All Blacks reign outside World Cups
Roar Guru By James Mortimer, 3 Dec 2008 James Mortimer is a Roar Guru
- Tagged:
- Brad Thorn, Graham Henry, Jonah Lomu, New Zealand, Northern Hemisphere, Richard Kahui, Rugby Union, South Africa, Super Rugby, Tri Nations, Wayne Smith
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The Test season for 2008 has closed, and one poor game in Cardiff last October has not dethroned New Zealand from the summit of world rugby. The results we have seen this year is a form of savage redemption for the All Black faithful.
It is insulting to World Rugby, and to New Zealand to state “best between World Cups”, for that would indicate that no other rugby except the William Webb Ellis Trophy is significant.
But since 2003, the All Blacks have been unchallenged as the form team of World Rugby – being only bettered by England in 2003 and South Africa in 2007.
In this time, the All Blacks have recorded at least ten wins a season, and this year recorded a magical thirteen wins, the best in a non World Cup calendar year.
In this six year period, New Zealand has only tasted defeat ten times; have never lost the Bledisloe; held the Tri Nations five times; recorded two Grand Slams; and only twice lost to the Northern Hemisphere teams.
However, in the same epoch, a World Cup has twice been up for grabs, and New Zealand has fallen, for a myriad of reasons, on the grandest of rugby stages.
Indeed, the All Blacks have now effectively lost – or choked – in their last three World Cups.
The paramount achievement of both the coaching staff and the All Blacks in 2008 is that, for the first time in years, we are seeing a systematic ironing out of weak points in the on-field character, mindset and positional roles of the team.
There has been no real consternation this year. Every single position has a number one ranked player, and although second fifteen depth is not as strong as recent years, there are options behind the incumbents.
Despite the ocular appearance of the top team, Henry has still ensured that the fringe players have been exposed.
This will make such men far stronger in next year’s Super 14.
We also have seen the chronic problem position of New Zealand rugby fixed, with both Conrad Smith and Richard Kahui both world class outside centres.
But it is the mentality and plan of the All Blacks that has matured unlike ever before. We no longer see the All Blacks endeavouring to strike a killer punch early, but instead absorb punishment before counter striking with menacing efficiency.
Emancipation of the sins a year past has been achieved. Now the sole challenge for this young team (only Brad Thorn is over 30), is to stay at the zenith.
The best team in the world they may be, but greatness will elude the All Blacks until they take back the only Trophy they have not claimed since 1991.
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December 3rd 2008 @ 2:25pm
SouthernWaratah said | December 3rd 2008 @ 2:25pm | Report comment
As a Wallabies Supporter whenever the RWC debate comes up with my Kiwi mates and they always ask “is the RWC the be all and end all” My reply is
1. That is purely a comment of fans who don’t remember or know the feeling of wining a World Cup and until NZ win one in a modern era then the 87’ one will continue to have its tag of “Does it really count” (of course it does)
2. If a champion sprinter was to win every 100m event in his career but continually fail at the Olympics in the quarters or Semi’s then you would have to say he/she hasn’t truly achieved. For me you can win every 100m race under the sun but if you don’t win an Olympics 100m then you just won’t be remembered.
This translates to Rugby, All my NZ mates love rattling off stats and this article has an element off it, about how statically NZ is the best team in the world – WAIT – I’ll give you a tip… The rugby community knows NZ is the best team in the world we never argue that, (we’ll never admit it to you either other wise we won’t hear the end of it), but you won’t get any credit until you win another world cup.
Carl Lewis would have been nothing with out his Olympic medals; I can’t even start to tell you how many events he won out side of the Olympics.
NZ rugby will continue to be the bunt of all chocking jokes until they can close a world cup deal. I fear if you don’t win at home in 2011 then it may never happen…
December 3rd 2008 @ 3:55pm
Sam Taulelei said | December 3rd 2008 @ 3:55pm | Report comment
As much as it pains me to say this I have to agree. The World Cup is the pinnacle of our sport and is up for grabs every four years, there is no doubt that we are historically and statistically the most successful team in the history of the sport but – we can’t close the deal come world cup time.
At least our lack of success at the world cup offers many other teams hope, imagine if our success in between world cups also transpired at world cups, how boring would that be for rugby as a world sport?
As a proud Kiwi I can accept that we choke at world cups and I don’t entertain for a second that if we fail again in 2011 that we’ll never win another world cup, where there’s a will there’s a way.
December 3rd 2008 @ 4:11pm
B Johnson said | December 3rd 2008 @ 4:11pm | Report comment
We hear this so often,(in between World Cups) “the mistakes are being ironed out, steely resolve, maturing of players etc etc.”
The bottom line is that all has not been rosy for the AB’s(according to their own high standards), a loss at home, well beaten in Sydney and a reliance on McCARTER to be fit and available. This obviously does not take away from their marvellous performances this year, they deserve to be the number one ranked team.
December 3rd 2008 @ 5:00pm
sheek said | December 3rd 2008 @ 5:00pm | Report comment
This might be a big call, but I’m almost moved to say I might be happy to swap ABs RWC record with Wallas. Operative word being ‘might’.
You have to admire ABs record year-in, year-out. At RWC they have been beaten by sheer inspiration in 1991 & 2003 (Australia on both occasions), probably hubris & over-confidence in 1999 & 2007 (France on both occasions) & once by divine intervention in 1995 (South Africa & Nelson Mandela).
The ABs may well win in 2011, & we’ll all complain their overall dominance of rugby union is unhealthy!
December 3rd 2008 @ 5:46pm
brad said | December 3rd 2008 @ 5:46pm | Report comment
They just need to win one cup and will then dominate like they do the Tri-nations and 7′s series. 70% winning margin is exceptional. Without the All Blacks dominance rugby union would not be so popular they are the flag bearers of the sport and depite world cups are well regarded as the team to beat.
December 3rd 2008 @ 6:30pm
ohtani's jacket said | December 3rd 2008 @ 6:30pm | Report comment
The way I see it, we’ve only had two teams that were good enough to win it. The ’95 team and the 2007 team.
The ’95 side went on to dominate world rugby for two years, claiming New Zealand’s first ever series victory in South Africa and a host of other trophies. The 2008 side won everything on offer. I think New Zealanders should be tremendously proud of these sides, regardless of whether they won a World Cup. Losing in a World Cup is the worst thing that can happen to a NZ rugby player, and I think it shows a lot of character to pick yourself up for the next season. Another good example is the ’92 All Blacks giving the Wallabies a hell of a Bledisloe series.
Cup or no Cup, they take some pride in their performance and their Test results, and I genuinely believe that one day we’ll win the World Cup again. To date the expectation has been that any All Black side can win a World Cup, but that ’87 side was an exceptionally good side and it’ll take another exceptional side to win it again.
December 3rd 2008 @ 7:56pm
sheek said | December 3rd 2008 @ 7:56pm | Report comment
Richie McCaw is arguably the greatest openside flanker in the history of the game. Simply can’t see him ending his career without RWC glory.
Mostly, the truly great players win a RWC: 87-Fitzpatrick, Jones; 91-Campese, Lynagh, Farr-Jones, Poidevin; 95-Pienaar, Joost; 99-Eales, Horan, Little, Wilson; 03-Johnson, Hill, Vickery, Robinson; 07-du Randt, Smit.
December 3rd 2008 @ 9:26pm
James Mortimer said | December 3rd 2008 @ 9:26pm | Report comment
Of course, both now and in 2011, there will be comments of choking, over hyped, haven’t won a World Cup for a trillion years, and all the associated baggage.
But, such remarks only come from having a team, that by and large, is regarding as being consistently the finest in world rubgy, and with such – has expectation.
One would think that on home soil, if the bulk of this current team stays intact (lads such as Carter, McCaw and Nonu have all got contracts till 2011) the All Blacks should be hard to beat.
I think a positive indication has been the All Blacks response to the news they have been drawn in the same pool as France. They view this as a revenge game of sorts, and will look forward to having the opportunity not only to come out all guns blazing (as they do for all world cups) but to come against powerful opposition early in the tournament.
The fact that most of these All Blacks are 26-27 now – and with proper management will be around 30 by the time of the next World Cup. Bear in mind that every cup winning team has always had solid buildup leading into cup.
As OJ says, the All Blacks have shown alot of pride and character to have a season such as this – and while I am never in a hurry to rush time, only two more seasons and then we are in a World Cup year.
It would be nice to see the All Blacks win in 2011, and finally square World Cup wins with Australia and South Africa – which deep down hurts every kiwi rugby supporter. But even if they don’t, odds are called odds for nothing, and eventually, the drought will break.
It bloody better.
December 4th 2008 @ 10:08am
SouthernWaratah said | December 4th 2008 @ 10:08am | Report comment
To Sheek,
Richie may very well be the greatest but I’ll argue that George Smith may very well end his career with the same tag, he was the one that started the scavenging of the ball at test level years ago as a starry eyed 21 year old.
It’s not simply enough to say because Richie is the best that he’ll end with RWC glory. He had the opportunity last time round – and as captain – to order a drop goal. John Smit in the end held the cup high as he got his team over the line with great captaincy. Johnson did the same as did Eales.
I think one of the problems that comes out of NZ and having a great side is that its expected and almost the perceived attitude that its New Zealand’s God given right to win it. Look at the Rugby League world cup… for every reason imaginable Australia should have one that, they had the best players in the world in almost every position. That’s just not enough to win a world title in any sporting event.
December 4th 2008 @ 11:22am
ohtani's jacket said | December 4th 2008 @ 11:22am | Report comment
Josh Kronfeld was scavenging for the ball long before Smith ever thought about growing his hair out.