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The All Blacks have the cliché “you’re only as good as your last game” applied to them more than any team in world rugby, which puts into perspective the pressure that the players and coaching staff face.
When Dan Carter looked to move overseas, he said at the conclusion of the World Cup – where he took the field despite still suffering the effects of a calf strain – that he was unprepared for the pressure that both he and the squad felt in both the build up, and after the tournament.
A further comment was made by Carter – who has now resigned with the Canterbury Union – about the pressures of New Zealand rugby, saying that the expectation and pressure was felt at all levels, both on and off the field.
Interviews with Carter before leaving Perpignan indicated that, beyond the joys of living life in Europe, the lack of pressure in France was uplifting and equally quite surprising.
We now see this pressure applied again, after the All Blacks suffered a 27-22 loss to an excellent performance by the French.
In fact, it wasn’t that Les Bleus were particular brilliant, but rather executed a simple game plan to which the All Blacks couldn’t, and quite simply never, looked like countering.
As a consequence, the hounds are unleashed to the All Blacks’ door.
Equally, the memories of their ardent fans show themselves to be short indeed.
The comments have been remarkable.
“This proves that the NZRU made a mistake in reappointing Graham Henry.”
A coach who, with 64 games, has amassed a near 86% winning record, better than any other in rugby history of any country.
“The All Blacks have been playing poorly for quite some time.”
Their last match before France was a victory over England, their ninth straight win, securing a Grand Slam and winning their thirteenth test match for the calendar year.
“It was the worst All Black team on record, and the result proves it.”
It was a team where, from the 2008 All Blacks squad, seventeen players were injured, three were unavailable, and a further eight were simply not selected. Some remark that this is an excuse. It is merely a fact.
So, in theory, they should be cut some slack.
But, when you have a 74.4% winning record with 331 test victories over 106 years of test rugby, you are a heavily marked side.
By both foes and friends alike.
It wasn’t so much that the All Blacks lost, but the way in which they did.
One could argue that the most positive thing to come from the loss was the margin. To lose by only five points when completely outplayed is the mark of a team that has something to offer.
But unlike last year, when humbled by the Wallabies in Sydney, there will be no Richie McCaw to come in and add not only his mercurial brilliance to the team, but the talismanic leadership that this All Blacks team seems to thrive on.
As Rodney So’oialo found out last year, now Mils Muliaina, who had a brilliant debut year as captain for the Chiefs, has discovered the same difficult principle. Captaining a Super 14 team is one thing, but leading your country is an ordeal that makes mortals of otherwise outstanding players.
And never has it been shown so apparently that the domestic competition that is the pride of the Southern Hemisphere, is an unsuitable testing ground for the rigours of test match rugby.
The blowtorch has now been applied, and Henry and his troops will go back to try to rediscover the mana and the intensity that has allowed them to dominate world rugby by and large since 2004.
In Wellington, no excuses will suffice.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.