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Pragmatism or romanticism? How will the All Blacks tackle the Rugby World Cup?

20th May, 2015
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There's something slightly off kilter about the way the recording device scandal was played out. (Image: AFP)
Roar Guru
20th May, 2015
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Following on from Digger’s topical article last week about the All Blacks’ World Cup selections I want to discuss what kind of game the All Blacks could be expected to play. This will determine the kind of players they’ll be looking to fill those spots outside the starting XV.

The All Blacks’ game-plan developed under Graham Henry was marked by a departure from the accepted norms of Test rugby – to concede possession and territory to the opposition, backed by strong defence with an emphasis on counter-rucking at the breakdown and an attacking back three to run the ball back.

Fewer numbers were committed to the breakdown in defence and the All Blacks made extensive use of offloads and short passes among their forwards to penetrate defensive lines. The All Blacks scored lots of tries at their peak between 2005 and 2007.

Following the Rugby World Cup 2007 disaster, shifts in thinking were required due to the flawed implementation of the Experimental Law Variations. The All Blacks’ preference for the running game was out of step with how the game was being played between 2008 and 2009, led by the world champion Springboks.

Different skill sets were required and the job descriptions for some positions needed to be redefined.

In 2011, the bold counter-attacking rugby played by the All Blacks in 2010 was only seen in fits and starts. The selection of the back three for the Rugby World Cup squad reflected a change in the tactical approach for the tournament. High on selectors’ criteria were players with high work rates, excellent aerial and kicking skills and low error rates.

The recognised attacking threats in the backline were Dan Carter, Ma’a Nonu and Israel Dagg, so while the All Blacks circa 2011 weren’t going to threaten any tournament try-scoring records, they weren’t going to concede a lot of tries either.

After the defeat to England in 2012, Steve Hansen, who has been involved since 2004, recognised the team needed to evolve and develop into a triple threat to their opposition – one that could run, kick, and physically compete with any team.

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When you consider the composition of the team that played in November last year and compare to the World Cup winning team of 2011, there are some clear differences not only in personnel but also in the skills the incumbents bring to the table.

Ask anyone today to nominate a potential All Black World Cup squad and the line-up would be very predictable. Ask them again what kind of rugby we can expect to see at this year’s World Cup and they’ll tell you lots of rolling mauls, reset scrums and territorial kicking due to expected ground and climate conditions in the UK.

So I was surprised to read of recent developments in securing the release of Waisake Naholo from his contract with Clermont, especially the report from Clermont sporting director Jean-Marc Lhermet.

“We are under an increasing amount of pressure from the New Zealand Rugby Union. And when the All Black machine gets going, it becomes complicated,” Lhermet said.

This was the first public statement from anyone that there was interest from the New Zealand Rugby Union/All Blacks in Naholo. Despite his impressive performances for the Highlanders this season, I had certainly removed him from my considerations because of his signed overseas contract.

Fans are clamouring for his inclusion while conservatives caution against picking such a raw talent, especially in a World Cup year. Plucking a Super Rugby rookie or fledgling player for the All Blacks isn’t uncommon for Hansen and company, however.

Brodie Retallick, Julian Savea, Charles Piutau, Beauden Barrett, Aaron Smith, Sam Cane, Patrick Tuipulotu, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, TJ Perenara, Stephen Luatua and Malakai Fekitoa were all selected after their debut Super Rugby seasons or sophomore year.

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So what would a bolter selection like Naholo or Nehe Milner-Skudder mean for the All Blacks? Would this be a signal that they will be approaching the World Cup with more attacking intent circa 2007?

Then there are the changes in the coaching box.

Last year Aussie Brian McLean shifted to the new role of opposition analyst and Hansen assumed responsibility of defence. I suspect McLean will also be taking note of how referees are expected to rule on those contentious areas of the game i.e the breakdown and rolling mauls.

This year Wayne Smith has been brought back as defensive co-ordinator which is an astute decision as Smith has one of the keenest minds in the game as well as acknowledgement by the brains trust their defence wasn’t as good as it should be.

In 2013 the All Blacks conceded 115 points in the Rugby Championship and in 2014 they conceded 164. At Johannesburg and Twickenham they conceded soft tries, something they didn’t do in 2013. At international level where the margins of difference are small, there are relatively quick and significant defensive gains to be made by improving the accuracy and physicality of the one-on-one tackling and focusing on holding a better line shape.

Smith is asked to deliver the tiny improvements that will make the All Blacks tougher to break down, to find the edge they need to use their tackling as an offensive weapon to create turnover and counter-attack opportunity.

Hansen will now be dedicated to the big picture this year, planning how he wants the team to play to find that edge to separate them from the rest.

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So what gameplan can we expect? Will the All Blacks dare to be different and unpredictable in an effort to become the first team to win tournaments back-to-back? Will Hansen strike the right balance between experience and youth and make bold calls?

Call me a hopeless romantic but I always yearn for the All Blacks to win a tournament where our players express their skill and ability to the full. Pragmatists always argue that the increased emphasis on defence and risk-averse attitudes in the knockout rounds make that impossible.

Wouldn’t it be great if the romantics prove the pragmatists wrong and we win playing like we did at Rugby World Cup 1995?

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