Cardiff (United Kingdom) (AFP) - That New Zealand have been the team to beat ahead of every World Cup has long been accepted by the rest of the international rugby union community.But that the All Blacks have managed, for the time being at least, to defy conventional medicine by including wing Waisake Naholo in their squad might be a bit too much for rivals trying to plot the downfall of the defending champions, with the 2015 edition in England just 17 days away.The Fijian healer who treated Naholo's rapid recovery from a broken leg put his success down to belief in God and a curative leaf.Fortunately for fans of other teams, history is against New Zealand.No side have ever won successive World Cups, while the All Blacks have yet to lift the Webb Ellis trophy on foreign soil -- with both their 1987 and 2011 triumphs being sealed with wins over France in finals at Auckland's Eden Park.The way Australia defeated New Zealand 27-19 in a Rugby Championship decider in Sydney earlier this month ought to have inspired the rest of the world.New Zealand hit back with a 41-13, five-tries-to-one, win over the Wallabies in Auckland.- 'Massive lesson' -But the joy and pain of knockout rugby is that one defeat can prove fatal to a team's hopes -- something New Zealand coach Steve Hansen knows only too well from his time as assistant to Graham Henry, when the All Blacks suffered a shock quarter-final defeat by France in Cardiff at the 2007 World Cup. "The difference with the World Cup is you get four games guaranteed and if you're good enough to run first or second in your pool you get one more," said Hansen."We learnt a massive lesson in 2007.

BING NEWS:
  • Labour wins Blackpool South byelection as Reform UK gives Conservatives scare; Tories suffer heavy losses in council elections – live
    Conservatives braced for heavy losses that could destabilise Rishi Sunak’s premiership.   23:12 The results of the London mayoral contest and London assembly elections are also due on ...
    05/2/2024 - 7:49 pm | View Link
  • 'Reimagined' rest stop on I-70 in Licking County highlights World Heritage Site
    The rest stop is decorated with the colors and themes of the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks, which became Ohio's first World Heritage Site in September.
    04/18/2024 - 8:27 am | View Link
  • MPs vote down Rwanda Bill amendments after Government accused of ‘flogging a dead horse’
    Andrew Bailey should have resigned over his handling of the fallout from the mini-Budget, Liz Truss has suggested. Asked during an interview on LBC if she believed Mr Bailey should still be the ...
    04/15/2024 - 10:06 am | View Link
  • More

 

Welcome to Wopular!

Welcome to Wopular

Wopular is an online newspaper rack, giving you a summary view of the top headlines from the top news sites.

Senh Duong (Founder)
Wopular, MWB, RottenTomatoes

Subscribe to Wopular's RSS Fan Wopular on Facebook Follow Wopular on Twitter Follow Wopular on Google Plus

MoviesWithButter : Our Sister Site

More Business News