The All Blacks time under Ian Foster has been a historic first, but not for the right reasons, as they have performed below expectations ever since 2020.
Argentina has suffered its first-ever losses, first on neutral ground in 2020 and then at home in 2022, while Ireland has lost three out of four Test matches. The most test losses in a year since 1998 were four in 2022.
Despite the turmoil, they have managed to hold onto all of the important trophies gained under Ian Foster, including the Bledisloe Cup, the Freedom Cup, and three consecutive SANZAAR championships.
The full 2023 Rugby World Cup Pools are as follows:
Pool A: New Zealand, France, Italy, Americas 1 and Africa 1.
Pool B: South Africa, Ireland, Scotland, Asia / Pacific 1 and Europe 2.
Pool C: Wales, Australia, Fiji, Europe 1 and Final Qualifier Winner.
Pool D: England, Japan, Argentina, Oceania 1 and Americas 2.
The 2023 RWC will take place from 8 September to 21 October at nine venues.
The Rugby World Cup 2023 in France will feature Pool Play matches between the All Blacks, France, Italy, and two yet-to-be-determined qualifiers.
Overnight, a draw was conducted in Paris, with Pool A’s other participants including New Zealand, the hosts France, Italy, the Americas 1, and Africa 1. The All Blacks have faced France seven times at RWCs, which is the most of any nation, as well as five times against Italy, with the 2019 match being postponed.
Rugby Americas North champion in 2021 and Sudamerica Rugby champion in 2021 will compete in a play-off series to determine the Americas 1 champion. The 2022 Rugby Africa Cup will be won by Africa 1.
The competition will include 20 teams split into four pools of five teams, as it has in past Rugby World Cups.
The top three teams from each of the four pools in the 2019 World Cup have already qualified, and they were seeded into three bands based on where they stood in the World Rugby rankings at the beginning of the year.
AIMING TO IMPROVE DISCIPLINE IN THE SECOND BLEDISLOE TEST ARE ALL BLACKS
The All Blacks would have plenty of motivation to win the Bledisloe Cup series against Australia at Eden Park on Saturday knowing that they still had a lot of room for improvement.
The pursuit of the ideal game, whether it be for a person or a team, is a never-ending aim, according to captain Sam Whitelock. Everyone would be content if they could indulge their desires for longer lengths of time.
Playing at the same place on successive weekends was unfamiliar territory for Bledisloe Cup rugby, at least, although diversity had been added to make the week interesting.
He didn’t believe them because they were training at a different location and had switched motels.