All Blacks still the team to beat

THE three southern hemisphere giants step up their World Cup preparations with the start of the Tri Nations this weekend — but the tournament is unlikely to prove an accurate guide as to who will lift the William Webb Ellis trophy in Auckland in October.

The tournament has been truncated for the final edition in its current incarnation – Argentina are set to join in 2012 – with sides only playing each other home and away due to the timing of the World Cup.

South Africa’s form ahead of the defence of their world crown is likely to be the most difficult to judge, with coach Peter de Villiers claiming that 21 senior players are carrying injuries.