Why Robbie Deans Should Coach the All Blacks Next...

He says it all in The NZ Herald:

So how do you best prepare for a type of rugby that, as a team, you've never experienced?

You need to maximise the experience of those, in terms of the individuals within the team, who have been there and experienced this type of play before.

It is also important to maximise the collective preparatory experience by fielding combinations that are as well established as is possible.

Both of these are aspects of the All Blacks preparations for yesterday's quarter-final loss to France that will be examined for some time to come...

Instead, all we can contemplate now is the fact that we have been reminded - once again - that whatever happens prior to contests of this nature holds no real relevance, aside from creating a level of expectation that can be counter productive once it enters the minds of the players involved.

Why did Henry not grasp these too simple points? Why were so many of the "B"team on the field? Why did the IRB play an inexperienced Ref incapable of following the game and catching an obvious forward pass? Why did the leaders on the field show so much inability to adjust their game? Who knows?

What I do know is France deserves huge credit for stepping-up. Any Kiwi will tell you that the one team the All Blacks will loose to when they are on their game is the French. And so it was.

As for all the BS drifting around out there about the superiority of sides being thrown into light, spare me. The format of this tournament is such that the best teams in the world don't necessarily win.  The luck of the draw and play on the day maketh the winner. And so it will be.

As for the All Blacks - as a rabid fan I hope they all find space to move on and come back. Many won't have a chance to - there are just too many players waiting in the wings. And Graham Henry - resign now.  You've let your fans and team down. The fact that you don't worry about the future worries me. It indicates you have neither the hunger or incentive to win. Maybe it all is an acedemic exercise to you? Either way, resign, take your coaches with you. Let Robbie lead us forward. And so I hope it will be!

Comments

[Gerry]

Like you, all my Kiwi mates are hurting bad right now but it could be worse; you could hyave followed Scotland's soccer team for years Andy.

[Clive Armitage]

Andy

I think you do NZ rugby a disservice by trying to clutch at straws such as poor refereering decisions - you've watched enough rugby over the years to know these get evened out over games and indeed, on Saturday, there were plenty of things that could have gone for the French which didn't.

The bigger analysis should focus on why, time and time again, the most consistently talented team in world rugby fails when it REALLY counts. Here's what I'd suggest - take a look at the approach of the best of the Northern Hemisphere teams and appreciate that rugby is about pragmatics - draw up your game plan in relation to your opponents and then execute it. Don't simply say 'this is the way we play' and rigidly (and perhaps arrogantly) expect it'll be enough to always win. The AB record in the WC suggests it's not.

Then, find ways to take the lid off the pressure cooker of expectation that stems from NZ towards the ABs - these guys are going into tournaments with just way too much pressure on their shoulders. And frankly, given their WC record it's not justified and is plainly counter productive.

Clive