2015 Rugby World Cup preview: New Zealand

also the shortest

And on that day, in Soccer city who won? AB's down at half time and blitzed the second half emphatically.

95, you mean. NZ weren't pre tournament favourites - they'd won less than 50% of their matches in 94 and only had a warm up vs Canada in 95. Before the final they looked the best team, sure, but not before the tournament.

summed up what 230 odd posts tried to say...should have posted earlier then we could have just left it at that... :-)

I'm with you on 10 OB. I think we need Crudens attacking abilities and backline management more than we need his goalkicking. When we need something to happen on the field I would back Cruden over any of the other 3. Barrett for some reason can only spark anything from sub, so he stays there. DC is simply unproven at the elite pressure levels of todays game at the moment. He has a chance to regain the old form, but he'll never be as good as he was, it never works that way, so other than a likely injury, the odds are against him.

I dont for one moment think Hansen is dismissive...on the contrary, I think he's already made up his mind on game tactics for 2015 based upon what he's asked from his side these past 3years. For all of those seasons, he has shown his cards by choosing tactics that involve a short kick game attack and counter attack rugby which I concede, has been reliant upon minimal possession. As we're all aware, the players who have been responsible for directing those tactics have been Cruden and I would also suggest, Azza Smith. As recent as 2014, he has offered BB an opportunity with more starts to lead the side around the paddock however, there still remains an air of uncertainty or indecisiveness that has surrounded BB's ability to direct the side on the paddock. It isn't about being dismissive - IMO, it really is about how to get everyone back on board with the tactics and game plans they're familiar with but pursue their search for extra performance to enhance those tactics. As I said in an earlier post, this year should not be a year of experimentation - it should be a year of consolidation with emphasis placed upon the players fitness and skill levels so that whatever the players are required to perform on the paddock, then that action becomes second nature and more clinical. This is where I'm hoping to see areas of improvement coupled with Smithy's defence plans and game over-view, that the ABs will be looking for that extra performance level from the players as individuals and the team, as a whole. But, its a new year, a new season and 5 pre-RWC matches to blow out the cob-webs before the big show kicks off....I do believe the ABs have a long kick game tactic and system tucked away in their armoury with Dagg but, there's never been a real need to initiate the tactic in matches I've seen these past 3years. Anyway, thanks for the chin-wag and enjoy the new year and rugby to come.

cuffe..you say one of the most one sided reffing performances EVER... watch the last SIXTY MINUTES OF 2007 RWC quarter final...France didn't give away a penalty in 60 mins. ...no Team has EVER gone that time in a modern day test without giving away a single penalty...sixty minutes mostly defending. and no penalties. and somehow you've managed to bag four top class first fives...despite every IRB nation being envious of such numbers...what happens if carter actually does make it through without injury?

If I was a Cruden fan, I would be dismissive of the importance of great goal kicking and long tactical kicking in. RWC. But, I expect Steve Hansen will not be as dismissive of its importance as you.

And a very Happy New Year to you as well, Jibba Jabba.

And thats my point - I think Hansen will look at players who have played the full comp at FH position because he already has his No 10 utility in Barrett. Sooner or later, DC or Slade will need to be demanding time at FH for the Crusaders to improve their chances.

Yeah and we won it with a goal kicker who never had a high % record for goal kicking....both players (Weepu & Donald) were never classed as reliable test class goal kickers which emphasises my point - it is what happens on the day just as long as whoever is kicking, at least knows how to tee-up the ball, take a swing and put boot to leather......if it goes over, then thats the bonus. But lets not get too tied up with a need to have a super efficient goal kicking or long distance goal kicking player.

Here are some numbers that may interest you: 4, 12, 1. These are numbers of tries, penalty goals, and drop goals the All Blacks scored in the knock-out rounds of the RWC.in 2011. The World Cup is won on great defense, brutal physicality at the breakdown, and goal kicking. If the All Blacks plan on winning the RWC by playing champagne, running rugby, they will lose. Fortunately, Steve Hansen knows this which is why the All Blacks kick more than any other team in world rugby, play great defense, and THEN run wide on counter-attack. Statistics show the All Blacks do NOT play a possession game; they in fact play without the ball more than any team and then strike wide off turnovers. I truly do not care who the All Blacks start at 10, I think they are all class test players. But I very much care that whoever is chosen at 10 is a very accurate and reliable test class goal kicker.

The Crusaders will have both Slade and Carter starting regularly when healthy, just as they have in the past Slade may start some matches at 10 with Carter at 12. Carter may start others at 10 with Slade at right wing, increasing Slade's utility value for RWC selection. One things for sure, Todd Blackadder needs to win a championship soon or be fired, and that means having his All Blacks starting.

DC Mate, just who are you ranting at with your post??

canadiankiwi Over the past 3years, the only player who has played more game time at FH, who has started more games at FH is Cruden. Admittedly both DC and Slade had serious injuries to overcome in that period but all players who are afforded opportunities, prove their worth when they take those opportunities by the horn and, succeed. The ABs record when Cruden has started speaks for itself, but that's not my point. In terms of times on the paddock, the other 3 players have been bit players. If Cruden didn't start, then BB started. If Cruden wasn't on the bench, then the others were. His non-selection this year IMO, wasn't due to any form lapse....on the contrary because his efforts in Auckland following the Sydney washout, were simply mind-boggling...oh and btw, I thought the Ak game was played in a damp environment. He has an opportunity to show-case his abilities next year just like the others but I can guarantee one thing - barring injury, Cruden will be on the paddock for the Chiefs more than he will be on the bench....I can't say the same for DC or Slade when they turn out for the Crusaders.

canadiankiwi I totally agree that in your measure of FH statistics for Cruden's attacking ability. I acknowledge that I may be the only one who is happy to accept Cruden's current kicking abilities as being shy of the consistency requirements you have mentioned but allow me to explain. The ABs over these past 3years have introduced game plays that are the envy of nearly every other international side. The ability of its forward pack to perform off-loading passes with ease, the ability of the forwards to increase the impact upon set-piece and breakdown plays when the moments require such performance increase, the inter-play between all 15 players on the paddock - all these efforts lead to one intended conclusion and that is to give the ball as much width and air-time as possible to score tries - preferably, more tries then their opponents. These efforts when combined with an ability by all the players to increase their individual aerobic capacities in a collective fashion, allows this side to take the match to another level and demand that the opposition stays with them - I have seen 4 matches over three years where their opponents took this challenge to heart and yet only twice, have the ABs been the vanquished. The long kicking game that you have highlighted belongs to Israel Dagg - it is not IMO, a pre-requisite for Cruden, Carter, Slade or Barrett to tuck away into their bag of tricks. Ben Smith doesn't own a long kicking game but he gets selected. Nonu doesn't own a long kick ability, and guess what....the kicking game that the AB's have been playing these past 3years is in fact, the box-kick or short attacking kick game. The ABs do this short kick attack more than most other international sides combined ever do, because those sides prefer to play the long kick game and force the ABs back into its red-zone. You know and I know, the ABs force their opponents back into the red-zone by retaining possession not kicking it away to the sidelines or worse still, back to their opponents. Possession is the key to the ABs game play and if they come second in that aspect, then their next weapon of attack is their defence. I wish all of the ABs goal kickers achieve an 80-85% goal kick success rate but I wouldn't put all my eggs in that basket to determine selection. I think we will all find out that it is an exceptional goal kicker who will successfully belt a 50m plus penalty kick over the bar next year simply because the conditions dont really afford such a luxury, especially being in the UK. Perhaps Halfpenny or Sexton would be the only kickers to enjoy such success - I would suggest F Steyn but I dont know if he will be selected. The long kick is an opportunity moment IMO but the only certainty you achieve is to return the ball back to your opponent and rely upon the teams defence to nullify any attack or force a lineout to your opponent which will require your side to attack and steal the ball back. Both these options IMO, require the ABs to exert more effort to re-secure possession that they had in the first instance - effort that could be used more effectively when they already have ball in hand and are about to ask their opposition to make all the tackles, run all over the paddock to attempt to stop the ABs from go-forward progress.....it's called game management and the side that can effectively manage its game effort with ball in hand to suit its capabilities, will generally come out victors in most matches. These are my reasons why an FH with an unquestionable attacking ability deserves selection - because the game plan suits this player rather than a long kicking or for that matter goal kicking specialist.....if they kick the goals as you expect, then its a bonus. Finally IMO, if the Chiefs backline score the most tries in SR and Cruden misses 25% of his kicks at goal, selection troubles will only arise if the Chiefs fail to win the tournament....collectively the Chiefs win the stat, but a finals loss may be because the opposition scored more tries and not necessarily because Cruden missed 25% of his kicks or for that matter, he misses 10% of his kicks. Games like this do happen - especially finals because it is what happens on the day of the match.....nothing more, nothing less.

Colin Slade and Beauden Barrett are not "bit players" who dabble at 10, like Kurtley Beale or James O'Connor. They are both specialist fly halfs,, with the pace and skills to play fullback. I am not suggesting they are better than Cruden, but to suggest they are "bit players" and not a specialist like Cruden, is false. Barrett and Slade are very good fly halfs in their own right and NZ is very lucky to have four test quality 10s to choose from.

Old Bugger. I think your off the mark with Cruden. I do not believe any one (certainly not the coaches and players) have any doubt or questions at all on all Cruden's attacking ability (running, passing, off-loading, short kicking game). He has nothing to prove in these areas, as well, he has proven to be a reliable defender despite his size. What Cruden needs to prove in Super 15: 1. That he can convert 80-85% of his goal kicks and have the leg strength to kick a 50 meter goal kick consistently (as Slade and a healthy Carter can regularly). 2. He can control territory with an effective long kicking game. The All Blacks are very likely to play more than one RWC test in wet conditions in England and Cruden did not impress in Sydney in the rain. If the Chief's backline scores the most tries in the tournament and Cruden is kicking only 70-75%, he is in trouble for RWC selection.

suggest you stick to soccer birdy... seems more suited to your bitter, jealous and twisted mind set.

My mistake - it was birdy doing the tossing - and still is....