For more than 20 years, even the All Blacks wondered whether they had a problem they were never going to cure. They had become the sporting equivalent of Achilles, immortal but for one flaw.
That flaw was the World Cup. They won the first one in 1987, playing the sort of dynamic, highly skilled rugby that everyone knew them for. They were way too good in that inaugural tournament and used it to confirm that they were the world’s best side.
It felt right that the All Blacks should be the first winners. They had, by any definition, been the most dominant side in the game up until that point.
They were, sort of, the unofficial world champions when there was no tournament to actually determine who was the best…
