The All Blacks go for experience over potential

There's a difference between 'turn up and win' and 'even when things are going bad, you can still claw it back' Counterpoint (I know I'm not going to change your mind about this!) Would you rather have a team that can defend a lead, or a team that can come back from a deficit? The Wallabies outfit this year show great potential, but they just haven't been able to close out a match, have they? Even the classic win in South Africa came down to the wire, and a fantastic kick by Beale. But had he missed...ooh boy, it's be another torrid tale of non-application. Whereas the All Blacks have been able to claw their way back into every match. Hell, I was as surprised as everyone with Sydney's result - but it shows what happens when you back yourself to get through and win the match. Which approach are you going to want to take into the World Cup? The certainty that if it does go horribly wrong, you've been down that road before, and can claw your way back? Or the knowledge that even if you're 25 points up at half time, you might not win the match? And we're not talking about a World Cup in England, France, or South Africa. We're talking about a World Cup at the home of the All Blacks, where they have an 80% win ratio of all time, and a 90% win ratio in the past 5 years. In 2007 there were a myriad of errors by the All Blacks - aside from the refereeing issue, McAllister was woefully unprepared to take Carter's place, and ultimately lacked the vision and ability to score the additional points and put NZ ahead. The team lacked confidence and were unprepared for the tournament having come up against easy teams in the build up. It reflected in their lack of urgency when things didn't go their way in the second half of the quarter final. Henry's set about altering the overall attitude and ethos of the All Blacks, building internal pressure and focus inwards rather than outwards. As much as Deans has worked wonders with the Wallabies, Henry's helped hone the All Blacks. So. What happens if NZ make it through the End Of Year tour unbeaten, the Tri Nations unbeaten, then win the World Cup? Does that make a victory in 2012 any sweeter for the Wallabies?

I think all the hype around SBW is to distract people awayfrom McCaw and all of the real talent in this AB squad. Make no doubt about it, SBW is the weakest link until proven otherwise. I think its an extremely clever ploy, make all the opposition pay attention to him so the real superstars of the squad run holes through defences. And if he does turn out to be as great as some are making him out to be, then that's a staggering bonus and the world should rightly shit itself. Just imagine if we actually had all of our first choice players without injury? As for McCaw injured argument, he's a legend, but people underestimate DC and Mils ability to lead. NOW if Pocock is injured, then the Wobblies will go back to being easy scalps for great teams like Scotland. AND If Elson is injured... well the man makes no difference so who cares.

Have practced whilst absent on my routine and think it has improved greatly! The good from losing to the better side so much? That one unexpected win feels that so much better, may that win be soon or at least 2011, now that would make for a good Kiwi joke wouldn't it?

You'd ditch your two best for a McCaw.

A hammer blow? At least your stand up routine has improved. The fact that the (current) number two team in the world has lost 10 times in a row during the professional era is almost unbelievable. Quite frankly, if the Wallabies don't win in Hong Kong, the players, coaching staff and supporters should retire to an asylum. The vast majority of All Black supporters will expect that this laughable situation is resolved. It makes a mockery of International Rugby otherwise. The only hammer blow would be a record loss. Although a record loss doesn't seem to have dampened the perennially optimistic Wallaby supporters. It’s almost like a coin toss for some of you isn’t it? This time, ok definitely this time. No wait, surely this time. It has to even up ‘cause it was heads the last 10 times…

Well obviously he has one, but the point is it's a poor one.

Precisely right Jerry. I often wonder what games people are watching when they claim Toeava is poor. Perhaps it all comes back to one dropped pass against Scotland? When fit, now that he has matured, he is one of the most dangerous backs I have witnessed in years. It’s a pity he has been injured so often and is cursed with the tag of versatility.

Bayboy very simply put, I am an Australian and will support the Wallabies no matter what happens. I don't apologise for not waving an All Black supporter flag, would be a tad silly don't you think? If it is that I seem to put the boot into the ABs then my previous and recent posts where I have referred to the All Blacks as clearly the better side and playing at a far superior level than most must have been lost in my Australian accent? If I happen to touch a nerve by suggesting that the All Blacks may lose at some point in time then it may be just yours and other AB supporters self doubt creeping up once again. The common thread you will find in most posts I write is that, tounge in cheek in most part, I take a dig at a few AB supporters who lack the ability to give other rugby nations the recognition that their sides played very well. It is a tad arrogant on behalf of any countries sporting fan to say their team 'lost' the game or to point out that, "ho hum played for ten minutes and won the match" without giving or accepting that the rival team played better in either pushing the dominant side or in actualy winning (I but hope for the Wallabies against the ABs!). The better side won in Sydney as will the better side in Hong Kong and I for one treat any test between Australia and New Zealand as gold to watch and never would I treat it as dead rubber but I guess when you only focus on one team and that team happens to be the All Blacks you can afford yourself some comfort zone, or can you? A loss is still a loss.

So rude and so out of touch. I agreed with The other Reds fan. Would you like me to loan you the WC final so you can see for yourself. Tahu was a turnstile against South Africa. JimC calling someone ignorant....how ironic?

Dude? I think your Fruean comments are answered below. I am not denigrating him he is certainly a player for the future. Gear has a chance to prove himself and Ranger has shown enough at AB level for Henry to be very interested. Toeava has more than proved himself at AB level on several occasions, he had a rough start to his career, more due to the coaches pushing him than his ability. When he plays full back he is more effective coming into the backline than Jane. But Jane is very good also.

FFS? The God like sanctity of the legal contract and to hell with the reality of the context. I realise my comment on this site was a red cape, but please in so many words, that the Bulldog organisation had the moral right to demonise SBW, an individual. The honourable men who run corporations chuck a contract as soon as it does not suit them. Sure they have a bank of lawyers to write it but otherwise you make a good case for SBWs actions. I think one of the reasons Henry wanted SBW was that he is intelligent and asks pertinent questions. He not only wants him on the field but for what he can add to the AB culture: For someone who wants to demonise SBW that must be galling stuff.

Kahui would be that step up if he could avoid injury for more than a month or so. I was watching the second test against Wales again and he was playing out of his skin.

I think you are making some good points here Sam, but your last comment!: ‘In so many words a certainty that the ABs will choke in next years WC!’ If the ABs think like you, they certainly will. - I am going to let go on this one as bloggers on this site have come to expect….There is an inherent negativity in NZ culture (the education system is aware of it and attempting to counteract it) but more importantly its the advantage being taken of that negativity by the present political context; having the NZ rugby media completely owned by AU media corporations. That is what influences you to express such negativity. That NZ sold off almost all its national interests (the preset govt will make sure its ‘all’) is NZs responsibility, not anything to do with AU. This would not be tolerated by any other country that I know of (perhaps Uruguay) and in many respects NZ is the Uruguay of the South Pacific. Conservatives in NZ shrug their shoulders and say: ‘What’s the difference; NZ or Overseas business, its all guided by what is profitable regardless of who owns it.’ That’s true, but otherwise ‘who owns it’ is very relevant to how the media presents its information. The disadvantages for NZ are financial, political, and social, every facet of NZ life is effected. Simplistic conservative jargon often covers up the real benefits of owners. The AU company directors of those AU media companies are often involved on the boards of other AU corporations who often advertise in the AU media (how the media makes its money). Even if they are not (on other AU company boards), they mix in the same company, the chances of them not being familiar with Mr O’Neill of the ARU are very small. Sure NZ companies advertise in the AU owned NZ media but there are not many of those left, they are mostly AU or other Overseas companies. Media corporations are extremely top down managed organisations, Murdoch has publically admitted; ‘the buck stops with me.’ Most Journalists will deny it, just as Murdoch did, till he was ‘outed’ by some of his editors. It is no coincidence that Tew does what O’Neill wants, that our great NZ 14 team NPC will be truncated (Super15), that players have to be rested to avoid burn out while the playing load is increased (Super15), that crowd participation is stretched psychologically and financially (Super15), that Murdoch is the only one who makes money on the Super Comp while all the RUs make a loss. I am not against international comps for clubs or provinces (or States) but the present Super Comp has been designed for AU needs (not NZ or SA). Check out media generated headlines (no doubt editor sourced) and stories written by NZ journalists that supposedly eat away at the doubts of the NZ public and the abilities of the ABs. Count who gets the negative headlines and listen to the way the AU owned NZ Radio Sport treat the NZ national sport of RU. All is lost then? No, not if the AB organisation is aware of the media shoved on front of them, how issues are negatively or positively framed, what the agenda behind that might be, who is to gain and who does not, are both sides and the context of issues canvassed? If the ABs do that and focus on what they have to do to win (not if we do this we will lose), like their overall record history they have a splendid and very high probability of winning next years RWC.

Bob Dwyer used to say, "Each time we fail better".

Warren You seem to think the gap between aus and NZ has closed. I do not consider the game in sydney a good example of how close the teams are. The All Blacks were simply playing for pride, Australia was desprate for victory

SBW wasn't picked at the beginning of the NPC because he underwent keyhole surgery on a knee just after joining the Canterbury side and thus wasn't available for selection. No coach in his right mind (discount P deVill as he clearly isn't...) would put Brett at 12 if SBW was also available, so glad Brett's going to Auck next year, they can have him!!!

Actually Fog you've got those match ups about right and the name you are looking for is AAC. No need to get a grip, you obviously already have a pretty firm hold yourself ....

So all those Aussie players in the tri-nations this year are superior or equal to their opposite numbers - Cooper/Carter, Genia/Weepu, Giteau/Nonu, insert name here played better than Conrad Smith, etc, etc.......Get a grip.

The Wallabies lose when Cooper and Pocock play. I guess people have forgotten that in the Wallabies meteoric rise to No.2 in the world.

So what you're saying is that the All Blacks can't lose from now until the World Cup? But the Wallabies get better with every loss?