with about 5-6 weeks before the rugby begins I think it is more open than people suggested a month or two ago.
There is absolutely no doubt that the best three teams are the All Blacks, Wallabies and Springboks, but France at home could provide at least one shock result.
Cannot see any of the home nations really making much progress though.
The Kiwis have just won the tri-nations but the ozzies played pretty well and are certainly in contention again, (especially with Mortlock in sensational form) however I think that the Springboks have to be favourites.
There were loads of excuses when the Boks thrashed England exceeding the 50 points margin in both tests, because England were far from full strength......The Springboks then sent what in reality is something between a second and third team to ANZ, and gave the Ozzies and Kiwis huge scares in both away games, only really losing each game in the last few minutes.
The Bok squad for France includes only 8 or 9 of that touring party...... should be interesting!
There is absolutely no doubt that the best three teams are the All Blacks, Wallabies and Springboks, but France at home could provide at least one shock result.
Cannot see any of the home nations really making much progress though.
The Kiwis have just won the tri-nations but the ozzies played pretty well and are certainly in contention again, (especially with Mortlock in sensational form) however I think that the Springboks have to be favourites.
There were loads of excuses when the Boks thrashed England exceeding the 50 points margin in both tests, because England were far from full strength......The Springboks then sent what in reality is something between a second and third team to ANZ, and gave the Ozzies and Kiwis huge scares in both away games, only really losing each game in the last few minutes.
The Bok squad for France includes only 8 or 9 of that touring party...... should be interesting!