Australia set to beat England, New Zealand in medal count

DON’T worry about the mossies and the muggers … the big question of the Rio Games is whether Australia can beat the Kiwis and the Poms.

Jared Tallent is a strong chance to claim his second gold medal in Rio.

DON’T worry about the mossies and the muggers … the big question of the Rio Games is whether Australia can beat the Kiwis and the Poms.

Great Britain slaughtered Australia on the gold medal tally in London – 29 to eight – and the Kiwis almost pulled our pants down as well, winning six gold after a shrewdly planned funding campaign.

However, internationally renowned Dutch-based medal forecaster Gracenote has encouraging news for Australian fans, tipping Great Britain’s gold medal tally to slide to 10 and New Zealand to finish on the same total.

Australia are tipped to win 14 gold, twice their initial haul from London before walker Jared Tallent was recently promoted to champion status following the disqualification of a Russian drug cheat.

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Jared Tallent is a strong chance to claim his second gold medal in Rio.

Australian Sports Commission chairman John Wylie has been keeping a close watch on New Zealand for the past year, sensing their looming threat and noting that had it not been for Australia’s sailors winning three gold medals, the Kiwis would have won more golds than Australia in London.

The New Zealand Herald’s chief sports reporter David Leggat senses his nation will improve on their London effort in a Games stalked by security fears and the mosquito-induced Zika virus.

“There are high hopes in New Zealand for a strong medal haul out of Rio,’’ Leggat said. “There’s a danger in this of course that expectations will outstrip reality.

“It’s an old joke in New Zealand Olympic sport that we’re a decent chance when we can sit down. This year won’t be any different, so think rowing, canoeing, sailing, the equestrian three-day event and the cycling team sprint and the pursuit.

“Throw in double Olympic champion shot putter Val Adams, and perhaps the two rugby sevens and you can get up towards 10 gold medals, which would be New Zealand’s best and a terrific return.’’

Although New Zealand have won just 43 Olympic golds to Australia’s 143 in Games history, they did finish ahead of Australia in the gold medal tally at the Los Angeles (1984), Montreal (1976) and Berlin (1936) Games.

Five time Olympian Natalie Cook senses the rich rivalry between Australia and New Zealand and Great Britain will be as strong as ever in Rio.

“Britain just put so much funding in the London Games you would think that what goes up must come down because that was their crescendo,’’ Cook said.

“Ten seems high for the Kiwis but there are the rugby teams. I think any Australian teams who were beaten by the Kiwis last time will be determined for revenge in Rio.’’