What to make of these All Blacks after the damp squib performance against host France in the opening game of the World Cup. They flatter to deceive with blockbuster showings in the echo chamber of local New Zealand matches but the reality is that they have been treading water whilst the rest of the world has been innovating. Take that in for a second, the All Blacks not at the forefront of attacking rugby (now Ireland), defensive rugby (now South Africa) or kicking rugby (now France). They are stuck in between all of the aspects of the game without being exceptional in any of them leading to a mediocre product on the field. The patch up job that is keeping Foster as coach for the World Cup can’t paper over the fact they don’t have the Jimmys and Joes to make the X’s and O’s work.
The lack of game breaking ability has more to do with the light weight forward pack than the backline players who are expected to crack open the defensive lines. They don’t give the dark arts of scrummaging, mauling and tackling the respect it deserves and the last two performances show that. Looking at the current best teams in the world they all have one thing in common, they are big and mean and win the contact point more than they lose it. That would be the first port of call if I was in charge of trying to get them back on track before the end of the World Cup because at this rate they won’t be threatening to make the semi finals. Keep it simple, win the collisions and let your best players win one on win match ups and hope for the best. Looking at the young talent they have coming through the ranks they shouldn’t be worried about the future but they need to be blooded in the ruthless realm of international rugby.
Scott Roberston would be racking his brain in anticipation of taking over this youthful looking team with the lack of forward clout top of mind. Hard, seasoned forwards are not created overnight but rather forged through countless matches getting beaten black and blue. This brings back full circle to the lack of exposure these young forwards are getting playing touch rugby against Australian, Fijian and Samoan teams in the local competition. The scrum is merely a chance to reset the game where teams like South African use it as a weapon to win field position. There is no silver bullet for this World Cup but greater thought needs to be given for them to become relevant again. One cant think of the chaotic way in which New Zealand Rugby (NZR) conducts its business as to how it applies to the rest of the organization. If they can so publicly bungle the appointment of Roberston after the World Cup how much strategic review is happening as to the overall direction of the All Blacks.
This is a long World Cup with many twists and turns ahead so to write off the All Blacks would be foolhardy but taking the emotion out of the performance they produced against France it is very hard to see them threatening for silverware. The world of rugby is better when the All Blacks are at the forefront of innovating so hopefully they can have some honest, sober conversations about how far they have fallen in order to restore them back to the top of the game.
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