Clamour for new unproven players as All Blacks is misguided thinking
I get that new players are exciting.
And I get that the All Blacks aren’t exactly bulletproof right now.
But what I don’t get is our collective urge to anoint the next big thing.
One day it’s Bailyn Sullivan. Then it’s his brother Zarn. Taine Plumtree, Tom Robinson and Stephen Perofeta are among the other talented, but wholly unproven, players being talked about as potential All Blacks.
We all appreciate that there has to be a place for the bolter. That person who emerges late and suddenly in the Rugby World Cup cycle and becomes an integral part of the All Blacks’ plans.
Think Jonah Lomu, for instance, who began uncertainly in 1994 but nearly proved a world-beater come 1995.
But among the reasons I don’t understand the clamour for new blood in this instance, is I don’t believe All Blacks coach Ian Foster is a man for the bold move.
If you haven’t appeared in the squad already, then I don’t think you’ve got much chance of being there come 2023.
And, frankly, I don’t think it matters right now anyway because it’s arguable whether enough expertise exists within the All Blacks’ coaching group to get many – or any – players to perform to their potential.
That’s a problem and perhaps partly why we prematurely push the claims of players not presently in the side.
Do you think the selectors have the stomach to dispense with the likes of Sam Whitelock, Joe Moody, Codie Taylor, Richie Mo’unga or even Sam Cane? Or do you feel we’ll cross our fingers and hope the senior pros will perform when it counts?
I’m not saying those guys are spent forces, by the way. Cane’s actually going all right for the Chiefs.
In ideal circumstances I’d like all those guys in my squad. Same with others who are getting on in age or are potentially under pressure to hold their spots, such as Dane Coles, George Bridge and David Havili.
There’s a regard, too, in which Foster is unfortunate here.
I’d wager there’s a potential limit to how long guys can be coached by Scott Robertson. The man’s record with Canterbury and the Crusaders is exceptional, but he’s been in that system a long time.
It was in the late 2000s that he joined Rob Penney’s Canterbury staff, before Tabai Matson took over and finally Robertson himself.
I think only Whitelock is of an age to have known red-and-black rugby before Razor.
For whatever reason, it feels as if it is a few Crusaders who’ve found it harder to fire under Foster.
By rights, Robertson shouldn’t still be with the Crusaders. He should be at a big European club or coaching test footy for someone.
Either way, you feel as if the continued presence of Robertson hampers Foster in some way.
It may be that the Crusaders’ players have Robertson-fatigue and are finding it increasingly hard to play their best rugby. Equally, those players might go into the All Blacks’ environment and wonder why it’s not Robertson who’s coaching them.
The bottom line is that the All Blacks have appeared devoid of energy and ideas in recent seasons and something has to change.
You can go the youth route. You can bin the big boys and plump for all the Plumtrees and Sullivans out there. That’ll certainly change things.
But whether that would be for the better is highly debatable.
The more likely scenario is that our 2023 Rugby World Cup is largely set in stone. That what we’ve already got is what we’re going to get come next year.
In that case, can we can the clamour for new blood and concentrate on trying to get the most out of what’s there already? I mean it’s not as if these blokes aren’t elite rugby players.
Far from encouraging the national selectorial and coaching staff to unearth new talent, we should be demanding that they get performances out of players who’ve previously proved that they’re up to it.
Comments on RugbyPass
What a load of old bull!
1 Go to commentsOf the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically. I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.
25 Go to commentsIrish Rugby CEO be texting Andy Farrell “Andy, i found our next Kiwi Irishman”
4 Go to commentsI certainly don’t miss drinking beers at 8am in the morning watching rugby games being played in NZ.
1 Go to commentsThis looks like a damage limitation exercise for Wales, keeping back some of their more effective players for the last 20/25 minutes to try and counter England’s fresh legs so the Red Roses don’t rack up a big score.
1 Go to commentsVery unlikely the Bulls will beat Leinster in Dublin. It would be different in Pretoria.
1 Go to commentsI think it is a dangerous path to go down to ban a player for the same period that a player they injured takes to recover. Players would be afraid to tackle anyone. I once tackled my best friend at school in a practice match and sprained his ankle. I paid for it by having to play fly-half instead of full-back for the rest of that season’s fixtures.
5 Go to commentsJust such a genuine good bloke…and probably the best all round player in his generation. Good guys do come first sometimes and he handled the W.Cup loss with great attitude.
2 Go to commentsWord in France is that he’s on the radar of a few Top14 clubs.
4 Go to commentsGet blocking Travis, this guy has styles and he’s gonna make a swift impact…!
1 Go to commentsWhat remorse? She claimed that her dangerous tackle wasn’t worthy of a red! She should be compensating the injured player for loss of earnings at the minimum. Her ban should include the recovery time of the injured player as well as the paltry 3 match ban.
5 Go to commentsArdie is a legend. Finished and klaar. Two things: “Yeah, yeah, I have had a few conversations with Razor just around feedback on my game and what I am doing well, what I need to improve on or work-ons. It’s kind of been minimal, mate, but it’s all that I need over here in terms of how to be better, how to get better and what I am doing well.” I hope he’s downplaying it - and that it’s not that “minimal”. The amount of communication and behind the scenes preparation the Bok coaches put into players - Rassie and co would be all over Ardie and being clear on what is expected of him. This stands out for me as something teams should really be looking at in terms of the boks success from a coaching point of view. And was surprised by the comment - “minimal”. In terms of the “debate” around Ireland and South Africa. Nice one Ardie. Indeed. There’s no debate.
2 Go to commentsThere’s a bit of depth there but realistically Australian players have a long way to go to now catch up. The game is moving on fast and Australia are falling behind. Australian sides still don’t priories the breakdown like they should, it’s a non-negotiable if you want to compete on the international stage. That goes for forwards and backs. The Australian team could have a back row that could make a difference but the problem is they don’t have a tight five that can do the business. Tupou is limited in defence, overweight and unfit and the locks are a long way from international standard. Frost is soft and Salakai-Loto is too small so that means they need a Valentini at 8 who has to do the hard graft so limits the effectiveness of the backrow. Schmidt really needs to get a hard working, tough tight 5 if he wants to get this team firing.
3 Go to commentsSorry Morgan you must have been the “go to for a quote” ex player this week. Its rnd 6 and there is plenty of time to cement a starting 15 and finishing 8 so I have no such concerns.
2 Go to commentsGreat read. I wish you had done this article on the ROAR.
2 Go to commentsThe current AB coaching team is basically the Crusaders so it smacks of wanting their familiar leaders around. This is not a good look for the future of the ABs or the younger players in Super working their way up the player ladder. Razor is touted as innovative, forward looking but his early moves look like insecurity and insular, provincial thinking. He is the AB's coach not the Golden Oldies.
10 Go to commentsSimple reason for wanting him back. Robertson wants him as captain. Otherwise he wouldn’t be bothering chasing him. Not enough reason to come back just to mentor.
10 Go to commentsI had not considered this topic like this at all, brilliant read. I had been looking at his record at the Waratahs and thought it odd the Crusaders appointed him, then couple that with all that experience and talent departing and boom. They’ve got some great talent developing though, and in all honesty I don’t think anyone would be over confident taking them on in a playoff match, no matter how poor the first half of their season was. I think they can pull a game out of their ass when it counts.
2 Go to commentsNot a bad list but not Porecki and not Donaldson. Not because they are Tahs, or Ex Tahs, they are just not good enough. Edmed should be ahead. Far more potential. Wilson should be 8 and Valentini 6. Wilson needs to be told by his father and his coach, stop bloody running in to brick wall defence. You’re not playing under the genius Thorn any more. He’s a fantastic angle runner. The young new 8 from the Brumbies looks really good too. The Lonegrans are just too small for international rugby as is Paisami, as is Hamish Stewart at 12. Both great at Super Rugby level. Stewart could have been a great 10 if not for Brad Thorn. Uru should be there and so should Tupou. Tupou just needs good Australian coaching which he hasn’t been getting. I don’t think Schmidt will excite him.
3 Go to commentsIf he wants to come back then he should. He will be a major asset to the younger locks and could easily be played as an impact player off the bench coming on in the last 30. He is fit, strong and capable and has all the experience to make up for any loss in physical prowess. He could also be brought back with a view to coaching within the structures one day. Duane Vermeulen played until he was 37 or 38. He is now a roaming coach within the South African coaching structures. He was valuable in the last world cup and has been a major influence on Jasper Wiese and other young players which has helped and accelerated their development and growth. Whitelock could do the exact same thing for NZ
10 Go to comments