The England rugby union head coach, Stuart Lancaster, has said the All Blacks are currently the best team in world sport. "You would have to say so because of their record," he said before England's match with New Zealand this weekend. "To achieve what they have done on the back of winning a World Cup when teams traditionally take a dip and rest on their laurels … they have managed to retain the hunger and desire to keep winning.

"In world sport could you tell me a team that has a record like that internationally? I don't think any of the football teams have got it. Spain, for example? In cricket no one has it."

Is Lancaster right, though? He's talking about contemporary international teams rather than sides from the past (so the likes of USA's Dream Team and the great West Indies cricket teams are out).

Here are a few nominations:

Spain football team

One of the greatest football teams of all time, they have won the last two European Championships and the 2010 World Cup but there are signs that their time at the top is coming to an end. They were well beaten by Brazil in the final of the Confederations Cup and are only fourth-favourites to win the World Cup next year, behind Brazil, Germany and Argentina.

New Zealand rugby union team

See Lancaster's comments above. Current world champions, and they were undefeated at this year's Rugby Championship (and, for that matter, in last year's tournament too).

Australia rugby league team

New Zealand are actually the current world champions but there's little doubt the Kangaroos are the best rugby league side in the world. They've won all their matches at the current World Cup so far, although admittedly that's against weak opposition such as Fiji, Ireland and – gag alert – England. They've contested 13 World Cups and won nine of them. It would be a surprise if they didn't make that 10.

USA basketball team

Admittedly, this depends on whether they send out a full-strength side, and that only usually occurs at the Olympics, but they're an awesome team when they do. While the current batch of players probably wouldn't be a match for the 1992 Dream Team, LeBron, Kobe and Co won all their games in London and took the gold with room to spare (as did their female counterparts).

British Olympic cycling team

The host nation were completely dominant in the velodrome (less so on the road) at the London Olympics. They won eight golds altogether, no other team won more than one. Then again, what do you expect from a team with magic wheels?

South Africa Test cricket team

OK, so they're not up there with the great West Indies or Australia teams of the past but they're a pretty tasty proposition nonetheless. They top the ICC Test rankings by some distance and in the player rankings, have the top two batsmen and bowlers. So they're quite good then.