The All Blacks appear in cruise control as a probable quarter-final with the French beckons. Pictures of them relaxing, sunbathing and enjoying the sights have been posted all around New Zealand. This has worried some, but I trust in Graham Henry and his master plan.

Another couple of days' training or going through the paces is not going to make this formidable team any stronger - just as relaxing won't make them any weaker. No Northern Hemisphere team should challenge either the All Blacks or any SANZAR nation.
  • Ireland, the dark horses - have shown their worst patch of form in four years.
  • England, the defending champions, have struggled, and to say they looked inept against the Springboks is almost a compliment.
  • Wales and Scotland may put in one solid half, but have neither the form, brilliance or strength to beat a top-five nation.
  • France, the hosts, have looked better as the tournament has progressed. But they lost to Argentina and looked nearly rudderless when under pressure.
Many scribes are touting the likely France v New Zealand quarter-final as a real danger game for the Kiwis. But to say the All Blacks are the French bogey team is a understatement, even giving credit for the 1999 semi-final triumph. The world’s No.1 side’s most emphatic statements in the last four years have been against France, and the All Black style of play seems to be tailor-made to beating the French. Les Bleus’ seven-year losing streak to the might of New Zealand will not end at this World Cup.

No doubt South Africa will be a threat, but their five-point victory over Tonga showed that they are far from championship vintage. The Wallabies will also challenge, but their weakness is the All Blacks’ greatest strength - and I believe that come semi-final time, the New Zealanders will be far too strong in the pack and will grind out the Australians to erase the memories of 2003. ‘’Four more years, boys’’ will not be uttered by George Gregan this time round. Stephen Larkham’s fragility is haunting the Wallabies and Berrick Barnes will not ochestrate World Cup glory.

'I believe that come semi-final time, the New Zealanders will be far too strong in the pack and will grind out the Australians to erase the memories of 2003'


But what of the All Blacks? How are they travelling? The win over Scotland was patchy, no doubt - but there was plenty there to be very happy about. The New Zealand pack is without peer, and theeir scrum is completely dominant and will not be challenged at this tournament.

Dropped passes and knock-ons are of a concern, but not when the opposition’s set piece reset is put under such immense by this awesome tight unit. The lineout seems to be better, and it was with much delight that I saw the All Blacks steal Scotland’s throws (long a formidable jumping team) and lose none of their own.
Jerry Collins and Chris Jack - two of the All Blacks’ most vital cogs, did not start this game. Collins, the game’s most uncompromising defender and a brilliant player with ball in hand, is probably the third most important player in the team after Richie McCaw and Dan Carter. Jack is the nation’s finest lock, and even without him the lineout looked smooth. Conrad Smith continues his recovery, but ice-man Toeava I believe will still be the more threatening outside centre come crunch games.

Minor injuries to Leon Macdonald and Mils Mulaina are a concern. But Nick Evans played with such class that the All Blacks backline will not be found wanting. Indeed, while Evans is not as solid a defender as some fullbacks, surely his educated boot and graceful running will give the men in black a new dimension. And with Carter he will give the All Blacks the best tactical kicking division of any team.

The All Blacks’ defence was brilliant, with Scotland only making breaks in very loose play. On multiple occasions the New Zealand wall was actually pushing back the Scottish attack. Ironically I had seen remains of the Berlin Wall the day I watched the game, and a new Iron Curtain seems to be haunting Europe again, as few teams will challenge the All Black line.

I do not ever recall Scotland threatening the Kiwis’ try line, though the All Black attack did look patchy at times. But there was a real sense of holding the aces back. In the first six phases of New Zealand attack, the ball was kicked four times, twice crossfield kicks to wingers. There were no elaborate running set moves released in this game. No doubt that Henry and the All Blacks’ brain trust are ensuring they are giving as little as possible for the opposition to look at.

But New Zealand did look menacing when running the ball at the Scottish line, and broke the advantage line over 90 percent of the time. Twenty errors is a lot for the world’s best team to make, but to post 40 points and always look in first gear cancels out any unease at the fumbles.

Carter did have an off day with the boot - but better now than in the final stages. With Evans on the bench, I would like to see him taking some kicks. And let’s not forget Aaron Mauger, who is an accomplished goal kicker in first-class rugby and is probably the squad’s best drop-kicker.

This All Black machine is humming nicely, and is ready to explode. We have already seen all the other top teams hit top gear, but the men in black are ready to turbo towards their destiny.

All Blacks, Wallabies, Springboks - what's  your tip for the World Cup? Leave your views below.