All Blacks 2018 Rating and the RWC

12 wins from 14, 85.71% winning success ratio. Compared to boks 7 wins from 14, 50.00% winning success ratio. OZ 4 wins from 13, 30.76% winning success ratio. Ireland were the only side this year to have a better winning success ratio than NZ. 11 wins from 12, 91.66% winning success ratio. England had 6 wins from 12 this year. For a 50% winning success ratio. Wales 10 wins from 12, 83.33% winning success ratio. France 3 wins from 11, 27.27% winning success ratio. Argentina 2 wins from 12, 16.66% winning success ratio. To me it looks like NZ and Ire are the frontrunners for the RWC. But alot can change from now till Sept. It may actually help NZ to not be the bookies fav (they still are). Being slightly under the radar may not be the worst thing in the world. Now alot of talk about NZ relative form. Been patchy at best. Theyve struggled for consistent rhyithm all year. Againgst ire the looked very conservative on attack. They seem to be expeirementing a bit with their gameplans. And like Schmidt said. Ire had alot in their favour. Vocal dublin crowd. NZ end of a long season, travel fatigue. Its like when NH teams come down in June. So it well be interesting how Ireland deal with that new pressure.

And of course you have the inevitable panic from the public, everytime NZ lose a year out from the wc. Calling for the coaches head to roll, Read is old and past it, Barrett should be at fullback etc. Despite historically losses before a wc helping nz, opposed to being a hinderence. 2011 lost to SA, won the RWC. 2015 lost to OZ won the wc. I seem to recall back than media calling for DC and Richie to be dropped. Lima to be promoted. They are old and past it. But hanson showed faith. And some are dreaming, if they think Hanson is going to abandon BB as his #1 ten. I think our main positions of concerns. Are inside centre and blindside flanker. But an overhaul is completly jumping the gun. NZ has a good balance of youth and experience. The Selectors, namely Hanson. Just needs to keep picking on form. And specialist players. A few changes to the side is all it needs. These are the changes i would make.

1. N Laulala/J Moody 2. D Coles 3. O Franks 4. B Retalluck 5. S Whitelock 6. V Fifita 7. A Savea 8. K Read 9. TJ Peranara 10. B Barrett 11. R Ioane 12. N Luamape/ALB 13. J Goodhue 14. J Barrett 15. B Smith

16. C Taylor 17. O Tungafusi 18. K Tufukuafe 19. S Barrett 20. S Frizell/L Squire 21. A Smith 22. R Mounga 23. D Mckenzie

Hi 3ku1, I agree it's good the Abs have a few loses before the RWC if only to shut up those that would bleat "peaked too soon" 

so sacking Liam Squire and playing instead Fifita, sacking Aaron Smith who has started as the AB scrummie the last 7 years winning a WC and repalcing him with TJ Perenara, sacking SBW who has won 2 WCs and sacking Ryan Crotty with 44 caps to replace them with Laumape, and sacking DMac to play Jordie Barrett at wing,.... it's all OK and fine,.... but to ask for swapping Barrett to FB is an "overhaul", it's "panic from the public" and "completly jumping the gun"?

Senior player

2531 posts

NZ end of a long season, travel fatigue. 

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It is the same for all teams. Fatigue and long seasons are shared by everyone in the game. There are certainly some cracks in the New Zealand game.

Forward pack lacks mongrel to get over the advantage line, and give the backs quality front foot ball. They are too dependent on Retallack. Rush defence is harder to avoid without quick front foot possesion

Whitelock has not played well for ages. Read does seem past his best. Liam Squire is Joe Average. Barrat on front foot ball is very dangerous, but if the forwards do not deliver, he is vulnerable to the rush defence.