New Zealand have dominated the last two Rugby World Cups.

IF THERE is one thing Kiwis are undeniably arrogant about, it’s their rugby.

The cockiness of All Blacks supporters as they flock into stadiums and bars ahead of a Test match anywhere in the world is as plain to see as the flat black jersey they so proudly wear.

Stuff.co.nz’s Duncan Johnstone perfectly captured this feeling of egotism when he said that “New Zealand is the powerhouse of world rugby”.

“With two consecutive World Cup wins and the Highlanders reasserting New Zealand’s Super Rugby dominance last year, these are rosy times for the Kiwi game,” Johnstone said.

“Let’s rejoice in it. Someone always has to be setting the standards in sport and when it comes to rugby, it might as well be New Zealand where the national game remains cherished.

“It’s up to the rest of the world to catch up.”

While the All Blacks are certainly not unbeatable, as the Wallabies proved in last year’s Rugby Championship, it’s hard to argue with their record.

With more Rugby World Cups to their name than any other nation, and their fierce monopoly of the No. 1 IRB world ranking, it is time for us to begrudgingly admit that people like Johnstone might actually be right.

In the latest flex of its ever growing muscles, New Zealand rugby delivered a hefty blow to Wales on Tuesday, when the Waikato Chiefs became the first Kiwi Super Rugby team in history to defeat an international side. No small feat by any means, not only did the two-time Super Rugby champions beat the Welsh, they crushed them 40-7.

An undermanned Welsh side only managed to prove the power of New Zealand rugby.Source:AFP

In fairness, the touring side were resting a significant number of their first XV starters, with just a handful of players backing up from their 39-21 loss against the All Blacks on Saturday. However, Wales could hardly argue the lack of talent in their side given skipper Sam Warburton played more than half the match, along with large cameos from British and Irish Lions representatives Jamie Roberts and Taulupe Faletau. Not to mention the fact that all players selected on tour were deemed good enough to play for Wales — a nation currently ranked No. 6 on the IRB World Rankings.

To make matters worse, the Chiefs fielded a team completely void of their own international players, making it evermore obvious that the depth of New Zealand rugby is only getting stronger.

In the past six years, since coach Steve Hansen has been at the helm, the All Blacks have lost just three games, drawn two and won 50. Also winning the last two World Cups, New Zealand have improved immeasurably from a darker period following their victory in the 1987 World Cup, which saw them fail to reach the final in all but one of the following five tournaments.

Unfortunately, there is no denying that New Zealand is now the “powerhouse” of rugby — but it doesn’t always have to be that way.

The strength of New Zealand rugby funnels from its status as the Kiwis’ national game. They live and breathe it. Kids are brought up with a rugby ball in their hand, and the feeling that the ultimate success in the sporting world is to become an All Black. It is no coincidence then that their passion develops into overwhelming talent.

If we are to prevent the gap between New Zealand and the rest of the world growing to exponential proportions, more investment must be placed into the development of those countries with the potential to themselves become powerhouses of the sport.

Australia has the talent to become the next rugby powerhouse.Source:AAP

The Wallabies, for example, are currently ranked No. 2 in the world, in a sport played internationally by 102 countries, yet the funding for Australian rugby at the developmental level is limited.

Club rugby, from the junior level right through to the premier division, receives minimal support, with clubs often left to fend financially for themselves. That in turn leads to talented players turning to sports with more monetary pull like AFL or rugby league.

After all, it’s hard to argue the game’s cause when a bottom division amateur rugby league player can earn more in match payments than the best amateur rugby union players in the country.

That said, the financial state of Australian rugby is an argument for another day. The overriding point is that we as a country have the potential to become the next New Zealand — if we invest wisely.

Just think how good Australian rugby could be if we committed even half the resources as our neighbours across the ditch to the game they play in heaven.

If Australia is ever to become a “powerhouse” in one of the most widely enjoyed sports in the world, it needs to give the game a status that backs up our nation’s talent.