The pendulum has well and truly swung back to the All Blacks.
Now the big question is whether they can maintain their hold over the Springboks – and other nations – for the 14 months between now and the rugby World Cup.
Playing with a lethal mix of speed and energy, they overwhelmed South Africa 31-17 in a second lopsided Tri-Nations Test on Saturday, in the process reversing the balance of power between the sport’s greatest rivals.
The 80th Test between the teams closely resembled the 79th a week earlier in Auckland. New Zealand’s forwards were lower and hungrier at the breakdown while their propensity to attack from anywhere on the park will surely leave the Springboks assessing the future of their own tactics.
Last night’s greasy conditions at Westpac Stadium should have favoured the fired-up Springboks, who rely on their rumbling forwards and towering bombs.
Yet the world champions – boasting a record 700 caps – were again run off their feet.
The likes of All Blacks halfback Piri Weepu, No.8 Kieran Read and hooker Keven Mealamu were to the forefront, too quick of mind and foot for their tired-looking rivals.
Coach Graham Henry was quick to play down his team’s remarkable turnaround after being clean-swept by the South Africans a year ago. His words may be enough to keep at bay those critics who believe New Zealand perennially peak too early for World Cups.
“We’re just a step ahead at this point in time,” he said.
“But if we don’t do the right preparation for the team and don’t prepare correctly as individuals that could change very quickly.”
He pointed to their next Tri-Nations Test against Australia in Melbourne on July 31 as a potential banana skin, even though they have beaten the Wallabies in their last seven meetings.
“Obviously we’re delighted to win and we’ve played some pretty good rugby in the last couple of weeks but we were more clinical in Auckland than we were here last night.
“After 60 minutes it could have gone either way. I don’t think we should get too carried away about the scoreline.”
The win could have been bigger if five-eighth Daniel Carter had landed more than three of his eight shots at goal but tries are doing the business for the All Blacks. They have scored 24 in five Tests, one short of the 25 they totalled through 2009.
Springboks captain John Smit went searching for silver linings, stating he was pleased to improve on the Auckland effort.
“The result’s still the same, we lost the game, but there were far more positives to pull out,” he said.
“The guys at least put up a fight, got stuck in. In the Tri-Nations you really have to be on the top of your game if you want to win away from home.”
Smit admitted the All Blacks’ all-purpose style would be something to plan for when they next meet, in Johannesburg on August 21.
“The All Blacks are getting a lot of quick ball and they’re working hard for that and we didn’t get too much quick ball, especially when it counted,” he said.
“We put some really quick phases together close to the line but there were times when we couldn’t put 4-5-6 of them together, it was just slowed down somewhere.”
OneJayBee
Roar Rookie
I would offer the list of Tri Nations winners prior to the last three world cups.. I know the 3N is not the only means of evaluation) but it's pretty good! 1998 would certainly concur with OJ and Kids thoughts. But 2002 and 2006?? Anyway we can speculate all we like - time will tell! Cheers JB Year Winner 1996 New Zealand 1997 New Zealand ** 1998 South Africa ** 1999 New Zealand 2000 Australia 2001 Australia ** 2002 New Zealand ** 2003 New Zealand 2004 South Africa 2005 New Zealand ** 2006 New Zealand ** 2007 New Zealand 2008 New Zealand 2009 South Africa
Kidney
Guest
* sigh* See OJ's post above. They don't usually peak at this point.
Ian
Guest
Yes, like they do a year out from every WC! Good omens for the rest of the WC teams! :)
ohtani's jacket
Guest
It's an Australian talking point because the likes of Phil Kearns and Nick Farr-Jones never fail to mention it. Go look at the All Black Test results for the year before each World Cup and you'll find that 2006 was the only year when they were exceptionally good a year out from the Cup.
OneJayBee
Roar Rookie
"stupid australian talking point" - not sure what this is meant to suggest. The facts are for the last few world cups the All Blacks have cleaned up everyone the year before the world cup and their world cup results are on the record. I think it would be something Kiwis (and everyone else) have noted as well.......
ohtani's jacket
Guest
They have historically never done this. It's a stupid Australian talking point.
Sylvester
Guest
Form leading up to a tournament will never count for much when it comes to knock-out. Just look at the recent football world cup for evidence of that. Spain lost during pool play, but won when it counted. The Dutch had been on a long winning streak, but lost one key match - which happened to be the final. All the ABs can do and keep playing winning rugby and hope they can put it all together when it counts.
OneJayBee
Roar Rookie
Daniel Can't quibble with your assessment. However I have a definite case of deja vu - don't we see the Blacks being "Champions Elect" every year prior to the world cup? Proof will be in the pudding but they historically have done this every time - peaked a year early... But they are certainly good to watch at the moment and scoring tries!