincy style but it has been a tough job stepping into Richie McCaw’s shoes. KEY MAN: BEAUDEN BARRETT BARRETT is arguably the best player in the world, he is a strike runner and creator and produces very special plays. Butt I have to mention Sonny Bill Williams ms too. They are bothth key men for the All Blacks. VERDICT: I MAKE them favourites, marginally, ahead of England and South Africa. They are not as far ahead of the field as they were in 2015. They haven’t yet replaced McCaw as either a captain or the world’s best openside flanker

and they have looked vulnerable vulnera at timesties withoutitho that totem figure. The Lions chipped away at their cloak of invincibility in 2017, Ireland have claimed two famous wins, the Boks have beaten them in New Zealand and Australia compiled a record win over the All Blacks last month. In between, however, they have still produced some startling performances and we must assume they will arrive in top form. The Kiwis stand a fighting chance of making it three in a row but if they do, it will be very hard-earned.