The New Zealand rugby year wrapped up on Thursday night with the annual Steinlager rugby awards.
Predictably Kieran Read won the Kel Tremain player of the year to add to his IRB title and the All Blacks won team of the year after their ‘perfect’ season.
The All Blacks had a remarkable year becoming the first team in the professional era to win each and every game they played in a calendar year.
For this to occur the team must be well coached, have great preparation, a great culture and of course great players.
However this last point may prove to be the All Blacks downfall starting next year and ending at the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
The fact that they are holding onto past greats and nursing them through campaigns can only be detrimental to the team long term.
Players such as Dan Carter, Riche McCaw, Kevin Mealamu and Tony Woodcock, well, to be frank their best days are behind them.
Daniel Carter has been the best first five-eighth the world has ever seen but as we have seen this year time waits for no man.
Carter is continually injured and when he does play although he shows glimpses of his best, he is largely a shadow of his former self.
Of course Carter still possesses tremendous goal kicking, defence and leadership.
This is what we will be told when these players are carried into the World Cup squad, they possess great leadership.
Can All Black results be sacrificed just because former great players bring ‘great leadership’? I think not.
Next season will be a defining one for Steve Hansen and company.
Whether or not they continue starting players on the wane or inject new blood to the starting line-up.
I have no doubt that Carter especially should be part of the 2015 World Cup squad but by then he should be third string to Aaron Cruden and the brilliant Beauden Barrett.
Having the greatest flyhalf in history in the stands to cover for injuries is a great luxury and something that may help New Zealand retain the World Cup.
The other three players mentioned are a different kettle of fish.
McCaw is past his best no doubt about that, but at the moment is still playing at the intensity required for Test rugby.
Next season will tell is he is still the best option at openside with the young Sam Cane having a very good 2013.
After a few matches it will be obvious if the greatest All Black ever still has it.
If he doesn’t, Hansen may have to make the biggest call a New Zealand coach has ever made and strip Richie of the captaincy.
It’s obvious now that Kieran Read must take over the captaincy if Richie McCaw becomes a passenger, it’s no good McCaw being the captain if he is fighting for his place in the team.
This would be a massive decision for Hansen but one that needs to be made if he wants to keep the William Webb Ellis trophy.
Keeping competition in the squad is healthy and by 2015 the gap between Cane and McCaw will have closed significantly and if a player can’t justify his place in the team then he cannot be made the captain.
This is nothing against McCaw who is easily the best team sportsman I have seen produced from this country but there’s no room for sentiment in the cut throat environment of professional sport.
McCaw may prove the doubters wrong and hold his place in the starting team for the World Cup, but even then I’d hand the captains arm band to Read.
Read is the best player in the world and has surpassed both McCaw and Carter as the All Blacks most valuable player. He is also a very good captain.
As for Tony Woodcock and Keven Mealamu simply put they are past it.
Again both were great players but really they should have joined their mate Andrew Hore and retired on top.
In Steve Hansen’s two years at the helm he has done a tremendous job in blooding new players and mixing them with experience.
In order to stay at the top he needs to tap Woodcock and Mealamu on the shoulder.
He then needs to bite the bullet and remove Carter as his preferred starting first-five.
Lastly he needs to assess whether Richie McCaw is the best man to be leading the All Blacks in 2015, if not he needs to make a call sooner rather than later.
Admittedly he is in a tough position as no doubt he is very close to Richie but it may have to be the call he makes to ensure his legacy as All Black coach.
So All Blacks fans need to expect a couple of loses next year as they build towards 2015, but if the right players are selected and they are chosen on form, then there is no doubt they will still be odds on favourite to retain the William Webb Ellis trophy.
WorldWary
Guest
Ben S. 'Picking only because if injury' ?? Seriously? What is Ardie Savea's inclusion as an introduction to the environment called? Retailic, Romano (and now bird) have all been blooded to fill the gap of thorn and injury has only helped Ratallic establish himself with the others now chasing is all. You can't count Smith for Jane as that's an obvious and well documented choice of these coaches when it comes to the wings. Aaron Smith is certainly not an 'injury' replacement And then we can't talk about the rest of the team as they all currently hold their position as if not the best in the world then the best in their position in NZ. Messam was probably forced on Hansen due to Kaino taking off but that's about it. The only other contentious parts that can even slightly support your arguement are Smith for Jane and umm... If you want to look for true injury replacements you only have Cane (whose been earmarked for some time) and Tom Taylor this year (oh and how terrible was that...blood yet another player and still win the match) We all know Loose Head and Hooker aren't as strong a they could be but Hansen sti has 18months to sort that out of the NZ talent production line. He is quite clearly managing 'transition' and not simply 'reacting to injuries' as you claim. I'd rather be in his position than that of any other coach in the world!
Te Rangatira
Guest
2013 is the year where the Abs got it right in blending experienced veterans with the enthusiasm of youth....A position that exemplifies this to a tee is at first five....The greatest player at 10 to wear black.....Another guy who has had two brilliant seasons at Super Rugby level and has shown he has the goods at Test level...and a youngster who I had doubts had the defensive capabilities for Test Rugby but has ripped it up when he has been given his chance....Also another young guy in Taylor who was given a shot through injury and who showed he could be relied on too....
Common Sense
Guest
McCaw won't step down from the captaincy and continue to play. He'll retire as captain, it's just a matter of when.
ohtani's jacket
Guest
Piutau isn't a certain starter in 2014. Smith was a utility player in 2012 and covered for Jane and Smith this season. He may or may not start next season. Hansen has a clear pecking order but the players understand that.
Ben.S
Roar Guru
I'd say it's very debatable that any of them are even performing at Super level.
Ben.S
Roar Guru
Piutau went from the bench to starter in the space of a season whereas Smith didn't. He was still a peripheral figure come the EOYT. Come the bigger games Hansen has generally always opted for the tried and tested.
Wal
Roar Guru
The AB's don't peak between world cups. Other nations believe they have to rebuild between cups so fall away. Of the current Top tier nations only the Springboks are playing consistently to their potential.
Jerry
Guest
"(if AC did not get the 2nd bite no record)" If they hadn't charged early, he might have got the first one.
Old Bugger
Guest
Ben On the only basis available to Hansen & Co....the SR comp. Where did you think Hansen & Co went to choose 21 new players over the past 2 years for AB representation?? Wider group selection also includes players from the SR. If you perform in the SR comp, then you give yourself every opportunity to gain national selection unless the player is someone with recognised exceptional ability and hasn't played SR, before gaining selection. The players above are ready for national selection - they just have to show how much they are in next years comp.
Jerry
Guest
Mostly off the bench yes, but he started one or two others I think. But then most of Charles Piutau's tests this year have been off the bench, so I'd say OJ's statement is accurate. Smith was in the match day squad last year and Jane's injury has allowed him to start and Piutau to be selected.
chann wee
Guest
may be becoz he is an out-and-out 10. others like Barrett and Taylor play 10-15. IMO hansen has 2 tens inn AC DC and utility baks in BB & TT. it may be due to limited squad size. remember at rwc, even weepu was considered 9 & 10 cover :)
Ben.S
Roar Guru
Off the bench? I meant to say I recall him starting against Scotland.
Jerry
Guest
11.
Ben.S
Roar Guru
That propping comment is enough.
Ben.S
Roar Guru
How much egg do you want in that pudding?
Ben.S
Roar Guru
On what basis are these players 'ready'?
Ben.S
Roar Guru
Necessary transition and transition simply for the sake of building depth. Ben Smith played how many Tests last year? I recall one against Scotland.
Strap
Guest
I am starting to think you actually don't know much about rugby with a comment like that. Name your top 10 so we know one way or the other if you know much about the game.
KiwiDave
Roar Guru
Maybe 2 or 3 years ago we had worries with Dan and Richie but we have fantastic cover there now. Cruden and Barrett are outstanding first fives that would make starting sides of pretty much any team in the world. Sam Cane is coming along nice and Matt Todd has a hell of a lot of potential. As far as props go plenty coming through the ranks. The two Ben's from the Chiefs and the Frank's are a few for example. Dane Coles is a work in progress. I can see Carter and McCaw having a Muliaina type role in 2015
atlas
Guest
fattie? tell him that! he's on a seven week boxing/fitness programme, with support from Chiefs management, and stabilised at a slim 137-193kg which seems to be his ideal playing weight. " Hansen has said the big tighthead needs to get himself to a point where he can last games rather than always having to be subbed early in the second spell. It was a case of his "numbers" in terms of hitting rucks, running with the ball and making tackles needing to get higher and that meant getting fitter and therefore more mobile so that he could get closer to the 50 rucks a game lock Brodie Retallick hits rather than his own current stats that were less than half that." Noted Tameifuna again talking about playing hooker - he has in the past: "I know hooker is a bit open. If they wanted me to shift into hooker as a second position, I'd definitely look at doing it."