2016 Best in Black?: According to Niven Winchester, an Economist at MIT, 2016 has been the All Blacks best ever. "Rugby Vision" is a predictive model assembled by Winchester, who researches Rugby probabilities. The system forecasts the results and margins of victory for all major international and domestic matches. Predictions are calculated based on team ratings using historical data, which is constructed by exchanging points between opponents after a match. Conquering a strong rival means you gain a large number of their ratings points. Rugby Vision's system has therefore determined the 2016 All Blacks as the best ever, due to their consistent victories over high calibre teams.
Damian McKenzie: This will be McKenzie's third test - he was a replacement against Argentina in Buenos Aires last year and he started at Fullback against Italy in Rome on the end of year tour.
Backs: In Rugby the Backs are usually smaller than the Forwards but are quicker and more skilful, needing speed and agility to try and create tries by running into space on the field. The Forwards will battle away at close quarters for possession of the ball, and in turn will give it to the Backs to try and capitalise on possession and territory. In American Football, Running Backs and Wide Receivers would perform comparable roles.
The Rugby Championship: The Rugby Championship is an international Rugby competition which is contested annually by New Zealand, South Africa, Australia & Argentina, and has been in existence since 2012 when Argentina joined the competition. Each team plays the other teams on a home and away basis - except for Rugby World Cup years where the teams only play each other once. The winner of the tournament is the team with the most competition points. Since the competition inception, the All Blacks have won the Rugby Championship every year. Prior to 2012, New Zealand, South Africa & Australia competed in the Tri-Nations tournament, which ran from 1996-2011. Over that period the All Blacks won the Tri-Nations 10 times, with the South Africans & Australians picking up 3 championships apiece.
New Zealand v Australia Rivalry: There has long been a deep sporting rivalry between New Zealand and Australia, that is fierce in its competitiveness but good natured overall. New Zealand and Australian troops have fought alongside each other in many wars, but when it comes to neighbourly sporting contests, Australia - with it's far greater population - are usually victorious. While the New Zealand national Cricket, Rugby League & Netball teams have enjoyed several moments of success against their Australian counterparts, it is Rugby Union that drives the New Zealand's sporting psyche, and the continued domination over Australia is something every Kiwi relishes.