In March, the RNZ Sport team previewed the cricket, women's football, netball, basketball and rugby world cups and each team's chance of claiming world glory. Here's a look back at how they each did.
Cricket World Cup
Prediction Black Caps: Moderate chance of winning
Outcome: Second place.
The Black Caps after the infamous loss to England in the Cricket World Cup final. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The Black Caps, while 2015 runners up, weren't expected to repeat their efforts in England.
However, after a string of good form at the start of the tournament (and a bit of luck from the rain), New Zealand managed to qualify for the semi-finals on net run rate, finishing just ahead of fifth placed Pakistan.
The Black Caps played India in the semifinals after their pool match was called off due to rain.
The match was memorable for many reasons - the fact it was played over two days, Ravindra Jadeja's defiant knock of 77 as he chased victory and Martin Guptill's remarkable runout that sealed the win for the Black Caps.
The final against England was just as memorable for New Zealanders, this time for the wrong reasons.
Overthrows and THAT Super Over will forever be etched in the minds of Kiwi cricket fans.
Women's Football World Cup
Prediction for Football Ferns: Unlikely
Outcome: Finished last in their pool
The Football Ferns' Rosie White and Sherida Spitse of the Netherlands in the FIFA Women's World Cup Group E match, Le Havre, France. Photo: Photosport Ltd 2019
The Football Ferns failed to secure a single point in Pool E at the FIFA Women's Football World Cup in France in June.
They lost to all three opponents - the Netherlands, Canada and Cameroon.
New Zealand managed to score just one goal across the three games, all of which were against teams higher ranked in the world.
The expectations of the Football Ferns going deep into the tournament were never really there and the team's result reflected that.
Netball World Cup
Prediction for Silver Ferns: Unlikely
Outcome: World Champions
NZ captain Laura Langman holds the Netball World Cup trophy, with Maria Folau and Phoenix Karaka. Photo: Photosport
After a horror 2018, the Silver Ferns defied all odds and critics at the 2019 Netball World Cup in Liverpool.
The team lost only one match in the lead up to the finals - against arch rivals Australia.
The Ferns put the ghosts of their fourth-place finish at the 2018 Commonwealth Games behind them and went on to beat hosts England in the semifinals and then a one-goal victory over the Diamonds in the final.
The title, their fifth, was a fitting way for many veterans such as Casey Kopua and Maria Folau to end their careers as well as vindication for player Katrina Rore who had to fight her way back into the side.
It also solidified the fact that coach Noeline Taurua was the right woman to lead the side.
Basketball World Cup
Prediction for Tall Blacks: Unlikely
Outcome: Finished third in their pool
Rob Loe during the FIBA World Cup Basketball 2019 match against Montenegro Photo: Photosport / Jayne Russell
The Tall Blacks came up against a tough pool that featured Brazil, Montenegro and Greece (all teams ranked higher than them) at the World Cup in China.
For New Zealand to have any chance of qualifying for the final 16, the team would have to win at least two of their three matches.
However, a third-quarter lapse in their opening game against Brazil cost them a chance of victory, losing 102-94 and put them on the back foot immediately.
They recovered well against Montenegro, beating the European side 93-83 thanks to a dominant performance from shooting guard Corey Webster.
The side then met Greece, ranked ninth in the world at the time and led by NBA MVP Giannis Antetekounmpo, in their final match of the pool stage.
Antetekounmpo single-handedly took the match away from New Zealand, with Greece winning 103-97 and qualifying for the final 16, just one point ahead of the Tall Blacks.
New Zealand ended the tournament on a high, winning their final two matches against Japan and former runners up Turkey to finish 19th out of 32 teams and reach the 2020 Olympic qualifier.
Rugby World Cup
Prediction for All Blacks : Very likely to win
Outcome: Third
England dominated every facet of the semi-final match as they beat the All Blacks 19-7. Photo: AFP
The back-to-back champion All Black side may not have gone into the Rugby World Cup in Japan as the number ranked side, but they were still favourites to win it.
That was justified by their first match, beating long-time rivals South Africa 23-13.
The team ended up going unbeaten in pool play, with convincing wins over Canada and Namibia, as well as the called off match against Italy due to Typhoon Hagibis.
In the quarterfinals, the All Blacks picked up where they left off in the pool stage, crushing Irish hearts with a resounding 46-14 victory.
However, the world came crashing back down on New Zealand the very next week when the team was on the receiving end of a trouncing of their own - a 19-7 loss to England.
As RNZ reporters put it at the time - it was the first time many had seen the All Blacks completely outplayed in a long time by Eddie Jones' men.
The All Blacks redeemed themselves of sorts in the third place playoff, dominating Wales 40-17 to cap off the international careers of coach Steve Hansen, captain Kieran Read, Sonny Bill Williams, Ryan Crotty and Ben Smith.
England, meanwhile, were shown up in the final - beaten by South Africa 32-12.
The All Blacks perform the haka before the semi-final against England and New Zealand in Yokohama. Photo: Behrouz Mehri / AFP
