At the top of their game, the current All Blacks play an ensemble brand of rugby that is intense, physical, fast paced, relentless and suffocating to their opposition.
There are moments when it is breath-taking to watch. It’s like a tidal wave of psychic energy that builds to sweep all before it, as it did starting about the 21st minute last Saturday.
You can feel the force of it watching the TV, so goodness knows what it must be like facing it on the field.
For any rugby purist, regardless of who they support, it’s beautiful to watch.
The All Blacks are the only team who can play like this with any regularity or length of time. It is rare when a combination of players, attitude, skills, planning, focus and application come together like this.
For the opposition and their supporters it must be frustrating, but there is no shame in losing to a team when playing in such a way, especially if you fronted on the day.
Perhaps perspective doesn’t heal disappointment but, this might be the greatest rugby team ever assembled. It is certainly somewhere in history’s top three; knowing that such things can never really be measured beyond a beer and a debate. And such teams don’t appear very often, we may never see it again in our lifetime.
It is possible this year could be it for these All Blacks, with so many retirements looming. Sure, New Zealand will still be super competitive, but will they play like this team can? I am not sure.
In historical terms, you and I might be the rugby supporters’ one per cent, giving endless repetitions of “Ah, if only you’d seen them play” speeches to our grandchildren. On sites like this the next generations might make ‘best ever’ lists and roll their eyes at us popping up the same old names and the same old comments.
In no way am I suggesting a mythical status, or suggesting any team is not beatable. What I am saying is, don’t lament too much when you lose to such a team in an away game when they have their backs to wall with the Bledisloe Cup on the line. This constant testing is finally paying off for the Wallabies and they are building something really good. Being an Cantabrian I have to be a Robbie Deans supporter, but for whatever reason, Michael Cheika is the right man at the right time.
As an All Blacks supporter I hope we fire our shots at the Rugby World Cup. I hope the world gets to see the very pinnacle of what this game can be from its top team. I hope the opposition takes the opportunity to rise on wings like eagles, because we can only be as good as the competition pushes us to be. I hope we can bring the cup home. I hope we make history.
But just as much I hope to see the Springboks finally click together and show case their enormous ensemble potential. Just as much I hope to see the Wallabies finally get back the swagger they seem to need to succeed. I even hope the English have at least one pearler in front of their home crowd at Twickenham. I hope injuries are low and the big guns of the game fire for all to see.
I hope. Just for the love of the game.
Old Bugger
Guest
Then me and your old man are baby boomers.....that's worth a smile but, let's make it worthwhile aye mate....here goes with my 10-guitars rendition:- "I have a band of men And all they do is Play for me They come from miles around To hear me play, my melody Beneath the stars My AB stars Will sing this song, with me When we take......" Well, fingers x-ed, its something like that.....aye??
wardad
Guest
hahaha too true old bugger ,' ten guitars' was the party song of my old mans era but ten guitars all trying to be tuned at once is another story , would need to be fairly drunk to handle that scenario 1
expatmatt
Guest
true- but I think there is a bot of playing the possum going on with WBs- they are my smokey for the RWC. As a absolute believer in the darkness it would be the worst possible scenario if WB managed to bring Bill back- just imagine the swagger - we would never ever hear the end of 'how great we art' More seriously, nice article Ralph- the big dance is not so many sleeps away now and like most (all) roarers I can hardly wait.
RobC
Roar Guru
Hey Ralph. Thanks for the post, and welcome back to the Roar. WBs need to learn how to walk, before swaggering ;)
Flocker
Guest
Sonny Bill Williams is the bellwether for the All Blacks. If he is selected for the RWC squad, the All Blacks will lose.
Old Bugger
Guest
That's why it was important that you had 2 or 3 guitars, available to play.....but, not 10 guitars....you'd never hear the end of it all, if that was the case....howzat warded - worth a giggle aye mate??
wardad
Guest
When I was a young bloke I recall a few parties where every man ,woman and stray dog had a go at playing the guitar ,even if it had only one string left they would all have to tune it first .
Old Bugger
Guest
I take it she sings along to your strumming....
Kohatu
Guest
An Insightful article Ralph; really enjoyed it... Excellent views from many experienced roarers here too on which teams at the RWC will get through to the final. My view is whichever team can handle the pressure of finals footy i.e. crowds, weather conditions, the referees etc., for 80 minutes from the qtr final onwards to the final will win it. We must remember there are in fact three hard world cup finals; starting with the quarter final game and as we all know; lose one from there and your out! As an ABs fan may I say the All Blacks have the ensemble game (as Ralph mentioned), match sense & experience to prevail to the final and win it. My only concern are injuries to upset momentum and referees et al that may, dare I say it (World Rugby political pressure) give the fifty-fifty calls to the ABs opponents!! Remember ABs versus France quarter final game in 2007 where they couldn't buy a penalty in the second half of that game. And may I add there is no disrespect to the French Team who played their hearts out to win that day. If the ABs don't win it; and again no disrespect to SA or the Wallabies; I would like either the Irish or French to win it!
Ralph
Roar Guru
One thing I am sure of,, if a beer was on offer I could make an argument for sure.
Ralph
Roar Guru
"the secret I reckon, is in the strumming" That's what I told my wife the other day.
Old Bugger
Guest
Dave I'm happy to say, I can play the guitar - all 3 notes of G, C and F. Mate, with those notes, I can play any song that you can sing.....the secret I reckon, is in the strumming (the riff, as they say).....many a party spent playing the guitar, during the days of my mis-spent youth.
taylorman
Roar Guru
Yes 87 spurned what is there today. They were doing it at provincial level since 1983, certainly 84.
taylorman
Roar Guru
Yeah agree with that. They have their purpose, for me mainly to see who's slacking, but they're not complete enough to for example compare two players in my opinion, and if they were it would take all day to read them all, do the analysis. Have no interest when someone says this player had 14 carries for 83 meters that one 18 for 120 meters. So what.? One could have been running across the field and back for all we know. Two missed tackles from 12 versus none from 14? Context pleaseeee.
BBA
Guest
I can see where you are coming from OJ, the 87-89 team really changed how rugby was played in NZ and they were an amazing team. However I do think the AB's were playing with a professional attitude and approach and may of the other teams were not. I do actually believe that the standard of the game is better now than before even though some teams may have performed better in the past. Teams, NH and SH are better prepared, fitter than before, and have even poached players better than before. All teams have greater depth. On that basis you could argue that Hanson's teams achievements is even more phenomenal. Not going to argue that the 87-89 team or 97-97 team was further ahead of the rest of the world at that time. Accordingly we are just left at a totally subjective argument as to what factors you rate more than another person.
Dave_S
Guest
Indeed. I do not find that stats add much at all to my appreciation of the game. (Much of the time it's akin to judging the quality of guitar playing by the number of notes played.) True statisticians know that rugby is just not amenable to meaningful statistical analysis - the sample sizes are too small and the variables are too numerous. Qualitative analysis is far more useful.
ohtani's jacket
Guest
In my rugby watching lifetime, I would rate the '87-89 team, the '96-97 team and the '05-06 team above Hansen's side. I also think highly of the 2010 side. No doubt Hansen's side have an incredible record, but I think it was Ben Darwin who put together a graph showing the All Blacks' point differential over the last thirty years and the peaks correlated to the teams I mentioned above.
jaysper
Roar Guru
As well as that, it would be a shame to see the Saffas not turn up and put a great performance in. Just as it would be a shame to see the ABs, Poms and Ozzies not perform. As for the French, I am MORE than happy to see them turn up and get knocked out in the pools based on past history ;-)
Ralph
Roar Guru
Very wise jaysper, I am also not fooled by the Springbok's under dog tag. If they can get their ensemble game together, combine that with the forwards platform they are able to set. Anyone who wanted to beat them in that state would *have* to be having a blinder! Still, you never know with SA, with their political interference, what will be possible.
jaysper
Roar Guru
Nicely written article, very poetic. I too hope the ABs succeed this year, but am rather sceptical about it given that they have never secured the cup away from home. I am picking a SA vs Eng final for various reasons and based on a number of assumptions. However, they are BIG assumptions and my reasons could just as easily be shredded. I look at the Saffas and they have had flashes of utter brilliance this year. Unfortunately they have been far too few and far between. However, I just think they will click come World Cup time and have a blinder. If they do then they should put everyone to the sword. The only possible exception to this is if the ABs were to coincidentally also have an absolute blinder and then it will be anyone's guess. I too and hopeful of a great WC, but just wish the matches weren't on at absurd hours. I will only be watching the matches live from QF on for this reason.