Despite being without nearly 400 test matches worth of experience, the All Blacks fell to a tenacious and aggressive France 27-22 at Carisbrook.
In just New Zealand’s fifth loss at the fabled House of Pain, the French recorded their third highest ever points inflicted on the All Blacks, and will now eye a piece of history, looking to become just the fifth team to ever beat New Zealand twice in one year at home.
Excuses are not feasible, and as it was widely said prior to the game, there is no such thing as a weak All Blacks side.
They were missing 19 players from their 2008 test squad (through injury or being overseas), which doesn’t include players simply not selected. In retrospect, one wonders why so many, myself included, thought that an All Blacks win was a formality.
However, despite the fact that so many key players were missing, there was still enough talent in the match day 22 for the All Blacks to take this match, seven All Blacks on the starting XV and bench had more than 30 tests. Even their debutants and less experienced players were there on merit.
So much was summed up initially by Graham Henry. The All Blacks coach remarked that for his debutants in particular, the step up in physicality was to be the key.
Wayne Smith, the New Zealand backs coach, made similar remarks at half time during the match, saying that the contact was not being won, and that the All Blacks were being dominated at the tackle.
The All Blacks ordinarily reign supreme in these areas.
The back row missed an intimidating presence. Even Liam Messam, the most physical of the trio who traditionally plays at blindside flanker, is used to having a power player like Sione Lauaki or a worker like Rodney So’oialo to contribute.
In Carisbrook there was neither.
It was here that the tight five, which would have been classed as full strength with the exception of debutant Issac Ross, must shoulder the responsibility. The French terrorised the pillar defences of the All Blacks, and the script was in place by the end of the first quarter, where Les Bleus had turned over four All Black rucks.
By the end of the match the All Blacks had conceded over 20 turnovers. It has been a long time since a team that could be credited with the art of ruck and tackle supremacy, has come up second best.
In this, rugby for all its complexities is a simple game. Physically dominate, and the match is already half won.
In the backs, it was a solid effort, with captain Mils Muliaina and Cory Jane in particular injecting into the game whenever possible. Jimmy Cowan had a solid game, but the physical presence of Piri Weepu almost changed the tide for the home team.
The midfield combination of Isaia Toeava and Ma’a Nonu didn’t fire, with the two players of similar styles not complementing each other. The All Black three quarter line missed the presence of a specialist number 13 – the intelligence of a Conrad Smith or Richard Kahui.
Still, the fact that a strong French team beat an under strength New Zealand team, and it is still called an upset, is a testament to the – as Thierry Dusautoir called it – the mystique of All Blacks rugby.
For France, it was their beautiful simplicity that allowed them to squeeze the All Blacks out of the game. There were small doses of flair, but by in large it was a brilliant defensive effort, seemingly a mix of an umbrella pattern and inward drift defence, that disallowed any form of cohesion for the home side.
One could argue that in theory, it would be simple enough to counter such a basic strategy.
But it is not the first time in modern history that the All Blacks have been unnerved by an aggressive defensive blueprint.
The French, always so full of respect for a team they regard as the worlds benchmark, looked as if they had won a World Cup with their reaction after the match.
Captain Dusautoir, who looks like the world’s finest flanker when he plays the All Blacks, remarked that the team was nervous before going out to play the home team.
But equally, remarked later that he was unimpressed with the Haka, and his team certainly followed his lead, when 80 minutes of flooding the ruck with French bodies ensued.
The French, missing only three first choice players, and players from Clermont and Perpignan (due to the Top 14 final) will be joined by the latter in camp this week.
However, Lievremont may be loathe to tinker with a match winning team.
Irrespective of broken New Zealand hearts, or cries of “Allez Les Bleus!” in the streets of Paris, the reality was that this was a classic test match, showcasing all that is good with rugby.
Knives Out
Guest
Sam, my perception is that Henry has set such high standards, and achieved such excellence during his tenure that his occasional brain implosions seem that bit more bizarre: Muliaina at 13, the back row tinkering last 3N and again this season, Toe'ava's rise and fall, his lust for utility over speciality etc. I completely agree with your analysis of the Deans factor. It's bizarre. What happens if the Wallabies don't do much this season, I wonder.
Derm
Roar Guru
OJ - of course it was a throwaway footnote. I understand totally.
mother teresa
Guest
SAM,maybe you have a point ;we do expect a group of ab coaches to get up to speed tactically at start of test season ,nice to have the rules and contingencies prepared;this is their full time job and that performance was substandard.however,credit to them when they turn it around to make up for a lack of crisis anticipation that most strategists routinely employ.
ohtani's jacket,
Guest
Henry's not the guy out there missing tackles and throwing intercept passes. Henry may have made a mistake playing McAlister and using Messam as a No.8, but part of selecting a side is putting your trust in guys. All coaches make selection mistakes. To date, Henry's been pretty good at recognising where he went astray. That may or may not be fair on a guy like Messam, but there's certain things about Test rugby that Liam Messam doesn't quite get yet and a week's worth of training sessions won't teach him what he needs to know. It was a throwaway comment, Pothale. Go count your money.
Sam Taulelei
Guest
Here are three things guaranteed to laying blame for any All Blacks loss: Coaches are crap Players are crap Referee was crap It's pleasing to see that most Kiwi's on this site are acknowledging that France were better and outplayed us. Aussies understandably are taking great delight in seeing us struggle while their team is winning. One question for Katipo and Mother Teresa why is it that Henry's coaching credentials are always called into question after a loss? I don't always agree with his decisions but I admire him for what he has achieved since he took charge. Where was the outrage and anger directed towards Robbie Deans following any of the Wallaby losses last year, particularly the hiding in SA? It's funny I remember Aussie Roarers explaining that performance by blaming it on a second string seletction for not playing well - (parallels to the All Blacks selection last week) but not once was Deans credentials as a coach questioned. I'm a fair minded individual but I'm really struggling with the stereotypes that people have painted Henry and Deans.
Derm
Roar Guru
OJ - 'Remember that test where we didn't have any players....' Love it. National amnesia always helps after an embarrassing loss. We do it with New Zealand all the time: "The All Blacks - Who are they?" :) Funny, I can't find any bookmakers this week to give me odds on the match. Betcha the French won't be at 5/1, unfortunately.
mother teresa
Guest
OJ .when the depth evapourates the coach stands up and leads.anybody home?
ohtani's jacket,
Guest
I've seen the All Blacks lose 40 times. I remember most of those losses pretty vividly; a few of them are amongst the finest Tests I've seen. Saturday night wasn't one of them. I wouldn't call it the worst All Blacks' performance I've seen, but it's certainly a weak team. I dunno if the scoreline flattered the All Blacks; that would be overrating the French performance to my mind. There's basically two ways this can go: 1. The All Blacks win and it becomes a footnote -- "remember that Test where we didn't have any players and the French beat us in Dunedin" 2. They go down in infamy as an All Blacks side who lost a series at home. The latter would be HORRENDOUS -- the '37 Boks, the '71 Lions, the '86 Wallabies, the '94 French and the 2009 French. It's like a Sesame Street song. We'll see if the French can match their intensity from the first Test, and I guess the All Blacks will figure that they can play better than that, but we'll see if they can rise to the occasion.
mother teresa
Guest
katipo.yes this ab coaching panel is a very comfortable triad.wayne smith has had every position possible in the ab set up not to talk about his abortive time with the sevens.more the gimp than the guru.the gifted selection foresight of toeava will work in a spastic way but not reliable under mental strain;the combo of nonu and toeava against a solid defence is foolhardy.do your homework better coaches or suffer the consequences
Rich_daddy
Roar Guru
Saw the first half of the match, All blacks were ordinary but give credit where it's due. France were prepared to take it up to the All Blacks and it paid off. Beating New Zealand in New Zealand is never an easy task, particularly for a Northern hemisphere side touring at the end of their season. Come all AB supporters, eat humble pie and give the Frenchies a congratulatory pat on the back.
Katipo
Guest
I think it is unfair to blame the all black players. They are poorly coached. For example this coaching regime has been championing Toeava since 2005. According to Wayne Smith 'ice' was going to be the star of the 2007 world cup. Well he wasn't. It's now 2009 and the coaches still haven't settled on a position for him. He still can't even catch the ball properly. No brains in the all blacks backline. Start to look at the coaches eh. They have been in charge since 2004. The Graham Henry old-school-master swearing and yelling at your players to motivate them just doesn't cut it these days. The AB's are not growing or improving under his tyrannical rule. Expect more losses.
Jerry
Guest
I would say there were some more ordinary sides in 02, to be honest. And yeah, this was the best side available. At the moment. It's hardly like 98 - the guys who are missing are injured, not retired and in 98 it was 3 guys (Bunce, Fitzy and Zinny) that were missing, at the moment there's 7 definite starters out plus 3 or 4 fringe guys.
brad
Guest
The worst part for the All Blacks is that they picked their best possible side. When the French got thrashed a few years back they could say that because of Top 14 about 15 first choice players were unavailable unfortunatley the all blacks have no such cushion. This was the best team that the all blacks could field. Its no use saying that they did not have the services of carter and mcaw, they may have well said they do not have the captaincy of Fitzpatrick. Worst all blacks team since 1998.
OldManEmu
Guest
No the All Blacks just lost.
Ben J
Guest
One team loses because the other team scores more points. A good article ruined by a nonsensical headline.
mudskipper
Guest
The All Blacks were directionless... Donald decision-making was poor and Ma Nonu's first half was sloppy... Unnecessary off loads by the ABs forwards just through away possession and failed to build any pressure with multi phase play… The All Blacks failed to respect the French. Furthermore the All Blacks failed to dominate any of areas of play and the final score line flatted their performance… However Weepu and Jane had good matches... I expect the ABs to be a very different team come next weekend...
JamesB
Guest
Cowan was awful (not solid), and looked like a man who hadn't playyed for a month. McCallister shouldn't have been included after not playing proper footy for 3 months. We do need Hayman and Carter back if we are to win in 2011. AB's at full strength still look a truely awesome team. Early days yet, and this loss maybe a blessing in disguise, even if it looks horrendous today.