South Africa and Australia are the only nations to wield any form of success against this current All Black team. New Zealand remain unbeaten against Northern Hemisphere countries for over four years. In fact, they have only lost five games in 12 years to European teams - and their unbeaten records against Scotland, Ireland and Wales (since 1953) will not fall on current form.

The Wallabies hold a 4-10 win-loss record against the All Blacks in the last five years. The Springboks amazingly host a 4-14 record against New Zealand since 2000 (including three South African victories in the last four years). In the 1999-2003 World Cup build-up, the ledger was New Zealand 8, South Africa 1).

South Africa have the most in their armoury to not only halt the All Blacks, but keep enough gas in the tank for another good opponent as well. But New Zealand have the measure of this South African side even more than the Boks do on New Zealand. Being the only team capable of stopping the men in black does strengthen credentials, but most would put their money on the Blacks having the measure of South Africa, especially with their vulnerability with fly-half, defence open to counters, and a pack that cannot last the full 80 minutes against the superbly conditioned New Zealand outfit. 

South Africa should did not lose to any significant opposition in their march of 2007. But while meeting the New Zealanders in the final beckons, they will win this tournament if someone else causes an upset (any team beating New Zealand will be an upset) - but will not likely stop a firing All Black team come October 20.  South Africa have one of their strongest squads in memory, but they have been far from unbeatable and have their flaws.

The Wallabies will, as always, conduct a masterful assault on the tournament.  They always do, and New Zealand aside, would be almost easy bets on the Cup if not for the All Black presence. While everyone remarks that the Wallabies could beat New Zealand in the semi-finals, what of the reverse?  This New Zealand unit has the realistic measure of Australia, with only two losses in 10 games against them.  Mentally it would be expected that the New Zealand scrum and loose would know that if push comes to shove, they have the steel on this confident, yet still raw Wallaby eight.  New Zealand have more class in the loose and all set pieces bar the line-out.  Man for man, Stirling Mortlock and his Australians are not as gifted a squad as these ball-playing All Blacks.

In recent results, the South Africa-Wallaby contests have been closely shared, with neither - bar Australia in that incredible 49-0 slaughter - having the measure of the other.