January 30, 2013 at 5:54 p.m.

World-class players on show in Classic


By James [email protected] | Comments: 0 | Leave a comment

World class rugby, plenty of booze and a week of goof times - it must be November.

The World Rugby Classic is back for another year of exploits on and off the pitch.

On the playing-front the teams look stronger than ever with younger, fitter squads set to bring hard, competitive rugby.

And fans and players will also have the chance to party just as hard with the black and cokes flowing pitch side.

As well as the nightly action in the hospitality tents, there's a street party to kick things off on the opening Saturday and the 'On the Waterfront, Up Front Party' to bring things to a conclusion the following Friday at Barrs Bay Park.

Partygoers will have just enough time to recover for finals day on November 15.

But who will be there?

The mighty Springboks are the team to beat once again. They've won three of the last four Classics and with world-class players like Bobby Skinstad, Robbie Flek and Breyton Paulse in the squad this time, they're everybody's favourites.

The South Africans have still got some way to go to break the record for the most wins at this event though.

The Classic All Blacks hold the record with seven titles in total. South Africa and the Lions are next with four-a-piece.

New Zealand may be the top dogs historically but they haven't won a title since 1996 and have had more success on the golf course than on the rugby pitch at recent Classics.

They are hoping that run is about to change but it's the South Africans, the Lions and the French that the pundits prefer this time around.

It's easy to see why.

All three squads are packed with players with plenty of international experience including Shane Byrne (Lions) Christian Califano (France) and Bobby Skinstad (South Africa) (see profiles page 6)

But tournaments aren't won on paper and anything can happen on any given night. So read and enjoy the supplement, get down to the national centre and have a great Classic - on the pitch and in the bar.

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