Thursday 16 April 2015 14:23, UK
Prop Corbisiero determined to make the most of his Lions chance
Hogwash! Compared to today, that January Monday is the tinkling laughter of a rosy-cheeked infant. For today, friends, the autumn internationals are over. Today is Blue Monday. Today, I am bereft.
So, as some kind of therapy, to talk us all back from the edge – here’s a quick glance at next year’s real World Cup contenders, after what has been another wonderful series of November internationals…
No team has EVER successfully defended a World Cup – but if there is a team to break that record and do it, it’s New Zealand. There are some rugby hacks and a few former players out there who love to point out that the All Blacks have never won a World Cup outside NZ, as if that somehow undermines their achievements. Yawn. Just two defeats since the 2011 final, and just look at some the names that have joined the All Black roster since then – Dane Coles, Brodie Retallick, Aaron Smith, Beauden Barrett, Ben Smith, Malakai Fekitoa. That’s the spine of an awesome international side even without the world-beating experience of Owen, Richie, Kieran, Conrad, Jerome and Ma’a. They can play in all conditions, in all situations, they are forever raising the bar: they are the team to beat. There is a chance NZ might run into France in Cardiff at next year’s quarter-final – bringing back some bad memories for fans of the sliver fern – but these All Blacks know how to play high stakes knock-out rugby. It won’t happen again.
