Cape Town - Springbok legend Bryan Habana believes the All Blacks will win the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan.
Speaking to the Stuff.co.nz website, Habana said that the All Blacks would be favourites heading into the tournament despite defeats to the Springboks and Ireland in 2018.
"The All Blacks becoming the first team ever to win three World Cups in a row is very likely," Habana said.
"Ireland will go into this World Cup pretty confident. But, like all previous World Cups, I'm almost certain New Zealand will go into this World Cup as favourites."
If anything, Habana added, New Zealand's troubles in 2018 would make them a more dangerous side in Japan.
"I think they go into this World Cup knowing where they've let themselves down in 2018, knowing there is going to be quite a lot of work-ons, but knowing if they click they're going to be a difficult side to beat in Japan," Habana, who played 124 Tests and scored 67 tries, said.
The defending champion All Blacks are pooled alongside the Boks in Pool B and those two sides will clash in what is expected to be a titanic struggle on September 21 in Yokohama.