Sports news > Rugby > Rugby Union > The choke's on the All Blacks as South Africa and Australia eye third Rugby World Cup
The choke's on the All Blacks as South Africa and Australia eye third Rugby World Cup
The 2011 RWC provides both the Springboks and Wallabies with the opportunity to complete a hat-trick of victories and widen the gap over New Zealand, whose only success was in the first-ever tournament in 1987.
by Greg Smith on 11 May 2008
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World history has previously provided a snakes and ladders-like situation for rugby union teams competing on an unlevel international stage. The Springboks have probably suffered the most within this context while ironically currently holding the No.1 slot in the international game.
The current World Cup holders, the mighty Springboks have little hope, however, of ever overhauling the statistics of various less politically affected teams within the world game. Their arch-rivals, the All Blacks, have been the major beneficiaries of the troubles that have plagued the country of South Africa for the last 200 years and within this equation, many Springbok fans believe the best new tack is to focus on their current outstanding statistics within the RWC competition and make this their main thrust.
As it stands, South Africa have the best winning ratio (50%) within the competition with two wins out of four attempts. Their closest rivals in this format of competition are Australia, but they merely have a two out of six (33%) to brag about. New Zealand are four years behind these front-runners with one out of six (17%).
Within the 150 years of the game in South Africa, many political thumb-screws and shackles have hamstrung the Springboks and flattered the All Blacks within unequal social backdrops. The unfettered environment the New Zealanders have enjoyed has allowed them to methodically clock up about a 10-year buffer over their closest challengers, the Springboks. Proteas fans will argue that if wars had not taken place or if revolutions had not hampered their sports focus, they would have very easily matched if not surpassed the impressive bragging paperwork of the All Blacks.
Comments (7)
by sam black on May 12, 2008
what have you been smoking dude, south africa had the easiest world cup ever. they didn't even play any top 3 rugby nations to get the cup. i call it the lucky jackpot springbok world cup! And you will see how the world chumps get the wooden spoon in the tri nations again and again and for many years to come.
by Devoid of all reason on May 12, 2008
Greg, when you have finished rubbing peanut butter all over yourself while having fantasies about being John Smit's lovechild - wake up to some form of reality. The All Blacks are a far better team than your Gazelle eating man lumps, but you need to stop wearing your Nelson Mandela pyjama's out in public and realise that your had to poison the All Blacks to beat them in 1995, and won the easiest World cup in 2007, by giving each member of the French team a province in South Africa to beat New Zealand. And why are you backing up Australia, did you buy a new bong shaped like a kangaroo?
by Greg Smith on May 12, 2008
ha, ha... I'll swop you 3 tri-nations for a World Cup...
Devoid Umangorangatang, stop preening that butt tattoo of Helen Clark on your left cheek and Graham Henry on the right. (You'll notice the scoreboard has a big NOUGHT in the middle) And while you're tripping, South Africa are probably lining up their NUCLEAR MISSILES to ensure a 2011 success... so add nuclear threat to your whinging list of poisoning and bribery ! Once we're done, you fella's will be the land of the Big White Mushroom Cloud... take up sailing mate, I don't want to be near kiwiland when they go down in 2011 ! Toxic, beauuch !
by Brad on May 16, 2008
Bit cheap you talking about choking greg the south africa cricket team are no better than the all blacks. 99 semi final vs aussie, 03 couldnt make finals and slaughtered in 07.
by Ryan Cousins on May 22, 2008
Gee Brad...i bet my dad could beat up your dad. Grow up friend....you obviously agree with Gregs article as you had no rugby retort but had to bring in cricket to justify your beliefs...good stuff!
by Reuben Stewart Jose Strong on June 01, 2008
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