No team is unbeatable in this World Cup – not even the mighty All Blacks. Like France, Australia, South Africa, England and Ireland, they have their weaknesses and vulnerabilities. So any coaches out there scratching their heads on how to stop the big-hitters of the competition, read on ...

This is purely practical advice and there is a huge difference between coming up with plans and implementing those plans. However, if the mighty are going to be humbled, then maybe this is the way to do it.

New Zealand can be beaten by passionate, rushed defence which gives their strong ball-running players like Rodney So’oialo, Jerry Collins and Luke McAlister less time to gather momentum and makes them easier to tackle. This rushed defence also gives Dan Carter and either McAlister or Aaron Mauger less time to make decisions. Rushed defence and aggressive high tackles make their offloading game more difficult. Taking out their support runners legally or illegally is also very effective in stifling their attacks and causing either bad final passes or handling errors.

‘The Springboks and Wallabies have detected a real Achilles heel by attacking the New Zealand lineout’


The Springboks and Wallabies have detected a real Achilles heel by attacking the New Zealand lineout, which can be susceptible to poor combinations between thrower and jumper. Taking out some of their lineout jumpers and players off the ball at the breakdown and at rucks and mauls really frustrates the All Blacks and their supporters. Anything to make the game a stop-start affair will slow down their play and cause their attacking fast game all sorts of problems.

Finally, something like the stunt the Wallabies used against the All Blacks is the only way to prevent them dominating at scrum time. Putting the ball in as late as possible and collapsing the scrum can mess up the All Blacks' platform.

To defeat South Africa, you need to play a quick, open game, as the All Blacks have shown. Playing it wide and fast, and taking quick lineouts and tap penalties puts the Springboks on the back foot. They prefer a physical, bullying game so if you can keep the ball away from their monstrous forward pack, you should succeed. They are also a side who rely on passion and emotion so it is important to chip away at them as they are more likely than most to snap and give away penalties.

The South Africans wear their hearts on their sleeves and if they get their tails up it will be hard to stop their momentum. Remember that the Boks usually struggle to construct tries unless it's through intercepts and opposition mistakes. They can rumble tries over in their forwards, too, but they rarely produce well-created tries.

Australia are a smart side but struggle in the tight exchanges. Their lineout is brilliant, but they hate the tight forward exchanges, especially mauls. They are vulnerable in close quarters and the inside channels as they often fan out wide and can be short of manpower in close. The All Blacks shut them out of the game in the Bledisloe Cup decider in Auckland. Denying them possession will cause them to crumble in defence. But their ball retention is really good, so you need to hold possession against them, otherwise you will never get it back.

England's robust pack must be avoided at all costs. They will most likely dominate the set-pieces, so you must play against them at pace and mix up tactics like quick lineouts and tap penalties. The best way to beat the English is with strong ball running at their backs. They especially hate players like Jerry Collins and Rodney So’oialo. This is the country who couldn’t tackle Jonah Lomu. They are not used to big and fast ball-carrying forwards running like backs at their backs.

France are extremely unpredictable and difficult to beat once they are on a roll. That is why you need to keep the scoreboard ticking over against them. Starting strongly and then slowly extending your lead is the way to keep the French in check. If you score early, their heads will go down. Like the Springboks, they are passionate types who get fired up easily but can just as easily be distracted from their game. Remember Wayne 'Buck' Shelford losing a testicle? Enough said. If you can take them apart up front in the forwards, this will destroy their soul.

Ireland play an attractive brand of rugby but, like England, they hate the big ball-runners and really aggressive defences of their Southern Hemisphere rivals.

Argentina will scrummage and maul all day, but their backs are small and fast. They are classy, fast runners, but will struggle out wide defending against big, skilled ball-runners.

Win a press pass to the Rugby World Cup!