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Calm down folks, Hansen tells NZ public

Roar Guru
5th May, 2013
64
1189 Reads

Men, women and children have taken to the streets of New Zealand with pitchforks and burning torches demanding answers from Super Rugby franchises.

Well, that may be a slight exaggeration.

But are the coaches to blame for misfiring All Blacks or just lazy players?

Todd Blackadder has taken a stand by dropping World Cup winning Israel Dagg from the starting line-up for the Crusaders.

Blackadder said that All Blacks players who believe that selectors will still choose them from past performances are in for a shock. There is now no possibility to cruise in Super Rugby on the basis of past performances.

Hansen has already said he is not concerned by poor form from All Blacks, saying that Dagg performs at his best on the big stages. And that everyone should “calm down”.

Dagg is not alone, Highlanders Aaron Smith, Ma’a Nonu, Tony Woodcock and Andrew Hore are all expected to be involved in the Test series with France.

Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph also had enough of Smith’s poor form and already put him on the bench for the first half against the Brumbies.

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This Super Rugby tournament has been a roller coaster ride for most supporters.

The once dominant Crusaders outfit have struggled in attack, but stringing a few victories together is having the effect of keeping their heads just above the water.

The Chiefs are hit and miss.

As with most Kiwi teams this year, they are struggling with consistency. Look no further than the Blues’ turnaround for evidence of this.

Most frustrating thing of all for New Zealand franchise coaches is the miraculous form and recovery that many of the players have when the All Black jersey goes on.

Unless Hansen has his head in the sand, the rugby world is catching up with the mighty All Blacks.

Their fast flowing loose and wide attacking style of rugby is now outdated.

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At the breakdown Richie McCaw has pushed the rules but this has forced the referees to have a greater appreciation and understanding of the rules, so he can’t get away with this anymore.

The game has become tight, so tight that the only way to win convincingly is by incorporating storm trooper tactics on the rampage with unrelenting wave after wave of attack.

You must be ruthless in defence, anything less and you pay.

Fitness levels have also caught up. Men like David Pocock and McCaw lead the way. Only the strong will survive in this generation

With big tests in the Southern Hemisphere this year, each game will be analysed by head coaches and players like the CIA looking for spies.

It is now the battle of intelligence versus intelligence, trying to minimise errors, while eliminating penalty counts.

The team that takes control of that combined with ultimate fitness will win the day.

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