BRENDAN GALLAGHER runs his expert eye over the Rugby Championship contenders ahead of next weekend’s big kick-off

New Zealand have lost only two of their 27 Rugby Championship matches to date – there was also a draw against Australia in 2014 – so the search for signs of weakness is clearly on-going. Nothing thus far has derailed them, other than the quickfire three-match tournament in 2015 ahead of the World Cup when a rare loss first up in Australia put them on the back foot and saw the All Blacks finish runners up.
But perhaps there is a glimmer of hope this...