Perfect one year, ugly the next. Yet Steve Hansen is hardly reacting like the coach of an All Blacks team who, on results alone, have taken a step backwards in 2014.
After winning 14 Tests from 14 last year, Hansen’s men can reflect on a season which featured a 27-25 loss to the Springboks in Johannesburg, a 12-12 draw with the Wallabies in Sydney and 12 wins, including the 34-16 defeat of Wales on Saturday.
The Cardiff escape act was typical All Blacks fare this year, struggling through the first half and only sealing victory late in the game.
Hansen wasn’t going to quibble, voicing satisfaction at what they have achieved, not long after learning his side had swept World Rugby’s team, coach and player of the year awards.
“It’s been a great year for us. We’ve had to earn the right to win some games and we had to earn the right to draw one that we shouldn’t have even drawn,” he said.
“What we’ve found is ways to win ugly or draw ugly, which is a lot better than a loss – not much, but better.”
Hansen says surviving the furious Wales challenge will hold them in good stead when his players almost certainly return to Cardiff next year for a World Cup quarter-final.
Whether they are first or second in what is a relatively weak pool, the All Blacks will play a quarter-final at Millennium Stadium – most likely against France or Ireland.
Hansen expect that game to mirror the intensity experienced on Saturday.
“It was perfect for us because that’s what we’ll get in a quarter-final, be it France or Ireland,” he said.
“It’s going to be a massive atmosphere, a physical, hard game to work our way through.”
Captain Richie McCaw agreed with Hansen that Wales’ defence had been immense but their tackling workload ultimately counted against them as they conceded three tries in the last 10 minutes.
Patience was always going to be rewarded in the dying minutes if the All Blacks stuck with their methods after a shaky start, McCaw said.
“They got up in our face and we didn’t deal with it as well as we would have liked.
“But you’ve got to believe that it’s not all going to go your way in that 80 minutes. Sometimes you’re just hanging on, but a game never goes against you the whole time.”
McCaw had a rousing haka performed to him by teammates in the post-Test dressing room to honour his 100th Test as skipper.
It was another influential display from the 33-year-old flanker, whose 1024 Test minutes this year was more than any of his teammates.
Unusually, he wasn’t New Zealand’s top tackler against Wales.
Lock Brodie Retallick led that category with 12 tackles, to go with two lineout steals and two offloads in another standout Test before being crowned World Rugby player of the year.
2014 Breakdown
Loss
South Africa 25-27, Johannesburg
Draw
Australia 12-12, Sydney
Arm-wrestle wins
England 20-15, Auckland
England 28-27, Dunedin
South Africa 14-10, Wellington
Australia 29-28, Brisbane
England 24-21, London
Scotland 24-16, Edinburgh
Wales 34-16, Cardiff
Won in a canter
England 36-13, Hamilton
Australia 51-20, Auckland
Argentina 28-9, Napier
Argentina 34-13, La Plata
USA 74-6, Chicago
All Blacks 2014 statistics and ratings
Played 14. Won 12, drew 1, lost 1.
Most points: Aaron Cruden (93), Beauden Barrett (62), Julian Savea (55)
Most tries: Julian Savea (11), Richie McCaw (4), Aaron Smith (4), Ben Smith (3)
Most minutes: Richie McCaw (1024 minutes), Ben Smith (960), Julian Savea (952), Aaron Smith (870)
Best newcomers: Malakai Fekitoa, Patrick Tuipulotu, Joe Moody
Best performance: 51-20 v Australia in Auckland
Player of the November tour: Richie McCaw
Players of the year: Julian Savea, Richie McCaw, Brodie Retallick
Danny
Guest
The steady stream of high quality kiwi coaches going to Europe over the past decade+ is beginning to have a profound effect on NH international teams I believe. Wales, albeit down right now as Gatland is probably past his use by date with that team, Ireland who are on top of their game, and Scotland who are coming but may hit a ceiling with absolute player depth - all suggest a trend is in play. If England were to swallow their pride and go for a top kiwi they could really lift. I'm biased for sure but I think the stats speak for themselves. England should go for Dingo.
SamSport
Guest
Agree completely. Both of those were comfortable All Black wins.
Jake
Guest
What BS Mckenzie was all talk he could never beat us his level is super rugby
KiwiDave
Roar Guru
Hahaha. Give any other side in the world a 12 win, 1 draw and 1 narrow loss and they would be raving about what a phenomenal and stellar year they have had. And being the benchmark and world champions you know every team is going to be trying that little bit harder to knock them off. The AB's are tracking nicely towards the world cup. Quite a few new face blooded this season and there is going to be some real dilemmas at the selection table when preparing for this world cup. I could see a top class team capable of giving any team in the world a good run for their money being made from those left at home. We are a team of depth, experience and talent right across every position and we dont have the frailties of previous campaigns of when a key player gets injured we are in trouble.
Bobbo7
Guest
Tough call with Henry / Hansen - I suspect Hansen learned alot from Henry, who regulary said that people in NZ need to realise that countries other than NZ are good at rugby too. That said, I think the ABs have been below par this year but that this is intentional and come the WC they will be up another 2 notches in earlier parts of games
Bobbo7
Guest
I agree. I reckon they are playing below par and I reckon Hansen is doing this on purpose through the coaching and selection policy. I hope that is the case anyway
Nobody
Guest
Last world cup I described Slade as "green as grass" but not this time. I'm happy to see him come of age and I think he'll make the cut. Regardless, he has a big future ahead of him. Out of Carter, Cruden, Barrett and Slade, I now think Carter is the least likely to be there for the RWC. He's very prone to injury these days.
Wardad
Guest
At least your kids know who they are ,when I asked mine if they knew who the All Blacks are they replied ''is that the indigenous football team ?'' my head nearly exploded ! So I bribed them into playing Fantasy Rugby and now they know all about who goes where and is best in what position and so on and have flogged me mercilessly ! [ 2of my girls and 2 of my boys ,they were briefly at number 5 in the Foxsport comp , out of 35,000 + !] Strangely they know all the stats and names but until I took one of my younger lads to the Brissie test none of em had watched a second of rugby !
Sylvester
Guest
"Raging" favourites across the betting agencies perhaps: http://www.oddschecker.com/rugby-union/rugby-world-cup/winner I personally wouldn't venture beyond simply favourites
DCNZ
Guest
I loved the Auckland mauling of the Wallabies. It was great to 3 zip the Poms, climaxing with a third test belting. Two epic clashes with the Boks, who were very good. SBW got to stretch his legs and Slade stormed back into contention. Shut England and Wales out, perfect. Special mentions: Fekitoa, Coles, Tuipolotou, Cane.
All Bent Out of Shape
Guest
So its just your opinion. I think they would probably be favs but not raging favs.
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
Really think other teams have lifted their game this year (probably more so mentally than technically) and have started believing in themselves. Which means winning 12 out of 14 is pretty special. Quite a few teams can now stay in the game 40, 60 or sometimes 70min but the ABs seem to always find a way to give the 'coup de grace' before the final whistle. The way they killed the Welsh on the w-e was awesome: home crowd behind, momentum on Welsh side yet the kiwis kept lifting the tempo. Really think Hansen is the man and objective enough to see others aren't easy beats. I already rate him above Henry.
alex
Roar Pro
I'm happy with the way the boys played and i'm stoked that they have won ugly this year, because if there is something i've learnt from watching rugby is that ugly wins world cup finals
Die hard
Roar Rookie
I see. It does seem strange that they require a break and talking to at half time to change it up I suppose. But maybe we ask too much sometimes. Those roles could belong more to the halves, and where is the rest of the "leadership group.?
Shane D
Roar Rookie
Agree Diehard. Tuipolotu looks like he is going to be a real strength coming off the bench. Good ball carrier, strong defender & does the core roles very well.
ohtani's jacket
Guest
I didn't like how long it took us to change tactics during matches and I was tired of hearing Richie saying what he wanted to see before a match and then seeing nothing of the sort during the game. He kept fobbing it off post-match (at least publicly.) On the field, his engine was huge and he even did a fair bit more fetching than in previous seasons.
Crackle
Guest
Cheers DH, I honestly haven't seen enough of Tuipolutu to form an opinion yet, but I do hear the positive wraps. Slade was excellent I thought, composed, versatile & efficient. A very good asset to have at RWC time. Now, if he could play halfback too.......... ;-) As commented on another thread, it's an embarrassment of riches!
richard
Guest
Regardless of some close results this year,they are still out on their own.If it hurts your sensibilities,we.can downgrade them to just clear favorites at this stage. Of course,that won't mean anything come the start of the RWC next year.
Die hard
Roar Rookie
Agree re Hansen OJ but what did you not like about Richies captaincy? He seemed influential enough. Some of these refs were pretty bl__dy minded at times this year.
Die hard
Roar Rookie
Yes, the Wallabies would be pretty happy about a season like that. High standards don't deserve harsh criticisms.