How Good Are They Really?

Are Steve, Ian and Aussie truly happy with how things are going? Is this black ship heading in the right direction? There are a couple of things to consider. One is attack, and the other is defence.

On attack, this All Black side is almost without peer. The way they counter-attack so swiftly with multiple players in support providing a plethora of options for the ball-carrier is, frankly, a joy to behold. Everything is done at pace and the execution is clinical and often undefendable.

At the other end of the field, the defensive lines are well organised with the backs defending from the inside out and showing a great deal of belief in the defensive capability of their team-mates.

So they score a lot of points. But they do concede a fair few points as well. 29 in round one versus the Wallabies and 33 this weekend. While they certainly scored more on each occasion, 47 and 41 respectively, one can’t help but wonder whether conceding that many against, say, England or South Africa in their homelands, would result in a loss.

What’s my point? Well, I think this All Black side of the past four to five years would probably be as good as any other rugby team in history. Every player knows his job and does it well. But I do think we have to be mindful of over-confidence. The moment we believe that the AB’s simply have to turn up to notch up another victory, we’ll be in trouble.  Keep that beautiful attacking brand of rugby flowing.  But don’t forget the D. And bring on that end of year tour; can’t wait.

Speaking of that end of year trip up north, I think the players selected can be sorted into particular buckets as follows.

‘The Certainties’

Dane Coles, Andrew Hore and Keven Mealamu.

These are the three best hookers in NZ. There are up-and-comers in the domestic game, but no contest for these three.

2 x Franks, Tony Woodcock, Charlie Faumuina

All four of these guys are near the top of the pile when it comes to the world’s propping stocks. Woodcock and Franks, Owen are the incumbents in their positions, Faumuina has been excellent filling in for Franks while Franks, Benjamin offers versatility and extreme mongrel off the bench.

Retallick, Romano, Whitelock, Thrush

The lock stock is once again strong in NZ. Brodie, Luke and Sam are easy selections. And I’m so happy for Jeremy Thrush. He has been such a fine servant of NZ rugby and is grabbing his chance at this level, and his lineout ball, with both hands.

Cane, McCaw, Read, Messam, Luatua

In this group we have arguably the greatest All Black of all time, his anointed successor, one of the best number eights we’ve had, the incumbent blindside who is playing some excellent rugby, and his anointed successor. I’d personally love to see a starting loose trio of McCaw, Read and Luatua.  But Messam would be pretty hard done-by to be dropped based on current form. 

The Little Fella and His Back-ups

Aaron Smith is playing pretty well; I certainly love the speed of his pass that gives the backline that extra half a second of time. Tawera Kerr-Barlow is a more than adequate back-up who, like TJ Perenara, offers a great deal of physicality to boot. I feel for him, but I think Weepu is done.

Flyhalf, Standoff, Pivot, First Five

There’s Barrett, Cruden, Carter then daylight. Simple selections.

Nonu, Nonu, Nonu

He’s still a class act on the field, especially at international level where his bad games are rare to say the least.

On The Outer

Dagg, Jane (despite his lack of recent game time), Piutau, Savea and Ben Smith certainly aren’t (on the outer). They are all quality players and absolutely deserve their spots

The Next Cabs off the Rank

Mr Crockett

I’ve generally made it pretty clear in the past that I’m not Wyatt’s biggest fan. I would’ve picked Ben Tameifuna instead but Crockett is clearly rated by people far more knowledgeable than I, so I’ll move on.

TnT

Tom Taylor is a good, dependable player. It’s hard to see him ever displacing Barrett and Cruden, but he’s a decent backup.

In the Middle

Ryan Crotty is an honest footballer who is dependable and hard-working but not the most exciting player on the planet.  But he won’t let the team down if called upon. Francis Saili has been identified as one for the future and unless the selectors take a massive punt on someone else before 2015, he’ll likely still be in the mix.

Further Out

Frank Halai is a very good player. End of story really.

The Young Guns

Joe Moody really seems to have come from nowhere this year. Clearly Mike Cron & co rate him. I’ll be interested to see how he goes against a battle-hardened northern hemisphere veteran or two.

Dominic Bird is enormous and could turn out to be very very good. He appears to be as tough as old boots (steel cap) and reminds me of a bigger version of Sir Brad Thorn. He and Whitelock could be the starting locks by 2015 – you heard it here first. ..

Luke Whitelock is one selection I disagree with. He’s good. But is he playing better than Brad Shields or Victor Vito?

The Jeez They’re Unlucky Category

I’ve referred to him already, but I think Ben Tameifuna would be worth a touring spot. He offers an enormity and mass that no other front-rower in NZ offers to the same degree.

I think the last loosie spot probably came down to Whitelock or Shields or Vito. The latter two have been playing superbly in the ITM Cup and can count themselves very unlucky.

Finally, God knows how you’d work him into the mix but Ardie Savea is a wonderful player. He is an absolute standout in the ITM and I can’t wait to see how he handles the massive step up to Super Rugby.

That Might Be the End of That

It’s hard to see some players coming back into the national team now. Piri Weepu is now ranked fourth-best (or if you’re from Canterbury, fifth-best) halfback in NZ. At age 30, I doubt we’ll see him leading another rendition of Kapa o Pongo.

It’s also hard to see Vito returning, especially if Jerome Kaino carries on where he left off at the last World Cup and Whitelock and Shields continue their development. Unfortunately for him, he’ll probably be remembered as one player who never quite fulfilled his enormous potential.  

Rugby League Debacles

International rugby league really is a shambles. In this world cup, half the Samoan and Tongan teams have previously played for another country (mainly New Zealand), including skipper Roy Asotasi who mysteriously didn’t turn up for the flight to England so is now not the captain anymore.

Then you have Eddy Pettybourne. He was a training squad member for the Kiwis four years ago amongst whispers, probably incorrect, that New South Wales were interested in him for State of Origin. This year he’s nowhere near the Kiwis squad and was also overlooked by the Samoans. So he’s now going to represent the United States! The United States of America rugby league team – wonder how many Americans will be following this tournament.

Nix Watch

Finally this week – the Phoenix. Last week they lost in heartbreaking circumstances, conceding the winning goal in the final 15 seconds. This week they faced the West Sydney Wanderers in Sydney. WSW’s supporters appear to challenge the subtle borderline between enthusiasm and fanaticism and this week was no exception as the sold out stadium influenced and intimidated in equal parts. But the Phoenix held on for a draw that showed tremendous mental strength.

There are a few concerns for supporters though. I wonder if they perhaps regret getting rid of Tony Lochhead at the start of the season although Reece Caira is going ok at left back. Leo Bertos seems a little bit off the pace these days and I’ve never really understood the fascination with Vince Lia, especially in the same team as Manny Muscat. I’d like to see more of Paul Ifill, but he may be carrying an injury – who knows. I also think Kenny Cunningham has a touch of Benjamin Totori about him – he runs fast and does everything at a hundred miles an hour but he often looks like he doesn’t really know where he’s going. But it’s early days and he certainly has pace to burn.

It’ll be a tough season but there have been enough positive signs in the first two games to suggest they may be up to the task of making the playoffs at least.

Till next time,

SG