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NICK CAIN

AT a time when ‘Happy New Year’ is the most popular phrase in the Western world, the coaches, players and supporters of each of the four home Unions will be hoping that 2019 is their time to win the World Cup.
But if Ireland, England, Wales and Scotland all have genuine aspirations of becoming world champions in Yokohama nine months from now, it can only be a happy new year for one of them.
And if the near-monopoly of World Cup winners by the Southern Hemisphere big three of New Zealand, South Africa and Australia continues, none ...