The All Blacks are aiming to make history at the Rugby World Cup in Japan in 2019.
In 2015, they became the first national rugby team to win the Cup twice in a row. Now they are aiming to make that three.
For the All Blacks, it has been a tournament history of two halves. The New Zealand national team started well - it won the first Rugby World Cup in 1987. But for the next 24 years, the team never quite lived up to that heady start. Its low point came in 2007 when the All Blacks, usually one of the best rugby sides in the world if not the best, lost in a quarter-final to France.
All Black fans celebrate before kick-off at the RWC 2015 final. Photo: PhotoSport
But the All Blacks broke the hoodoo in 2011, beating France 8-7 in the finals of the Cup held in New Zealand. The All Blacks were crowned champions in 2011 and 2015 and have dominated world rugby since then.
The question is; can they do it a third time?
For more coverage of the All Blacks: https://www.radionz.co.nz/tags/All%20Blacks
All Blacks fixtures at the 2019 Rugby World Cup, Japan
The All Blacks are drawn in Pool B with South Africa, Italy, Namibia and one more country still to qualify.
The All Blacks will play:
South Africa, known as the Springboks, on Saturday September 21 at 6.45pm at the Yokohama Stadium.
It will be Saturday 9.45pm in New Zealand.
For more on the Springboks: https://www.radionz.co.nz/tags/Springboks
A final qualifying country on Wednesday October 2 at 7.15pm in the City of Toyota Stadium.
It will be Wednesday 11.15pm in New Zealand.
Namibia on Sunday October 6 at 1.45pm in the Tokyo Stadium.
It will be Sunday 5.45pm in New Zealand.
