A Lions Series drawn, a last gasp Wallaby W and a Puma scare. Just when you thought the Black was starting to crack they silence the mutinous whispers with a record win versus South Africa.
Firstly, let’s have it right, South Africa were atrocious! An auspicious opening quarter was erased from memory as a heartless, error strewn display followed. The hungry All Blacks feasted on a Springbok performance characterised by a malfunctioning lineout, shirked tackles and countless handling errors. How a professional team, let alone an international one could generate so much opposition clean ball from their own throw in is unfathomable. Eben Etzebeth is a graduate of the Victor Matfield lineout apprenticeship, but even he’d struggle to be a favourable character witness in a Kangaroo Court.
Without reliable lineout ball, which trumps scrum ball in this new-law-era for speed, runner options and general undefendability, the poor Boks backs were without platform. On the rare occasions they did get opportunity we were rewarded with inacurate passing and dropped balls. Most tellingly they lacked conviction in their attack. Visibly rattled by finding themselves 17 points down after a dominant opening period, they lost decisiveness in their running and decision. Only Siya Kolisi and Etzebeth consistently put their hands up to be counted.
It takes two to tango though and we must pay homage to a New Zealand back to their ruthless best.
It has been an uncomfortable few months spent in unfamiliar territory for the Men in Black. For the first time since 2011 their air of invincibility has been questioned. Trawl back through the interviews of opponents of the past six years and you’ll find plenty of sentiment like Adam Coleman saying: “I think the boys believe now more than ever that coming this weekend, we can beat the All Blacks”, but much of this chat has been exactly that; ‘chat’.
These words have always been laced with an element of bluster for in reality they’d be satisfied with a 65 minute performance culminating in a 10 point loss and a familiar Cheshire Cat ‘stay humble’ acceptance speech from Kieran Read. Recently though, started by Chicago Irish, proliferated by the British & Irish Lions and compounded by unemphatic wins against Australia and Argentina, these words have begun to carry genuine belief. Well… back in your box everybody!
New Zealand could do no wrong this morning, typified by an exemplary kicking performance from under pressure Beauden Barrett. They endured a sloppy opening 10, shelling a few balls but what followed was close to flawless. The pack was confrontational yet dynamic, with Brodie Retalick marauding as much as he was boshing. With Read’s deft hands often the umbilical cord between the pack and the backs, and Dane Coles scampering in the wide channels, they overwhelmed South Africa. The backs meanwhile were magic. Beaudy the wizard orchestrating willing accomplices in Nehe Milner-Skudder and Damian McKenzie.
This game addressed a bigger story though.
Since the ignominious years of World Cup heartbreak, they’ve become masters of peaking as the four-year cycle crescendos, while in the interim they don’t fear loss and embrace the art of learning lessons. This is seen chiefly in their rotation policy but more critically rotation into BIG games. I baulked when Liam Squire was dropped after his recent performances against the Wallabies but was even more astonished when I heard Vaea Fifita didn’t make the cut this week. Today they fielded a 20 cap back three and two props who shared eight.
Their Bledisloe rivals are only just parting ways with Stephen Moore while Will Genia, Bernard Foley and Kurtley Beale remain the backline mainstays. Guys who were hot property a decade ago. If Adam Ashley-Cooper hadn’t retired, I have no doubt he’d still be in the run-on week in, week out at the expense of emerging talent, Dane Haylett-Petty. I’m not saying they’re not world class, or they should be axed, but where are the credible understudies being given a shot at pushing each other to greater heights?
Conversely New Zealand are breeding what seems a never ending succession line. While the Carters and McCaws of this world can’t help but steal the limelight with generational talent, the goal is to make every player interchangeable and ultimately dispensable – like a team of Faceless Men, Game of Thrones style.
New Zealand are building for a fresh defence of the William Webb Ellis. They’ll take a squeaked game here, a marginal Series draw there, maybe even a soul searching loss, because by the time 2019 comes round in the Land of the Rising Sun they’ll have a 40 man strong unit capable of stepping up, handling the pressure and delivering. Their alleged dip in form coincides with new caps, new combinations, a new generation and all this against teams built on experience and established partnerships.
Currently only England are capable of assembling the same squad depth, though they’re looking light at 3, 10, 15 and (of course) 7. They are the great white hope with an exciting generation of driven winners, but they must be willing to throw caution into the wind. How about a starting half-back axis of Dan Robson and Alex Lozowski with Owen Farrell and Ben Youngs tactically on the bench when Ireland come to town in March? Sink and new options must be explored; swim and you have a tested pair instilled with big game experience.
The willingness of New Zealand to throw players into the deep end creates a fearlessness to express themselves. This was typified today by Rieko Ioane’s opener. I know the wise old head of Aaron Smith instigated it, but the electric winger was on the same wavelength immediately to capitalise in only his seventh Test. The inexperienced bench today brought another unwelcome dimension to the game for SA fans, but was yet another demonstration of New Zealand building an army, not just a 1st XV.
Today showed the green shoots of optimism to be premature. I hope I’m wrong and a changing of the world order is imminent, but thanks to a lifetime’s youthful dreams being crushed by a black wave, I’m fearful of the blooding of a fresh crop of world beaters. They’ve done it before, and I think they might be doing it again.
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