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Sean Fitzpatrick's verdict on All Blacks: 'We need our big boys'

By Ned Lester
The players of New Zealand form a huddle during the Rugby World Cup France 2023 match between New Zealand and Namibia at Stadium de Toulouse on September 15, 2023 in Toulouse, France. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

"Ireland came down and gave us a good kicking and we had to change."

The return of key players like Shannon Frizell and Brodie Retallick will boost the forward pack, but every player will need to be fit and firing in order to challenge the bigger packs of the competition.

Discipline will also need to be addressed, as any time spent with fewer players on the park will prove costly.

"Now we need our big boys. France are a big team, Ireland are a big team, South Africa are massive.

'The physical presence of the game now is big, for 80 minutes."

Those three teams along with his native New Zealand are the likely World Cup winners in Fitzpatrick's eyes.

"So, it will either be South Africa, France, New Zealand or Ireland.

"I think France will play South Africa, and I think they can beat South Africa because they are big enough to compete.

"We [New Zealand] will play Ireland and the All Blacks will beat Ireland. Purely because I think we have learnt enough, and as long as we have our big guys available, I don't think Ireland will want to play the All Blacks."