Rugby Union - Rugby World Cup - New Zealand's news conference - Yokohama Stadium, Yokohama, Japan, September 20, 2019. New Zealand's head coach Steve Hansen looks on. REUTERS/Annegret Hilse
YOKOHAMA, Japan (Reuters) - As many as six teams could win this year's World Cup, double the number of contenders four years ago, New Zealand coach Steve Hansen said on Friday ahead of his side's opening clash with South Africa, one of the tournament's other favourites.
The All Blacks' decade-long reign at the top of the world rankings came to an end in recent weeks, first losing the mantle to 2019 Six Nations winners Wales and then Ireland, who won the northern hemisphere's premier annual tournament the year before.
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