KEY POINTS:
The All Blacks are the acknowledged favourites for the World Cup but, as Dylan Cleaver reports, they still have some weaknesses to overcome
On the face of it, if you were to draw up a list of All Blacks strengths and weaknesses, you'd need a book for the
first and a postcard for the second.
After all, in 44 matches under Graham Henry the All Blacks have stacked up a win-loss record of 39-5.
You don't get that sort of ratio by being lucky you get it by being consistently the best team in the world.
However, it wouldn't be New Zealand unless we viewed our pints of beer as half empty as much as we want it to be half full.
And, frankly, the consistently best team in the world doesn't always win compact tournaments, the sort of tournaments when luck starts to come more into play. When the knockout phase rolls around, that's when any perceptible weakness becomes magnified.
STRENGTHS
Depth
All 30 players in Graham Henry's squad have been road-tested. Despite the misgivings of the public in one or two instances, they have all been declared fit to drive.
New Zealand enjoys riches in some positions. Other teams would drool over the prospect of having to choose between Aaron Mauger and Luke McAlister at second five-eighth; or who to leave out between Keith Robinson (if fit), Ali Williams or Chris Jack at lock.
Superstars
In football it's known as the spine: a line running from goalkeeper, central defence, central midfield and on to the striker. Here games are won and lost.
If rugby had a similar concept it would incorporate the tighthead prop, openside flanker and No 8, first five-eighth and fullback.
In Carl Hayman, Richie McCaw, Daniel Carter and Mils Muliaina New Zealand has arguably the best in their position in the world. And at No 8, the often-maligned Rodney So'oialo has matured into a back rower who, if not the world's best, gives little away in comparison.
In 2003 England won with a spine of Phil Vickery, Neil Back, Lawrence Dallaglio, Jonny Wilkinson and Josh Lewsey. This All Blacks team is at least the equal of that, most would say better.
Coaching
Sometimes it's hard to love Graham Henry but you've got to admire his single-minded drive. He is superbly analytical too and you can only begin to imagine the enthralling conversations around the breakfast table with Wayne Smith.
Steve Hansen has taken flak for his inability to deliver a consistent lineout but look at the forwards as a whole in 2003 compared with now. They're better on their feet, better in the contact area and, thanks to Mike Cron in particular, the best scrummaging unit in the world.
But perhaps the biggest coup was bringing Brian Lochore back into the fold. He offers been there-done that excellence and has a way of stripping down rugby to its basic parts that perhaps Henry and Smith, in particular, lack.
Record
The All Blacks go into the World Cup with a 39-5 win-loss record since the last World Cup. No other country comes close to matching that.
They've beaten all the major unions away from home and have given the French and English some fearful hammerings.
If any side has proved a bogey it is South Africa but the torrid victory against them in Durban earlier this year proved the All Blacks could win in the harshest of environments.
Freshness
It is unlikely any team, certainly not the majors, will go into the World Cup as fresh as the All Blacks.
The rest and reconditioning period had more detractors than supporters but at least nobody can accuse this team of being stale.
WEAKNESSES
Collective paranoia
Let's just say passage to the semifinals will probably be as predictable as everyone is expecting. All of a sudden New Zealand are likely to be confronted with their nemesis Australia in a knockout match that will define Graham Henry's tenure.
As former Yankees' catcher Yogi Berra would say: "It feels like deja vu all over again."
The All Blacks will claim they are impervious to the pressure; that comparisons are odious.
But at every press call they will be reminded of the fact New Zealand has never beaten Australia at a World Cup and have lost the last two World Cup semifinals they have played in.
If that doesn't make them paranoid, then nothing will.
Combinations
The flip side of rotation, rehabilitation and reconditioning is that some of these guys just haven't played that much rugby together.
Time will tell if that is genius or foolhardiness. You would assume they wouldn't have embarked on such a radical course without some sound empirical evidence that missing the first seven weeks of the Super 14 was going to be beneficial. But trying something so new in World Cup year can only be described as a massive risk.
Here's just one scenario. If injuries see Chris Masoe at No 8 in the World Cup semifinal and Andy Ellis is at halfback, how well do you think they know each other's games to provide the solid axis needed at the back of the scrum?
Lineout
The lineout is New Zealand's rugby equivalent of that annoying itch between the shoulders blades that no amount of contortion will help you reach.
Then, just when you think the itch has disappeared, it flares up again at the worst possible time.
It is difficult to say why it remains such an issue. The All Blacks have world-class locks, world-class hookers and world-class backrowers. But when you're having to rely on Richie McCaw winning ball at the lineout, as happens too often, then something is wrong.
First it was too complicated, then it was too predictable. Who knows what it will be like in the next two months but we'll give you this information for free: come the later rounds of this tournament, the opposition will target the ABs lineout like a lion targets the weakest antelope.
Centre
No one is doubting the quality of Conrad Smith or the potential of Isaia Toeava but there has to be question marks over the former's fitness and the latter's readiness.
Smith has missed the bulk of the past two years with, in order, a broken leg, an eye injury and a dodgy hamstring.
Toeava is fit but, under pressure, has been prone to handling mistakes.
A certain Stirling Mortlock awaits.
The common belief is the All Blacks' best centre is also their best fullback but there would be an understandable reluctance to play Mils Muliaina in the No 13 jersey unless absolutely necessary.
No x-factor
Toeava and Andy Ellis would be the closest things the All Blacks have to the unknown.
Henry and co decided experience wins World Cups and there is overwhelming evidence to bolster that case. However, there is that nagging feeling that a support like Liam Messam or Stephen Brett could have taken this World Cup by storm.
- HoS
