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The All Blacks continued their unbeaten run through Europe, inching closer toward a Grand Slam. But at the risk of sounding like an ingrate, there’s been little to savour on this tour.
Defensively the All Blacks have been excellent. They’ve yet to concede a try or any points whatsoever in the second half, and they’ve generally played the type of pragmatic, winning rugby they failed to produce at the World Cup.
What they haven’t done is play the kind of rugby we like to watch.
Week in, week out the opposition has been shown the proper respect, a respect that stems from our loss to France last year. With every passing Test, the opposition has been talked up for no other reason than the All Blacks might lose.
And God knows we’ve played every Test like we’re forty minutes away from losing a World Cup quarterfinal.
It makes you wonder if the All Blacks’ largely conservative approach is a sign of trepidation.
Anton Oliver’s recent comments about the World Cup campaign were enlightening. He felt there was almost too much emphasis on getting it right.
A year later, Henry is managing the Grand Slam tour in similar fashion and the result is a rather arduous affair, despite the Grand Slam being comparatively meaningless.
Of course, Henry knows the Grand Slam only takes on meaning should the All Blacks fail, and to that end he can be forgiven for not gambling on All Black results.
Even so, what promised to be an exciting tour for blooding new players has quickly become a battle of attrition.
Obviously it’s been a physical tour. There wouldn’t be so many casualties otherwise. But the All Blacks’ biggest nemesis to date has been the IRB directive regarding stricter rulings at the breakdown.
As we all know, the All Blacks are a side that play primarily at the breakdown and who, legally or illegally, like to control a Test from the ground.
Watching the Cardiff Test, it was difficult to argue against Kaplan’s rulings.
The All Blacks deserve credit for keeping their composure and adapting, but it was noticeable how much of their game is negated when they don’t have their way at the breakdown.
They struggled for continuity in the first half and their second half performance was a direct result of upping the tempo at the breakdown.
So why aren’t they clearing out the rucks sooner?
Perhaps it has something to do with Cardiff being their fourteenth Test this year. So long as the NZRU continue to pile Test after Test on top of tired bodies, performances are going to suffer.
As I said elsewhere, abject performances only add to the pressure the players and coaches are under.
It’s obvious to all and sundry that Henry is pacing his men through this tour. They did what little they had to do to win against Scotland, Ireland and Wales and won without Carter or McCaw playing particularly well.
Other players stepped up.
But the fact the All Blacks can’t fire without Carter and McCaw playing well remains a worrying sign.
And the fact the All Black machine, so needy for wins, has forsaken the young players on tour is a massive disappointment.
In my view, the All Blacks are struggling under their playing load and can’t keep this up forever.
There’s no excitement in winning these Tests, just frustration. The entire Test season has left me weary. I can only imagine what it’s like for the players.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.