At the end of last year the All Blacks rugby team had been named the International Rugby Board (IRB) Team of the Year for 2010. This puts them within the box seat as favourites for that 2011 World Cup in New Zealand. Becoming favourites in Rugby World Cup years is not new to the All Blacks. They were virtually unbackable favourites leading into the 2007 World Cup, before becoming eliminated within the quarter final by France. They were also among the favourites to win the 2003 and 1999 World Cups, but were stopped short both times. In reality, regardless of consistently becoming one of the main teams in world rugby, the All Blacks are actually unable to win the highly coveted World Cup considering that the inaugural tournament New Zealand co-hosted with Australia later. The All Blacks will likely be hoping to put their notorious standing of peaking between Rugby World Cups to their rear in front of their house fans on the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.
The All Blacks are New Zealand's men's representative rugby team and are widely considered to be the most productive teams in sport. Considering that the IRB introduced its team of the year award in 2001, the brand new Zealand All Blacks have won four from the ten times. Even though it took them before 2005 season to win the award, they have considering that won four of the six years. They keep having powerful representation inside other IRB awards also. In 2010 their coach Graham Henry also won his fourth coach of the year IRB award and All Black captain Richie McCaw won player of the year for the third time, both records in their respective fields. In reality, no other coach or player has even won the awards twice. Key playmaker Daniel Carter won you of the year award in 2005. Joined with McCaw's 3 title wins, and All Black has won the IRB rugby player of the year award four with the last six years, another statistic that reflects the All Blacks' dominance on the international stage throughout the last six years. With an all new Zealander winning the junior or under 19 player of the year award for the last four years in a row, All Blacks fans will be hoping that it can be a sign their success will continue.
The New Zealand All Blacks 1st took part in 1884. Because then they've only been beaten by five teams and gaze after a 75% winning record. They are also the only international rugby union team to have a winning record against each test nation they have played. Because the IRB introduced world rankings in 2003 the All Blacks have held the number one position longer than all of those other teams combined. Their playing kit can be a distinctive black jersey which has a silver fern on the chest, a brand new Zealand national emblem. Additionally, they wear black shorts and socks. Just before games they perform the haka, a normal Maori dance, typically used like a war dance.
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