The All Blacks can't have it both ways if tests aren't meaningful
This is what happens when you abandon all pretence of accountability.
By rights, the All Blacks should be applauded for beating Argentina 53-3 in Hamilton last Saturday.
Now, I would argue it was an adequate performance over an opponent who was inadequate on the night.
I don’t know how the Pumas celebrated their win of the previous week but, given the way they behaved on the field after that match in Christchurch, I think most seasoned observers believed they’d never be as desperate seven days later.
Frankly, Argentina looked like they’d spent most of the week in the hotel bar.
Oh well, it’s not as if these results matter.
That’s the issue for the All Blacks in 2022. New Zealand Rugby (NZR), through their continued endorsement of Ian Foster, have told us that outcomes are immaterial.
As long as the players like their head coach and are convinced that the team is “building,’’ then this season is a success.
Ordinarily a 50-point win over a credible foe would be cause for celebration. But given losses don’t count in 2022, we can hardly turn around and hail victories either.
I feel a bit for the team in that regard. I mean it’s still rather embarrassing that they have to be shamed into performing to their potential, but that’s because rugby in New Zealand faces broader issues than just the men in black.
This isn’t an elite All Blacks team and there are systemic reasons for that.
It is kind of weird, though, that it seems to take a week of public and media criticism to rouse them into action, but it’s at least nice to know they will play well when they absolutely have to.
That is the issue I’ve always had with this regime. That performances and results can be consistently below previous expectations and yet nothing meaningful changes.
Provided the occasional victory is thrown in to quiet the baying masses, everything’s hunky dory.
I’ve written before, partly tongue-in-cheek, that I reckon the All Blacks can go unbeaten for the rest of the year. Admittedly, I wrote that before the first Argentine test, but I stand by it.
I don’t see anything on the schedule that should frighten the team and I think we’re all entitled to expect a cleansweep of the clashes with Australia, Japan, Wales, Scotland and even England.
The question is though: can we congratulate the All Blacks for it if they do?
And I mean that.
The team and NZR can’t have it both ways. Either every test result is important or none of them are.
I do genuinely wish there were sterner tests ahead of this side in the remainder of the season, because it is difficult to get a read on whether improvements are being made.
I am enthused about the propping rotation of Ethan de Groot, George Bowler, Tyrel Lomax and Fletcher Newell. Samisoni Taukei’aho looks an outstanding hooker and I still think Dane Coles can be relied upon in 20-minute cameos.
Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick and Scott Barrett are excellent locks, Ardie Savea an admirable No.8 and Caleb Clarke an emerging star on the wing.
But I retain misgivings about openside and blindside flanker, halfback, first five-eighth, second five-eighth, centre, right wing and fullback.
I’d love it if England at Twickenham was a real challenge. I’d love the All Blacks to face some real adversity there and to find a way to prevail.
Ultimately, though, we have what we have – in terms of players and coaches – and not a lot’s going to change between now and the World Cup.
Football is the model for rugby now. Outside of tournaments such as the world cup and European championships, every other international match in that sport is a friendly.
They’re games help to build confidence and combinations, but the outcomes are essentially meaningless.
I find it a shame to see All Blacks test matches become an irrelevance, but that is the situation that NZR have created.
Beating Argentina on Saturday was certainly better than losing to them, but it proved nothing.
All the eggs are in the World Cup basket and the only results that matter will be there.
Comments on RugbyPass
late hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
1 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusades , you can keep going.
1 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
4 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
24 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
24 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
24 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
24 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
9 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
9 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
28 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
24 Go to comments