The All Blacks have never lost to Tonga - one of their opponents at the 2015 Rugby World Cup. Photo / Northern Advocate.
The All Blacks will crash at this year's World Cup because they are in the pool of death - that's what Wallaby great George Gregan might be saying.
A pool of death is traditionally seen as a grouping so strong that a very good team will have to
miss the knockout stage. But in rugby it is a weak pool that can spell trouble because it leaves the best of teams under-prepared for the tough road ahead.
Gregan was trying to talk up Australia's chances this week saying he liked their pool - the Wallabies play England and Wales on successive weekends. The All Blacks won't face any of rugby's traditional heavyweights in their group.
In contrast, Steve Hansen's side will crush Namibia and Georgia and have never lost to their other opponents - Argentina and Tonga. There are a lot of ways to look at this issue, but here are a few points to make All Black fans nervous.
1) The last two finals have been played by teams out of the same group - England v South Africa and New Zealand v France. While England and France didn't win those finals, their progress still lends added weight to the Gregan theory that at least one tough pool game is vital. England made the final with a weak lineup in 2007 and France played the 2011 Eden Park showdown despite team turmoil.
