Hansen puts six other teams in title hunt

NEW ZEALAND head coach Steve Hansen believes there are up to halfa-dozen teams who could threaten their bid for a hat-trick of successive World Cup titles.

The All Blacks are overwhelming favourites with bookmakers to clinch the Webb Ellis Cup in Japan having triumphed in the past two editions, while their last defeat in the tournament came 12 years ago. However, Hansen is not taking his rivals lightly as he admitted the defence of their title will be tougher than it was in 2015.

Ahead of his side’s Pool B opener against South Africa, Hansen said: “It’s going to be competitive - they’re always competitive. It always makes me chuckle when I hear people say this side can’t win or this team is going to win.

“There are a number of sides who are capable of winning it because they have the talent in the group, but with that comes higher expectation, and with higher expectation comes more pressure.

“There are probably more teams who can win this tournament than the last one. In 2015, there were probably two or three; this time probably five or six, which is great for rugby.”

While the Kiwis have seemed invincible for over a decade, there were some signs of weaknesses in the Rugby Championship, when they drew to the Springboks in Wellington at lost to Australia in Perth.

Asked whether he is as optimistic about his side’s chances as four years ago, Hansen replied: “As confident as I can be. We’ve got the talent in the group to get the job done.”

Meanwhile, Siya Kolisi believes the late Chester Williams “opened up doors” for future Springboks.

South Africa will wear World Cup winner Williams’ image on their jerseys for Saturday’s mouthwatering clash with New Zealand in Yokohama.

Former Springboks wing Williams died from a heart attack at the age of 49 on September 6.

Williams was the only non-white 1995 World Cup winner in a tournament that proved to be transformational for the South African hosts.

“I was very young when he played and never got to see him play,” said Kolisi. “I think I was one when South Africa won the World Cup. But for us, it was an era that opened up doors for us.”