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.
davee
Guest
all i say chur bro and go kiwi pride
Jason
Roar Guru
The question was rhetorical.
abnutta
Roar Guru
And they have also been expelled from the 5N on one occasion or another. The reason for their high tally is that the FFR had no qualms in awarding test caps against their european neighbours eg Italy, Spain, Romania and even Germany.
abnutta
Roar Guru
Also the consider the amount of tests that Wilkinson plays against Ireland, Scotland, Wales and Italy. These fixtures have often been a stroll for the All Blacks and as a result the goal kickers have notched up big tallies against them.
grandpabhaile
Guest
France has 655 tests - more than anyone else? Thought they only came late to the party of the four home unions?
abnutta
Roar Guru
This was testing SamSport. Most statisticians give the All Blacks record as: vs Australia - Played 140, Won 95, Lost 40, Drawn 5 = 67.857 winning% vs ALL - Played 471, Won 353, Lost 101, Drawn 17 = 74.946 winning%. As you've pointed out the ARU considers the NSW matches during the 1920s as test matches and has awarded caps accordingly. Adding in these matches the record reads: vs Australia - Played 164, Won 113, Lost 46, Drawn 5 = 68.902 winning% vs ALL - Played 495, Won 371, Lost, 107, Drawn 17 = 74.949 winning% To answer your first question, 0.003% better record with the NSW caps included. On the second question about including results versus national teams that were not recognised as test matches by the NZRU, the matches in question were: WINS vs. Rhodesia at Bulawayo, won 44 - 8 vs. Rhodesia at Salisbury, won 29 - 14 vs. Rhodesia at Salisbury, won 27 - 14 vs. Fiji at Suva, won 14 - 13 vs. Uruguay at Montevideo, won 64 - 3 vs. Argentina at Buenos Aires, won 21 - 9 vs. Argentina at Buenos Aires, won 26 - 6 vs. Argentina at Dunedin, won 18 - 9 vs. Argentina at Wellington, won 15 - 6 vs. Italy at Rovigo, won 18 - 12 vs. Fiji at Suva, won 30 - 6 vs. Fiji at Auckland, won 33 - 0 vs. USA at San Diego, won 53 - 6 vs. Canada at Vancouver, won 43 - 10 vs. Fiji at Suva, won 45 - 0 vs. Japan at Osaka, won 74 - 0 vs. Japan at Tokyo, won 106 - 4 LOSSES vs. Rhodesia at Bulawayo, lost 8 - 10 DRAWS vs. Rhodesia at Salisbury, draw 3 - 3 vs NON CAP TEAMS - Played 19, Won 17, Lost 1, Drawn 1 = 89.473 winning% vs ALL + NON CAP TEAMS - Played 490, Won 370, Lost 102, Drawn 18 = 75.510 winning% vs ALL + NON CAP TEAMS + Australia (NSW) - Played 514, Won 388, Lost 108, Drawn 18 = 75.486 winning%
Derm
Roar Guru
That's even better than.
Peter K
Guest
gb leave Jeremy alone. After all he probably goes to bed , staring at the ab posters, thinks of the stats, and has the tissues in one hand, and in the other hand..., dont deprive him of his pleasures in life, be they ever so small.
Geoff Brisbane
Guest
Yep Tragedy alright respect and condolences to the families and friends in that mine
Jerry
Guest
It's probably cause there were a fair few years in the first half of the 20th century where the All Blacks played no tests at all, whereas other than in the war years, the 4/5 Nations was an annual event.
the woodster
Guest
I would think black armbands would be the order of the day given the recent news back home..trajedy
the woodster
Guest
no i think 12 is a bit optimistic but if he starts i wouldnt bet against him having his first.
the woodster
Guest
Clearly i need to work on my sarcastic undertone. yes in one game.
Jason
Roar Guru
In one game?
the woodster
Guest
you forgot one more stat SBW to be the first player to score 12 tries against wales.
SamSport
Roar Pro
This might really test some statisticians out there. I was wondering what the difference would be if the All Blacks had awarded caps for matches against the Waratahs in the 1920s like the ARU have done. They were de facto Australia vs New Zealand matches back then because of the state of Queensland rugby. Another question, what if the All Blacks had awarded caps against some of the second tier nations before the 1987 World Cup. USA in 1980, Fiji in 1984 for example.
Who Needs Melon
Guest
Good call.
Sam Taulelei
Guest
Wow that's a huge number of additional games played by the Five Nations teams. France 655 games England 631 Wales 611 Ireland 600 Scotland 594 Is that because NZ is a younger union or that NZ player far fewer tests with full length tours not being as frequent as in the modern era?
SamSport
Roar Pro
Hehe, nice try Poth Ale but you are forgetting draws. The All Blacks would have lost less than 25% of their tests.
Ionz
Guest
Wilko has been playing international ball since 1998. Careter since 2003. Wilko's average is lower and he has played 15 or so more tests than Carter, so the answer is yes