- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
In amongst the doom and gloom of the Wallabies scrum, forwards problems and Quade Cooper’s defensive lack, there is cause for some celebration – however vicariously – in this coming weekend’s matches. You see, the All Blacks are on the brink of two significant achievements.
Achievement #1 – Highest cumulative points in international games. Should Dan Carter score more than three points, he becomes the highest-scoring international rugby player in the world. Ever.
What’s notable about this achievement is he’s still got a hell of a lot of game left in him at international level, should he continue to be eligible for selection as an All Black. He averages 14 points per game for the All Blacks; should he play another fifty games (roughly another two and a bit years) – which seems well within his ability and money-spinning time frames – he’ll amass another 700 points. Wow!
The accumulation of Carter’s points comes not only from the boot – which can punish opposition teams from inside their own territory – but from silky smooth running, stepping and sprinting powers which see him cross the line more often than his international #10 counterparts.
Carter’s real genius also shows through in an instinctive playing style which sees him turning the opposition inside out with clean, crisp, precise tactical kicking, generating opportunities for the team, relieving defensive pressure on the forwards while all the while effectively managing the All Blacks backs collective.
And let’s not forget his defence.
He easily holds his own, and has perfected the momentum-based tackling on forwards that sees him change their angle of run and momentum to make it easier for supporting players to tackle.
He’s quick-ish, hauling in wingers, fullbacks and opposing #10s with relative, and he’s always there in amongst the defensive screen when he’s not required back in the pocket for clearances. He doesn’t shirk hard tackles, and can cover defend effectively.
He’s a once in a generation player, and we will likely see him make history on Saturday.
Achievement #2: Should Carter’s contributions help push New Zealand to a win, the All Blacks pass a 75 per cent win ratio against all comers over all time. What’s so important about this figure? Well, it puts the All Blacks in unusual company.
Few, if any, professional sports team in the world that have that success rate. To win three from every four games? When the player pool is a fraction of opposition sides? Where there are such talented opposition sides, frequent tours, home and away games, and an incredibly physical contest?
The Australian cricket team has managed just 43 per cent win ratio, or 74 per cent if you include the draws they’ve been in. In football leagues, even amongst the highest achieving, few have broken 65 per cent win ratios over their entire histories.
Of course there’s the small manner of William Web-Ellis’ trophy; one which bridles the All Blacks just as much as their supporters. Yet the most fervent hater of the All Blacks can only bring to bear two major criticisms of All Blacks to bear – (1) they cheat and (2) they choke in World Cups. And if I’m to be totally honest, the ongoing enjoyment from watching this team play far outweighs the ongoing disappointment of them not winning that little gold trophy.
Wales will be no rollover opponents, naturally – the team that drew with Fiji is best described as second string, and they do seem to save a hell of a welcome for the All Blacks, much as the Irish did last week. But it is unlikely – at best – that they’ll get up far enough to overcome the All Black machine.
And what’s the connection with an Australian sports site?
Well, there’s a small amount of satisfaction that Roarers can take from the Wallabies win in Hong Kong this year, ruining the All Blacks otherwise perfect year, preventing the magical target of 17 consecutive wins, and a slight wobble in the approach to the World Cup.
And it speaks volumes for the caliber of the Wallabies coach, given he’s a past part of the record-breaking establishment known as the All Blacks.
He knows about the business of winning.
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.