Richie McCaw's closing to the end

First the All Blacks coaches said they were preparing an understudy for McCaw's subsitute.
Then it was suggestions that McCaw could eventually switch to 8 latter in his career.
After that we sought him playing 8 for Canterbury.
Last week the talk was how damaged and stressed was McCaw's body after a test.
A few days ago we knew that McCaw would skip the first three games of the Super 14 2010
Also this week he could be seen scrummaging at 8 during the All Blacks training session.

All in all, McCaw can't last forever, as tough as he is, putting his body to the line, week in week out. So I bet he will be targetting RWC 2011 as his ultimate goal. Nothing longer than that. Yes, perhaps he will still play for a year or so after the RWC, but he's sending out messages that rugby's a heavy burden when you are an openside, and just like Schalk Burger's and George Smith's, his body's got a limit.

I like him more than ever.

Graham Henry's words about the Twitter afair

"I had to find out what bloody Twitter was. I thought it was a new guy playing five-eighth for England."

Gatland is only doing his job

Warren Gatland complaining at the referee is not something that should surprise anybody. The fact that at least two tries were denied to the All Blacks is something that he was always going to "forget" in his criticism to the referee.

Just exactly when was a scored try much more important than a clearly-unintentional high tackle?

The plain truth is that whereas the All Blacks did never show more skill than the willing Welsh (except when it comes down to tackle, especially with their flambuoyant left winger), physically they were a level above. And the game was always going to be Black.

But Warren Gatland has sworn he'll get them to the promise land, and now he's just trying to convince them he's leading them there.

Journos asking the impossible

Now there's this Marc Hinton asking silly things again.

Yes, he's done it here. He's asking 5 things to the All Blacks coaches, among them, two pearls:

-use the kick and chase that SA have use to good effect.
-make the game appealing.

Yes, both at the same time.
You are a genious, Marc.

Counting frames

SA-based rugby365 proudly shouts out loud that the All Blacks have ended up counting frames to study lineout jumps, specially Matfield's jumps:

"The All Blacks research unit counted frames on jumpers and Springbok Victor Matfield was the quickest in the world from the ground to the peak of his jump."

The truth is no one needs a single replay to see that Matfield is the quickest jumper on the test arena. The truth is that quicker does not mean better. The truth is that the Lions were able to get a decent percentage of ball from lineouts against the Springboks, and the truth is that those are the videos the All Blacks should be studying.

Steve Tew said

"I'm going to watch with some interest how Graham goes with the lineout"

All Blacks touring squad

The most surprising thing about the squad that will travel northwards is not the inclusion of Delany or Smith. My personal opinion is that they, just like a number of young New Zealand players, really deserve the call.

The most surprising thing is not the absence of Rokocoko, de Malmanche or Ross, either. Rokocoko is a shadow of what he used to be, de Malmanche has indeed got to improve his throwing in, and Ross... well, the selectors had been given hints that he wouldn't tour, had they not?

The most surprising thing about the squad is the coaching reshuffle that Henry has orchestrated and that points towards a name: Steve Hansen. He, as forwards coach has already been named as the ultimate responsible for a poor forwards delivery (mainly in the lineout, really) during the Tri Nations and by taking over the forwards coach duties, Graham Henry implicitly acknowledges Hansen's critics.

Steve Hansen would have been dropped from any other coaching staff, but not from this one which seemingly will march apiece or die apiece.

Interesting. This ought to be seen as loyalty. Loyalty of Henry towards Hansen, just two years after the toughest times in Henry's coaching career, when both Hansen and Smith remained loyal to Henry.

All Blacks midfield

With Conrad Smith back in action last week for Wellington, some injury concerns the All Blacks had about their tour may have been eased. Some may not.
Richard Kahui and Isaia Toeava are out for the tour... and Luke McAlister may well join them this very week.

Who's then, ready to travel northwards? Ma'a Nonu and Conrad Smith, for sure.
Who else? Well, there's plenty to choose from: Tamati Ellison from Wellington, and Shoemark and Kawau from Southland also deserve a close look at them. Canterbury provide a few names; with Laulala leaving NZRU he misses what would have been a certain selection but still, Ryan Crotty, Tim Bateman and even Stephen Brett could fill the 12 position.

Plenty to choose from, actually. But who's going to be besides Nonu and Smith?

Depth in NZ rugby

I was wondering what to write about Graham Henry's comments on the direction the game is going when I fetched the post of Totalflanker on this very subject.

While I basically agree with his point of view, there was something he said that's giving me headache after headache. He (wisely) adviced Graham Henry to look inside New Zealand Rugby for answers and solutions to the underperforming All Blacks instead of blaming the rest of the World.

But what in opinion of Totalflanker is a main problem is the lack of depth at lock, first five and openside flanker; When I read that, it totally stunned me.

I then said to myself there's no lack of depth at first five: Slade, Cruden, Brett, Bowden and even Witt are gifted players... the only problem is the World doesn't know of his existence as they have not been internationally tested. At lock we have been missing Chris Jack and Ali Williams, while Brad Thorn has been outstanding and two new guys are up there: Ross and Donnelly. We cannot forget Boric and Eaton, as well. They all need more tests, indeed, but there's no real lack of depth.

Openside flanker is another story and I do conceed there are not many openside flankers for Henry to choose from.

But then, I review what my thoughts about depth are and I say to myself that quality is undoubtedly there, but quality is not exactly depth.

Jake White was always proud of the increasing test experience of his squad. The Boks are, right now, the most experienced squad in the World in number of test caps, with over 600 caps. How many caps do Slade, Donnelly, Cruden, Boric, Eaton and Brett add up?

And then I say to myslef: What the All Blacks need is caps. Not more caps on senior players, but caps on the youngsters. Caps for Kaino, Thomson, de Malmanche, Donald, Masaga, Gear, Ross, Boric, Eaton, Slade, Vito, Cruden...

But how in the hell are you supposed to give caps to the All Blacks if they are neverallowed to lose? Do you choose experience to win a test or capping ahead of the next future?

And then I thought that being the All Blacks coach must be one of the most delicate tasks a person may have in NZ.

But that does not make Henry innocent of doing a "Peter de Villiers" about the penalty goals.

All Blacks contenders

So, 2009 Tri Nations is over. Now sights are put on the future. Who'll be contending for a position in 2 years time?

Let's see them all;

• PROPS: You have Woodcock and Tialata as first-choice options, and then, young Owen Franks, John Afoa, Wyatt Crocket; Southlander Mackintosh is ready to resume his career while Newland would also be a good choice. Do expect Carl Hayman to be back in time for 2011
• HOOKERS: Andrew Hore and Keven Mealamu are going to be there. Aled de Malmanche seems to be just there, too. The future is of his. Are there any other options? Unfortunately Flynn's too injury prone to be counted on. I would rather go with Hika Elliot.
• LOCKS: Henry's concern has been on the lock position for two long years. Last year, Brad Thorn and Ali Williams were miraculously perfect. This year, with Williams injured, Boric injured, young Isaac Ross has got to take the reins. I hope he won't be found guilty for the All Blacks woes with the Lineout. Brad Thorn and Ali Williams just have to be there. Next are Isaac Ross and Chris Jack (he's coming home). And then, Boric, Eaton and the new kid on the block, Tom Donnelly. I personally like Bekhuis as the Stag is doing a fine ANZ.
• LOOSE FORWARDS: Richie McCaw is the only player you will always expect to be selected here. Not even great So'oailo has managed to secure a place. Read, Kaino and Thomson are next to the skipper. Then, you could be looking for So'oailo, Latimer, Messam and, perhaps we shall see him this very November wearing the Black Jersey, Victor Vito.
• HALFBACKS: Although disappointing, Cowan has been consistently the best halfback of the international season. Leonard is better than Cowan, but he's just out of form. I would say that Andy Ellis is my preferred choice for halfback, he did shine with the Crusaders.
• FIRST FIVE & SECOND FIVE: Daniel Carter is a certainty here, and so is Luke McAlister. Stephen Donald will always be a backup, but I would like to see youngsters Cruden and Slade. Add Nonu also here and, more than anything I would love to see also Nick Evans here.
• CENTRE: Kahui, Toeava, Smith and Laulala.
• WINGS: A big problem of late. Sivivatu's doing well, more or less, when he's fine. But Rokocoko seems to be struggling and neither Gear nor Masaga take their chances to claim a clearly open position. Wulf could be there, and even Doug Howlet could be filling a position here.
• FULLBACK: Mils Muliaina and Cory Jane are first and second choice. Israel Dagg is a promising third choice. Some others could be a fill-in fullback: Slade, Toeava and even Rudy Wulf.

Robbie Deans' credit is over

Just look here.

Robbie Deans may or may not be guilty of the poor 2009 performances by the Wallabies, but he's run out of credit.

Now the Wallabies must deliver or his time as Australia's Head Coach shall be over.

At the other shore of the Tasman Sea, Henry's head stands firmly, as we all know nothing is going to remove "Ted" from his position until 2011. But then, NZ hopes may be fading, after a three consecutive losses to SA and another loss to France.

Rugby is nowadays a 4-year sport and we are right in the middle of this 4-year race with the All Blacks losing ground to first-placed Springboks and the Wallabies asking themselves if they have what it gets to go the full distance.

It was exciting, but not good

The game was full of excitement. The All Blacks finally found themselves a way to demolish the Springboks defense in open play... but it was only too late.

Don't be mistaken, it was the fitness factor. SA players just couldn't find their breath for the last 15 minutes. And when they were so severely punished, they played with intelligence. Set pieces to set pieces. Did you pay attention on to how annoyed was McCaw when the referee didn't let the play go on? He was on the edge of a penalty for complaining. During the dying moments, Carter's foot made the difference, but in the end, it was not enough.

The first 65 minutes, though, we saw a repetition of what happened in SA. Green waves barely contained by the All Blacks and error after error from NZ. I repeat, it's not skill, it's physicality. Unlike the Wallabies last week, the All Blacks couldn't match the Springboks physically. And it made the difference.

The Springboks are the best team in the World. Can anyone be World Champions, win the Tri Nations, be ranked number 1 and not be the best team in the World?

About coaches

Springboks, Wallabies and All Blacks.
That is to say: PdV, dingo Deans and "Ted".

This is the alpha and the omega of the southern hemisphere as we know it (Argentina, where art thou, Argentina?).

For the last year and a half, no coach in the world (except perhaps Manolo Preciado but he's got nothing to do with this sport nor with this hemisphere) has accumulated more detractors than Peter de Villiers. I have read it in almost any blog, in almost any newspaper; that PdV is a puppet, an outspoken jester, that he'd better sober up... Now, all of a sudden, he's made a seemingly unvincible team and no one is paying due tribute to him; they all now speak of the Springboks, of du Preez, of Steyn...

Dingo Deans is perhaps the most appreciated coach in the world. The most succesful coach in Super Rugby history has exactly had one year and 4 games before the first critics have arisen. They respect him; they don't dare to criticise anything other than he being stuck to certain players. But the coach who had arrived in Australia to make a champion team can be running out of time. What would be his fate if the Wallabies don't win a single game in 2009's Tri Nations?

"Ted" is the man under whom the All Blacks have had the best period in their history and the worst result in a World Cup. For 42 games the All Blacks seemed all but invincible and people said New Zealand would win the 2007 World Cup even with the second best 15. 2 years after the disaster of a loss (a loss is always a disaster, has always been a disaster and will always be a disaster in New Zealand) to France, the team is trailing behind pace-makers Springboks and still, there's no talking in New Zealand of his dismissal.

Under these circumstances, my question is:

What is in a coach? What difference does a coach make?

I'll tell you a few things:

1. being a good coach does not guarantee taking good decissions.
2. taking good decissions does not guarantee helping your team.
3. helping your team does not guarantee your team a win.

On the other hand, there are times when being a bad coach can't prevent your team win:

1. The coach does not kick, so he can't make an error on the field
2. The coach does not catch high balls, so he can't make an error on the field
3. The coach does not tackle, so he can't make an error on the field.

Some teams, like the 2009 Springboks could play with Pienaar at loosehead and Mtawarira at fullback and still be winning.

So, ease it on the coaches, they have not the almighty power everybody likes to think they have. Take Deans, take de Villiers, take Henry. Not the worst coaches in the world by any means.

Be realistic, dream about it (The Springboks can't win outside SA)

I have often said that the Springboks don't have the habit of winning outside South Africa.
Of course, they say in SA that winning a World Cup outside South Africa means being able to do it. But, c'mon, Argentina, Fiji and England don't play in the Tri Nations.

From 1996 to 2008, the Springboks have played 28 Tri Nations games outside SA. They have won 4 (2 in NZ and 2 in AU) , drawn 1 (in AU) and lost 23.

And that, to me, is more important than a World Cup.

Do not expect SA to win more than, at most, one game.

So be realistic, dream with the All Blacks winning the 3N.

Injured 2009 or crisis in NZRU?

1. Daniel Carter injured, out for most of the season
2. Ali Williams injured, out for most of the season
3. Richie McCaw's injuries have not let him play four games in a row
4. The same goes for Brendon Leonard, Sitiveni Sivivatu and Conrad Smith
5. Awful start to the international campaign with horror games against France and Italy
6. Christchurch not able to fill the stadium to see the All Blacks
7. Major injuries to Corry Flynn, Casey Laulala, Richard Kahui
8. Super 14 lost
9. Tri Nations lost even before it has started.

Is all that enough to start frightening? Is 2009 a year of bad luck? A year in which NZRU has to check if everything is going in the right direction?

Amidst all, Graham Henry seeks his re-election until 2011

Powerful Blues or weak All Blacks?

That's the whispered question going on all along New Zealand, and perhaps, it's the same at the other side of the Tasman Sea.
In South Africa they are all too focused on their win over the Lions to even rise their sight to other places.

But, how can we explain the fact that New Zealand did not smash France as was in everybody's mind before the series, but rather escaped a series defeat although were not able to retain the Gallagher Cup?

Well, let's examine things closely once the games are over.

1. Casualties were there for both teams. So it's not that the All Blacks can blame casualties for failing to produce the game everybody was expecting.
2. How can a team produce just their third Grand Slam tour in 100 years in November and draw a test series to France at home next June?
3. Is super 14 the best breed for test games?
4. Does Super 14 lack intensity?
5. How important the ELVs have been?
6. How important the Graham Henry (Robbi Deans) has been in order to adapt to the old (new) rules?
7. Why does Donald look so error-prone at test level? Can he cope with the intensity of test matches?
8. When an experienced tight five in a pack weighing over 900 kg misserably fails to dominate a 830 kg pack, is it a matter of form? What's Tialata exactly doing there?
9. If France was so bad at the 6 Nations, how come they have posed such a big threat for these two tests?

And the last and more important question: Is form the glue that will put all things in place, come the Tri-Nations?

The game was not that bad

I have watched the game again and I must say there are some signs that the All Blacks should do much better next time.

First, as the coaches pointed out so wisely, it was all mainly about physicality. Turnover after turnover killed the All Blacks which were not specially bad in attack, the problem was that they didn't exactly enjoy quality possession.

Apart from that, one must admire the lock pair. Ross was superb in the lineout and Thorn was exactly doing what the loose trio should have. Bringing his body to the game. Keven Mealamu and Aled de Malmanche can show the guys how it is done.

Stephen Donald deserves a special chapter. The boy should do the basics. And just that; the basics. With time, with confidence and with a bit more experience he'll be able to do "different" things, but those are not what the team needs now, specially when every bit of ball possession is so precious. He kicks well. He kicks well indeed. Let the boy grow from where he's at the moment.

Let's see what the next test brings.

By the way: Do not be much too impressed with Deans trying Barnes at 10. Given that Quade Cooper has not got enough experience to start at 10 for the Wallabies, someone must backup the best first five in Australia.

Stupid assholes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Beware when you put your fingers onto the new All Blacks players looking for guilts after the (twice-in-a-row) defeat to the French.

I have read in some places that it was due to All Blacks errors.

Beware.

The mere fact that you are afraid of the All Blacks losing does not mean they ought not to try things.

Do not be harsh on Messam for trying a late run and a chip kick over the French which the French number 8 gathered and ended up in the second French try. You'd better laud him for his audacity, or otherwise you are risking them not being able to try it again.

If I were the All Blacks coach, nothing would I fear more that a gang of players afraid to play.

Do not expect much of the first test

Twins New Zealand and Australia start their first tests of the season.

For Australia, it should not be much different than the Barbarians, except for the never-ending high expectations put on the Italian forwards. They are physical, they say. True, but physicality ain't everything in forwards play. There's more to it. So, expect a tough physical match for the aussies, but a comfortable win.

For New Zealand, things are pretty much the same. Concerns are everywhere in this ever-scared-of-losing country but the truth is that the side that Henry fields does not lack class, does not lack power, and more importantly, does not lack form. Which Les Blues happen to lack. What is more, they cannot fiedl their best 15. So, don't be afraid, the beloved All Blacks shall win.

These games will only give some ground to the newbies (less trialed players) in both squads: O'Connor, Brown, Turner for the Wallabies; Ross, Messam, Read, Wulf for the All Blacks.

And that's all.

Sonny Bill Williams (again)

So, now it seems Sonny Bill Williams is playing tricks to get a chance to play the 2011 RWC.
When Sonny Bill Williams says he is elligible to play for Australia, is he putting pressure on NZRU to sign him? is he desperate for someone to hire him? is he doing both things?

When asked about Sonny Bill Williams helping injury concerns in the All Blacks camp (Kahui needing surgery and Smith out to a hamstring) Graham Henry laughed.

Is NZRU keen to sign Sonny Bill Williams? Is Sonny Bill Williams asking too much money? Is it fair for people like, say, So'oailo or Muliaina, commited to the NZRU despite lucrative offshore offers that a youngster with as much talent as things to prove in this new code could surpass what they earn?

All in all, it's down to the same thing, the cruel and vile gold, which was exactly what rugby sold its soul for, wasn' t it?