Experience or youth: which is best approach?

 

Roar Guru

By Sam Taulelei, 25 Jun 2010 Sam Taulelei is a Roar Guru

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 All Blacks, Ben Alexander, Benn Robinson, Rugby Union, Stephen Moore, Tatafu Polota-Nau, wallabies, Wycliff Palu

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The current All Blacks are on track to becoming the most capped All Black side in history, if the majority of the starting team this Saturday are selected for next year’s World Cup squad.

Compare the Test caps of the starting forward pack this weekend against Wales to that of the starting forward pack in the quarterfinal against France in 2007.

All Blacks v Wales, 2nd test 2010 All Blacks v France, RWC quarterfinal 2007
Kieran Read (24) 18 tests Rodney So’oialo (28) 41 tests
Richie McCaw (29) 82 tests Richie McCaw (26) 59 tests
Jerome Kaino (27) 26 tests Jerry Collins (27) 48 tests
Brad Thorn (35) 39 tests Ali Williams (26) 47 tests
Tom Donnelly (28) 6 tests Chris Jack (28) 67 tests
Neemia Tialata (27) 42 tests Carl Hayman (27) 45 tests
Keven Mealamu (31) 73 tests Anton Oliver (31) 59 tests
Tony Woodcock (29) 62 tests Tony Woodcock (26) 37 tests
Total caps 531 Total caps 403

Obviously, the higher number of caps in 2010 is greatly influenced by the contributions of McCaw, Mealamu and Woodcock, whereas in 2007, the spread of Test caps was more evenly distributed.

However, it was noticeable in New Zealand’s first test against Wales the influence and leadership exhibited by the All Blacks senior players in supporting their captain and leading by example, especially in the second half.

The return from injury of other experienced players like Ali Williams and Andrew Hore and probable return of Daniel Braid will also boost the overall number of Test caps and experience in the pack.

With injury forced changes to the All Black backline this week, it would be one of the least experienced selections, especially if Muliaina wasn’t selected.

However, if the starting backline that played the final Test last year against France is selected for next year’s World Cup then it’s a similar story to the forwards.

All Blacks v France, Marseilles 2009 All Blacks v Wales, 2nd Test 2010
Jimmy Cowan (28) 34 tests Jimmy Cowan (28) 36 tests
Daniel Carter (28) 67 tests Daniel Carter (28) 69 tests
Ma’a Nonu (28) 46 tests Benson Stanley (25) 2 tests
Conrad Smith (28) 33 tests Richard Kahui (25) 9 tests
Sitiveni Sivivatu (28) 43 tests Zac Guildford (21) 3 tests
Cory Jane (27) 13 tests Cory Jane (27) 15 tests
Mils Muliaina (29) 82 tests Mils Muliaina (29) 82 tests
Total caps 318 Total caps 216

Henry stated in an interview this week with the Kiwi media that he is deliberately developing a more mature side in terms of Test experience, saying: “I think you have to have a nucleus of experience in the team, you pick the best players but usually that correlates to age.”

This is in stark contrast to the youth policy pursued by Robbie Deans with the Wallabies.

When you compare the makeup of the All Blacks, Springboks and Wallabies squads, it’s evident that of the three, Australia has the least Test experience amongst its ranks.

The loss of Stirling Mortlock and George Smith has removed a large portion of Test caps from the Wallaby squad, and Nathan Sharpe, who with 82 tests is four shy of becoming the most capped lock in Wallaby history, represents over half the number of Test caps in the current pack.

While players like Wycliff Palu, Benn Robinson, Ben Alexander, Stephen Moore, Tatafu Polota-Nau, and James Horwill are also missing from the forward pack as a group, those players are still underdone comparatively in Test experience when compared to their Springbok and All Black counterparts.

The difference is more pronounced when you compare the number of Test caps in the current Wallabies backline to their SANZAR counterparts and the captaincy experience of McCaw, Smit and Elsom.

McCaw, for example, has captained New Zealand in more than half the number of Tests he’s played in his career and has now equalled the record with Sean Fitzpatrick of most wins as All Blacks captain with 39 of 45.

When playing against teams of lesser ability, that lack of experience isn’t a big issue and is glossed over by comfortable victories that don’t really test player’s mettle and skill under pressure.

When you get into a dogfight and you don’t have the same time and space to operate in, you’re not getting the bounce of the ball or the rub of the green from referees, it’s those experienced players you look towards to lead the fight out of a tight situation.

Over the past week Roarers have been calling for the dropping of several Wallaby players for others, some of whom have also yet to play for their country.

This, more than anything, demonstrates the problem Australia faces when they suffer injuries to their topline players and the gap between them and their next best rivals is substantial.

Deans is sticking to his guns in looking towards the future so there has been no SOS call to experienced front rowers like Al Baxter, Matt Dunning and Adam Freier to shore up their depleted front row ranks.

The message is clear to those players: your time in the Wallaby jersey has passed and we’re moving forward not looking backwards.

There is no quick fix to replacing experience or in gaining it. The only counter for a lack of experience is quality and ability.

Who do you think will get it right?

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