May 24, 2013
The week's top five must-sees,
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The week's top five must-sees,
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Description
The New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport. The All Blacks are the holders of the Rugby World Cup, the International Rugby Board Team of the Year, the leading points scorers of all time and the only international rugby team with a winning record against every Test nation they have played. The All Blacks have held the sport's top international ranking for longer than all other Test nations combined and in over 110 years only five Test nations have ever beaten New Zealand.
New Zealand compete with Argentina, Australia and South Africa in The Rugby Championship — known as the Tri Nations before Argentina's entry in 2012. The All Blacks have won the trophy a record eleven times in the competition's sixteen-year history. They also hold the Bledisloe Cup, which is contested for annually with Australia, and the Freedom Cup — contested annually with South Africa. The defeat of England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales all in one tour, known as a Grand Slam, has been achieved four times by the All Blacks — 1978, 2005, 2008 and 2010.
The All Blacks have won over 75% of their Test matches which is almost 15% more wins than their nearest rivals. They have also been named the IRB Team of the Year six times since 2005. Two members have won the International Rugby Board Player of the Year award, current captain Richie McCaw, and in 2012, Daniel Carter; both McCaw and Carter are the only players to have won the accolade more than once. Fifteen former All Blacks have been inducted into the International Rugby Hall of Fame; four of these are also inductees of the IRB Hall of Fame.
(via Freebase)
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