The most marketed team in international rugby union, the All Blacks, (known as the McBlacks – that is,  the McDonalds of the game) are in for a rough ride leading up to the hosting of the IRB Rugby World Cup in 2011.

Post RWC ‘07, All Black fans have been left grasping at straws and every positive blimp on the horizon is touted as a sign of the Kiwi All Black phoenix rising from their 2007 ashes and their sub-class performance throughout the 2007 season.

Springbok fans are typically amused. Especially by Kiwis singing a stale Super 14 song aimed at proving the McBlacks are back.

'The New Zealanders have muddled together the scraps, dollying and dressing up their series against England to appear more than what it really is - the Battle of the Also-Rans'


The truth is, the McBlacks are like prima donnas in the wings and hate not being the focus of attention in the current set-up, where the Springboks occupy centre-stage. To add insult to injury, the South Africans will maintain their position in the spotlight through the opening rounds of Test rugby in 2008 and if things go according to plan, ride that into Auckland in 2011.

To the victor goes the spoils and as Test rugby kicks off, the Springboks have the spotlight with the centre-stage Clash of Champions (world champions vs Six Nations champions) while the New Zealanders have muddled together the scraps, dollying and dressing up their series against England to appear more than what it really is - the Battle of the Also-Rans.

When is comes to the Kiwis’ 'We are the Chumpions!’ Super 14 gloat, experienced rugby union fans will tell you Test match rugby is an entirely different sport to the conventional schools, club, county or provincial game. Yet Kiwis miraculously maintain the Super 14 has them back on the throne. It's early days yet and the All Black worries, I'm afraid, are only just beginning.

Dethroning the IRB  number ones and current World Cup holders is going to take more than a season of Super 14 rugby and Bok fans believe their lads still have the lead over ANY other team in international Test rugby.

When it comes to Tests, the All Blacks have worries. No-one believes that ‘‘No worries, mate!’’ antipodean retort. Graham Henry's boys have been labelled 'chokers' and I think when it comes to Test rugby, its going to stick until the lads from the edge of the planet realise it takes more than a tattoo to be the 'real thing'.

The boys from Kiwi-land are famously naffish when it comes to the head game of rugby union and who will forget the fallout after their exit from France in 2007? Like no other time before, fans got a glimpse of the true nature of the McBlacks. Starry-eye Brittany Spears-like teen stars caught in the hype of their stardom. And believing it!

When New Zealand take on England in Test match rugby within a few weeks, they'll still be in the shallow water of building up to being contenders against the Springboks, who have  Six Nations champions Wales as visitors.

Beyond this, the Springboks have the 'A' racing line in terms of future tests, hosting the champions and leaving the McBlacks with the shrapnel. The Boks take the high road through the Six Nations champions on to the British Lions with champagne matches in between against the mercurial Argentinians and Nick Mallet’s Italy.

The New Zealanders fumble around mainly with themselves, their Pommy cousins, their Trans-Tasman twins AND of course ... a grudge match against the French!

How the McBlacks intend to climb out of their hole with this schedule, only they will know.