New Zealand face huge test against South Africa in World Cup opener | Robert Kitson

The defending champions have shown vulnerabilities in the buildup which the resurgent Springboks will look to exploitAnyone who says New Zealand’s opening game against South Africa will have no bearing on the outcome of the 2019 Rugby World Cup is either ducking reality or being wilfully evasive. Should the All Blacks lose their first pool fixture in World Cup history it will be a major deal, both for the nations concerned and every other tournament contender.While the All Blacks head coach, Steve Hansen, insists the beaten side can still gallop to glory on the same stretch of turf in Yokohama…