Stephen Jones can't see a northern hemisphere team challenging for honours at the 2011 Rugby World Cup in The Times.
"It has come to my attention that there are one or two of you out there who do not want New Zealand to win the 2011 World Cup. This is very uncharitable. Naturally I am rooting for the All Blacks to take the title, and for the nation to accept this triumph with its usual modesty, good grace and concern for the beaten sides.
"However, it must be said that following the France-England match last week in Paris, all those contemptible people who do wish ill on New Zealand will now be very worried indeed. Especially with Ireland in a possible decline, I simply cannot see that a European team can come remotely close to winning next year in New Zealand, and so we could be relying on the Springboks to do the necessary.
"Let us deal with France first. They have been very good this season. But for me, the frailties they showed on Saturday evening were marked, and very worrying indeed. When they found that England were hanging on grimly and turning in a good performance, you could almost see their legs and their minds turn to jelly."
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