...Well, it's been a good 2 days since this argument has been brought up. If I may add my final view to this pointless and endless debate -
1. The All Blacks have been the best team of the professional era. This is shown by the fact that we hold the record number of win pecentage, tries and points. The All Blacks have won the most Tri Nations and Bledisloe Cups. In terms of club rugby New Zealand teams have won it more then the other two countries. When it comes to the Rugby World Cup, we choke (definition of choke includes getting food poisoned and Berrick Barnes), however despite these things, we still lose. We still however remain the most dominant team over the past 20 years with winning Two Grand Slams, 9 Tri Nations, 13 Bledisloe Cups, 2 Lions Series and 2 Grand Slams while remaining on the top of the IRB rankings longer then any other team. In current form we are still rated number 1, however are possibly worse then South Africa. We look to peak for the RWC.
Winning record against (not all are relevant today):
South Africa: 53%
Australia: 67%
France: 72%
British and Irish Lions: 76%
England: 77%
Ireland: 95% (Drew once)
Wales: 88% (Unbeaten in over 20 years)
2. South Africa have been the second best team throughout the last 15 years. They have won 3 Tri Nations (Including the latest one), 1 Lions Series and have the very impressive statistic of winning half the World Cups they have ever entered. By far the most successful team in winning the tornement that counts for the most in World Rugby, South Africa has consistantly been the second best team in recent years and last year and 2007 were the number 1 team.
Winning record against (not all are relevant today):
New Zealand: 42%
British and Irish Lions: 48%
Australia: 58%
France: 54%
England: 58%
Ireland: 77%
Wales: 91%
3. Australia have fallen out of form and currently barely cling onto their current rating on the IRB ratings as third. In the last 20 years they have also won two World Cups, 2 Tri Nations, 7 Bledisloe Cups and a Lions Series. In current form they are perhaps behind France from the Northern Hemisphare however they have been consistantly better over the last 5 years.
4. France have been impossible to rate as they either perform very highly or fail miserably. They have not won a World Cup at any stage, however they have caused several upsets in beating the All Blacks twice in knock out stages of the World Cup and have appeared in a final. In the last 10 years they have won 4 Six Nations, the best of any Northern Hemisphare Side.
In terms of club rugby, there is no comparible way of rating the teams as the rules, weather conditions and length of seasons are different.
At the current stage, I'd find it very hard for any person from the North Hemisphare to claim that they're team is better then either South Africa or New Zealand. There is bound to be the odd win here and there, and it's not meant as an insult towards North Hemisphare National Teams, it's just we are currently better and have all ways been better. The gap is decreasing and in thirty years that gap may be gone or even reversed. France as a Nation seems to be getting into more of a rythm, and if they keep improving I can see them being a real challenge for the RWC. Ireland is also improving however they seem to be doing very well for a NH team, I think there is still a large gap between a red hot Irish team and a red hot South African/New Zealand team. They did do very well last year however and I think they are in contention for a spot in the RWC Semi-Final. England are sh*t. They did well in 2003 and then went down hill. They stand no chance of winng the RWC, however they could make it to the semi final/final because they all ways do. In Current form the two teams who would make the best game for the RWC Final would be South Africa vs New Zealand. Will that happen? Depend if we choke or not.
Long winded and boring review, however I wanted to get my opinion out and now stfu during these annoying debates.[/b]
