Who do the All Blacks Fear the Most Now?

The All Blacks return to Twickenham less than a year after their humiliating 38-21 defeat to England which left a sour taste for the summer on an otherwise outstanding 2012.

Despite that defeat, the All Blacks' record against England is still very good even if England, along with France, South Africa and Australia are certainly the ABs' most formidable opponents statistically - the ABs have a 77.14% record against the English, their 4th worst behind France, Australia and South Africa (not counting the British & Irish Lions and World XV).

But with a Rugby World Cup at home looming as well as tremendous financial backing behind the game particularly in the academy along with the population factor, you could say that England loom as one of the All Blacks' rising threats in the next couple of seasons.

Mind you, England have said that many times in the past, especially after winning the 2003 Rugby World Cup, only for the brief rise to prove to be a false dawn. Indeed, the crest that English rugby rode following their defeat of the ABs last year lasted through the Six Nations only for it to flatten at the wrong time - a Grand Slam and Championship decider at the Millenium Stadium against bitter rivals, Wales, who stole the Championship right at the death.

Losing the Championship - and chance of a Grand Slam - at the end of the 2012/13 season was a bitter blow

It was bitter disappointment for Stuart Lancaster's young Roses but perhaps captain, Chris Robshaw, was right in an earlier quote - it was best not to win the Grand Slam so early as it would heap more pressure on them to deliver at home come 2015.

Indeed, Sir Clive Woodward's men encountered heartbreak after heartbreak until they won the Grand Slam in emphatic fashion in 2003 - this would lead to World Cup success later that autumn.

There is definitely no doubt that the English game is rising fast and many young players are coming through the ranks, giving the English plenty of depth. They are also starting to play a more expansive brand of rugby to compliment their traditional brawn - even if this wasn't quite evident against a rugged Argentina side which England have struggled with in recent times.

So are England the All Blacks' greatest foes in world rugby at the moment?

Les Bleus gave the ABs a stern test in Paris on Saturday

Perhaps, but there is still France who always give the All Blacks a good fight especially in a crunch Rugby World Cup game. Even if they're not quite at their best, Les Bleus are always a factor and a side that the All Blacks respect. But France haven't yet shown the consistency to be able to beat the All Blacks on a regular basis.

Forget Australia who are an absolute rabble right now - the ABs have held the Bledisloe Cup for 10 years now and definitely hold a big psychological edge over their trans-Tasman rivals. The Wallabies are no longer the force that they were during the Eales/Gregan/Larkham times.

Which leaves us with South Africa.

The Boks remain a formidable threat

Good old South Africa. A side who have consistently challenged the All Blacks for world domination as long as international rugby has been played. South Africa, like England, has the population factor as well as financial backing and a good culture of developing players.

If the ABs are to world rugby what Brazil are to football, then South Africa could be Holland. No other nation is able to produce as many good players and the rugby factory in South Africa will continue to produce tremendous backs and forwards for years to come, as long as the game remains popular there.

Perhaps what is stopping South Africa from beating the All Blacks, is that they're in a transition stage, replacing the likes of John Smit, Schalk Burger, Fourie du Preez, etc. with the new talented generation - a bit like what the All Blacks were 10 years ago perhaps.

It just shows you that you may have all the talent, but as the ABs have shown - experience is absolutely priceless.

So sorry England fans - and media - but South Africa remain New Zealand's most revered rival in rugger.