We all know well enough the strength of the world's No.1 Rugby Union team.  They have carried all before them.  They had effectively, at the end of last year, had all of world rugby down and out on its knees. 

This dominance has been all the more impressive when considering simple facts. Coach Graham Henry has consistently rotated his side. They lost their talismanic captain, Tana Umaga - at the time the world's premier outside centre - to retirement.  Their lineout, for years their weak point, still seems to exist. 

They have not shirked from confrontation, facing the Wallabies and Springboks multiple times every year, and conquering every team the Northern Hemisphere, including their glamour team, the mighty Lions.

'Former Australian captain John Eales stated that the All Blacks are, for the world's best side, unusually humble'


How do they win?

With very impressive forward play. They know no equal in scrummaging. Their play in the rucks has set the world alight. All players in all positions compete for the ball, and their loose forwards are without peer. In the forwards, they are equally well-served with both combinations and experience, with all of their first-choice eight having played 40-plus Tests. Their tight wall is brilliant, and it is rare indeed for tries to be scored close to the All Black pillar defence.

Their backs are equally impressive.  Led by the mercurial Dan Carter, they are a lethal division, well served by the platform their pack supplies. They have depth in all positions.  They have rotated their scrum-halves, centres and wings almost game to game, and rarely do they ever look weaker for it.  They are aggressive in defence, with more ruck/maul turnovers than any other team in world rugby.  They score tries often off opposition turnovers, and fine tactical kicking often wins them games.  However, they prefer to keep ball in hand, and their pick-and-drive play and close support running is sublime.  They do the basics brilliantly.

But we all know this, so how do they lose? Let's quickly look at their five defeats since the last World Cup.

2004 - Wallabies defeat All Blacks by 5:  A crucial Ali Williams sinbinning helps the Australians turn the tide.  Stirling Mortlock again wreaks havoc in the midfield, with Umaga and Aaaron Mauger each missing key tackles.

2004: Springboks defeat All Blacks by 14.  The Springbok midfield runs riot, with Marius Joubert scoring a hat-trick and Jean De Villiars scoring.  The All Blacks also drop their heads by about the 50th minute, and never seem to mentally get back into the game.

2005 - Springboks defeat All Blacks by 6: The Springboks seem to execute their famed rush defence to perfection, including scoring their only try through an intercept.  NZ halves combination very out of sorts.

2006 - Springboks defeat All Blacks by 1:  New Zealand need to win to clean sweep the Tri Nations.  They look very out of sorts and try all manner of 'dumb' tactics, including five-metre kick restarts, and running wide with no forward build-up.  Also play six starting changes from previous game.

2007-  Wallabies defeat All Blacks by 5:  New Zealand play Luke McAlister at 13, and Mortlock has a field day against him.  Carl Hayman is sinbinned for ruck infringements - this is when the Wallabies score 2 tries.

So their most obvious weaknesses - and the method to beat this imposing team - seems to be the following:

Out-talk them:  Recently, top Kiwi referees stated that the All Blacks were not talkers.  Former Australian captain John Eales stated that they are, for the world's best side, unusually humble.  What verbal barrages have we heard from them leading into the World Cup?  None.  While they do their talking proverbially on the field, it is simple mental tactics that you can talk people out of their comfort zone.  France coach Bernard Laporte, ex-Wallabies, they all know that the All Blacks are the best in the business, so why bag them? To unsettle their heads.

Out-talk them to the referee:  A lot of the All Black play is close to marginal.  They often lose their feet at the ruck, and will often obstruct defenders.  Same with their mighty scrum.  This area seems so misunderstood by referees.  Man to man, shove to shove, the New Zealand scrum will not be beaten.  But point out to the referee that Hayman and Tony Woodcock turn their bodies in to squeeze up opposition, and such advantages will be nullified.

Shut down their playmakers: From Andrew Mehrtens to Carlos Spencer, shut down the New Zealand pivot and their chance of winning decreases.  In modern NZ rugby, they play a 'second five-eighth' to give tactical relief to the fly-half.  For all of the NZ half back/scrum-half strengths, none have true bullet-style passing, so a rush 'D' from either the midfield or loosies can cause major headaches to the No.10.

Run big men at their centre channel:  None of the New Zealand midfield are big men.  While skilled, this crucial defensive link is often targeted, and has probably lost them three out of their five lost games since 2003.  Another two lost if you include the 1999 and 2003 World Cup, where Kiwi coaches put smaller fullbacks in the outside-centre role.  Most French centres are 100kg, as is Mortlock.  Be aware, as the New Zealanders sometimes counter this by putting their bigger flankers in this area, a move which can create havoc in the loose, which is a key All Black strength.

Kick the ball out - to the terraces:  The All Black threequarters love to run the ball back.  Kick the ball out, and run quickly to set your lineout preventing quick throw-ins, or kick it to the crowd.  While the weaker New Zealand lineout will not lose them games, it will definitely not win them matches.

There.  A blueprint to beating the world's premier team.  However, that is only their weaknesses.  I could do another article catagorically listing their strengths, but we've all been watching for four years.  No team will outplay this All Black unit - but only genuine pressure will allow what would be an upset.

Do you see anyone beating the All Blacks in the 2007 Rugby World Cup? Post your comments below or submit an article of your own to Sportingo.