Rugby: the position of the All Blacks and the main world rugby teams after the November series

In the last showdown between the big rugby teams of the northern and southern hemispheres before the Rugby World Cup, the North has imposed a total of 7-5 victories this month.

The South filled the semi-finals of the last Rugby World Cup in 2015 and three years later, the north seems to have caught up.

Here are the main rugby teams after the November series, ranked by world ranking.

1. NEW ZEALAND

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has expressed confidence in his team's readiness for less than a year from the Rugby World Cup in Japan, where they will be looking to win. the Webb Ellis Trophy for the third time in a row. After a tough 2018 season, which included a historic defeat against Ireland, World No. 2, fans are less optimistic.

Hansen believes his team has discovered new talent and developed new aspects of his game that will serve him well in Japan. He said his defeats this season against Ireland in Dublin and South Africa in Wellington were learning experiences that the team could take advantage of. Fans are more worried after seeing the All Blacks overhung by Ireland.

Against the British and Irish Lions last year and against Ireland this year, the All Blacks showed a tactical weakness and a lack of self-control against the stifling defenses that would seem to serve as a model for teams to overthrow them. as champions of the world.

Hansen insists that all is well, that the coaching staff has come up with new ways to break these defenses. The form of key players, including captain Kieran Read, has also caused concern, but again, Hansen is confident that the All Blacks are on track to win their fourth world championship.

– by Steve McMorran

2. IRELAND

It was a widely shared view, but this month has brought definitive proof: Ireland can win the rugby world cup.

Even the imminent departure of coach Joe Schmidt, who will leave the team after next year's tournament in Japan, will not upset the optimism of Irish fans after a sweep in November that had notably won a victory of 16 to 9 on New Zealand. It was a first home win against the All Blacks and a second triumph against the world champions in two years.

Ireland alone is the second favorite to win the Webb Ellis Cup. All Blacks coach Steve Hansen mischievously said Schmidt's team was the favorite. But the depth of the country's talent and the structure of Irish rugby that gives national players the best chance to perform and stay relatively cool.

Schmidt named Johnny Sexton Sunday, the world's best player in 2018, charged with leading the team, but could have a wish for next season: back-half Conor Murray is recovering full-length problems with his neck .

– by Steve Douglas

3. WALES

The Welsh are probably going through their best period since the glory years of the 1970s, with a first sweep of victories for four games in November, extending their winning streak to nine internationals.

They consolidated third place and, just as impressive as the management of the team's game, they beat Scotland, Australia and South Africa. They allowed Warren Gatland's reservists to put 74 points ahead of Tonga.

Psychologically, Wales now knows how to defeat the giants of the southern hemisphere (even if the All Blacks remain a kind of dark beast). This has always been the stick to beat Gatland with, after so many brave defeats against the Wallabies and the Springboks, but nothing more.

The retirement of Sam Warburton and the absence of Taulupe Faletau this month did not derail the last row of Wales, with flanker Ellis Jenkins, the last high-rated tyro in the production chain .

The Welsh are not at the level of Ireland or the All Blacks, but remain a team to be feared for the Rugby World Cup.

– by Steve Douglas

4. ENGLAND

This month was not going to be a success for Eddie Jones, but the critics might have had the sharpest claws if the month of November had been rough after the defeat of the series in June in South Africa and before that, a fifth place at Six Nations. .

He will therefore be content with victories over Australia and South Africa, which reconcile a 16-15 defeat against New Zealand, but frustrating that it would have been to let pass a rare victory on the All Blacks at the shelter of 15-0.

Key for Jones will have a team in good form for the Rugby World Cup. Brothers Chris Robshaw, Anthony Watson and Joe Launchbury of Vunipola will be among the missing this month.

The powerful center The return of Manu Tuilagi is an appreciable advantage and gives England a very different option in midfield. Owen Farrell once again showed that he was world class, even though his plating technique was under the microscope.

Compared to a few months ago, this could be much worse for Jones at less than a year from Japan.

– by Steve Douglas

5. SOUTH AFRICA

The Rassie Erasmus Springboks ended their season as they had started, with a loss to Wales and a success rate of just 50% in 2018 (seven wins out of 13 tests) indicates that there was no quick fix under the new coach.

South Africa has recovered some of its reputation after an embarrassing period under Allister Coetzee, but the Boks are still fighting to be the strength they had. Erasmus won a victory against the All Blacks in New Zealand in September but, overall, South Africa has only progressed from mediocre to inconsistent, while fans have been hoping for more.

Half-players Erasmus, Faf de Klerk and Willie le Roux, return from international exile as playmakers, but the question remains to come before the Rugby World Cup: Erasmus rates, Warren Whiteley and 8 do are not in the privileged position and his best loose-front combination is still uncertain. There is no obvious reinforcement for De Klerk at No. 9.

Overall, the attackers Aphiwe Dyantyi and Sbu Nkosi make the Boks more threatening than they have been over the years, but it has been difficult to combine these elements in a classic formula.

In addition, to help the racial transformation of the sport, South African rugby has promised the government that at least 50% of its team at the Rugby World Cup in Japan would be black players and that # Erasmus should start planning accordingly. This is an additional complication that no other national team or coach has.

– by Gerald Imray

6. AUSTRALIA

The best part of 2018 has finally arrived for the Wallabies. The end.

In a year of nine defeats, their worst percentage in 30 years, the Wallabies have regressed. The defense was fragile, the sets were a horror show and the attack failed without a consistent plan. They had no advantage and did not intimidate. This month, they scored three tries against Italy, all in 14 minutes. The rest of the time, they defended. The following week, the All Blacks scored 10 tries and Italy never saw the tryline.

But the misfortunes of the Wallabies go further than the team. Rugby is in crisis at home.

The juniors have not reached the semifinals of the under-20s in the world since 2011. And in Super Rugby, the Western Forces were forced to improve the other franchises, and that failed. A series of 40 defeats against New Zealand franchises was not broken until May. The poor results of the Australian teams meant that there was no viable alternative to the national coach Michael Cheika, who should have been sacked on October 7, the day after the victory. against the Silverabies by Argentina 45-34 against 31-7 in Salta. Despite the return, the Wallabies were awful.

If the Australian Rugby Union had pulled the trigger, Cheika would have understood. He was appointed in October 2014 after the shock resignation of Ewen McKenzie. In one year, the Wallabies were in the finals of the Rugby World Cup 2015 and Cheika was the global coach of the year.

But since then, he has led them to 17 victories in 42 tests. It is too late to get rid of Cheika, but the Wallabies need a new voice, new eyes and a new inspiration.

– by Foster Niumata

7. SCOTLAND

If the Rugby World Cup was next year in Scotland, the host would be a title contender. Until the Scots have overcame their rash, they are a pony in a round. And the trick is to play them away from Murrayfield. The Scots are well equipped: the pack is usually fierce and the back is exciting. But Wales showed Cardiff early this month that the Scots had a mental block far from home. And it still looks like Japan – host of the Rugby World Cup – who will have to qualify to reach the quarter-finals.

South Africa broke into Murrayfield Castle this month, and if it was "the one who escaped", then beating Argentina was "the one they escaped with". The Scots were second in all stats against the Pumas, but they triumphed with Murrayfield. They never stopped believing and winning was quite honorable. However, the experience of playing two No 10, Finn Russell and Adam Hastings, was undecided.

– by Foster Niumata

9. FRANCE

A draw with Japan a year ago cost Guy Novés his coaching job in France. A defeat against Fiji, however, should not be expensive for his successor, Jacques Brunel.

Brunel has won as many tests as Noves last year – three – but the Tricolors are in better shape, even though they are subject to terrible mistakes, in Fiji, against which they were "little boys" ", according to Mathieu Bastareaud.

Brunel seems to have a little more room to maneuver. Before the team was educated in Fiji, they lost at the last minute to South Africa and defeated Argentina to avoid their worst run of losses in nearly 50 years.

Fiji has put a brake on France's rising expectations. But after juniors have won the U20 World title in June, the optimism of young talent could still be salvation.

– by Foster Niumata

10. ARGENTINA

The Pumas were the only category 1 team to change coaches this year. It worked. Mario Ledesma left the Super Rugby Jaguares, the Jaguares donned Pumas jerseys and the team immediately seemed well packed. Two victories do not seem respectable, but the Pumas form a "big picture". Unlike most other teams, they consider the destination more important than the trip. The results are now less important than reaching the Rugby World Cup, and in that respect, they were on the right track in finishing the best year they had started. They were competitive this month until last quarter against Ireland, France and Scotland. Exhaustion settled after the same team played Super Rugby and Rugby Championship.

Ledesma's bosses relaxed the rules to allow him to choose players based abroad, but in addition to asking for some props, he only stuck with Jaguares, who reached the playoffs Super Rugby playoffs for the first time. The injured European soldiers, Ramiro Herrera and Juan Figallo, were forgotten this month, as Scrum Pumas creaked and groaned. But the experience was invaluable. Agustin Creevy retired as captain after four years, but the threat remained threatening, and the new loose striker, Rodrigo Bruni, looked like a rising star. Upon arrival in Japan, they will find their exiles and will undoubtedly be stronger.

– by Foster Niumata

15. ITALY

In Italy, the November home series was a success. Georgia has been beaten. Thanks to the comfortable victory of 28-17, Italy can no longer afford to replace in the Six Nations the Georgians, the seventh best team in Europe. The Italians, however, still have chances to take the wooden spoon in the next Six Nations.

Former Irish halfback Conor O 'Shea promised an improvement when he took control of Italy in June 2016. There have been. He works from clubs and Italian teams earn more. The change comes into force and O Shea, who is not afraid to give caps to newcomers, has more and more talent.

But discipline and neglected errors still weigh on the Azzurri. They ran the Wallabies but were outclassed by the All Blacks this month. Playing without injured captain Sergio Parisse always looked the same as when he was playing.

O. Shea notes progress but admits that "there is still a very, very long way to go."

– by Daniella Matar