The All Blacks resting policy may actually work
Instinctively, I’m against the resting of All Blacks.
I want to see the best against the best as often as possible, rather than when the national coaching and training staffs allow, or the players deign to appear.
But what if it works?
The Six Nations is almost upon us and, as that competition wears on and Super Rugby splutters into life, I know which is going to appeal to me more.
But how many Rugby World Cups have they won in the Northern Hemisphere? How are the insatiable appetites of club owners helping the nations in which they reside?
I truly want to say that wrapping athletes in cotton wool is anathema to success. That you only prepare to play by playing, that no amount of rest or training ever produced a winner.
Sport’s achievers are those who prove themselves in the furnace of competition, not those who push out PBs in the gym but shy away from actually competing on the paddock.
But I come back to this idea that what if managing workloads actually does win New Zealand the next Rugby World Cup?
No-one’s going to forget 2007 in a hurry. We put faith in the plan of All Blacks coaches Graham Henry, Wayne Smith and Steve Hansen, that excusing players from matches and rotating the team holus-bolus would work.
History shows that world cup campaign was a spectacular failure, with those coaches exceedingly lucky to retain their jobs.
I’m still not convinced that method is any more valid now.
But look at the alternatives. It’s so long since anyone other than New Zealand and South Africa has won a Rugby World Cup it’s not funny.
Here’s an event that’s been going since 1987 and England are the only Northern Hemisphere team – in 2003 – to emerge victorious.
When you look at it that way, how bad can our way of doing it actually be?
If the All Blacks don’t win this year’s world cup, it won’t be because we restricted players’ minutes in the months before the tournament. It’ll be because the team, as currently coached and constructed, isn’t that good.
Now, of course, there’s a separate argument to be made about Super Rugby and how we’ve butchered that and why it might never be a worthwhile competition again. Even if we can’t fix it, we do at least need to find a way to make it relevant.
The model we have now isn’t fit for purpose and never will be while we allow the All Blacks’ participation to be optional.
It’s funny how, increasingly, the money in professional teams’ sport is reserved for clubs and franchises, but how in rugby we seek to doggedly maintain the primacy of the international game.
Now give me test cricket over the Indian Premier League every day of the week. It’s just that the market says my opinion is wrong and, as Twenty20 competitions continue to proliferate, the days of watching our beloved Black Caps might be numbered – especially in the five-day format.
Rugby will surely go the same way eventually but, for now, we have New Zealand Rugby control and that means All Blacks only playing franchise and test football for the purpose of preparing for Rugby World Cups. No matter where we are in the cycle, it’s only that tournament that counts.
It’s a strange way of thinking and something you assume will be abandoned eventually but, for now, it’s what we have and it actually serves us better than the methods employed by our rivals.
I don’t like players not playing, but show me a model that has consistently worked better for Rugby World Cups.
Comments on RugbyPass
Four Kiwis in that backline. A solid statement on the lack of invention, risk-taking and joy in the NH game; game of attrition and head- banging tedium. Longterm medical problems aplenty in the future!
1 Go to commentsGood article, I learnt quite a lot. A big sliding door moment was in the mid 00s when they rejected Steve Anderson's long term transformation and he wrote Ireland's strategy instead.
2 Go to commentsHi Dr Nick! I'm worried that I've started to enjoy watching England and have actually wanted them to win their last two games. What would you prescribe? On a more serious note, I've noticed that the standard of play in March is often better than early February. Do you think this is because of the weather or because the players have been together for longer?
10 Go to commentsMy question in all this brett is who is going to wear the consequences of these actions? Surely just getting the sack isn’t sufficient? A teenager working the till at woolies would probably get taken to court if they took $20 out of the till. You mean to tell me that someone can spend $2.6 million and get away with it? Where was it spent? What companies/people were the beneficiaries etc? How is it just being talked about as an ‘oopsie’ and we all just move on and not a matter of the court for gross negligence, fraud, take your pick…
18 Go to commentslove Manu too but England have relied on him coming back from injury for far too long and not sorted the position with someone else long term . It will be a blessing he has gone . Huge shame he was so injury prone . God speed Manu .
3 Go to commentsI agree with Ben Smith about Brett Cameron. The No. 6 position has to be a monster and a genuine lineout option, like Ollivon, Lawes (now Chessum), Du Toit, etc. The only player who fits that bill right now is Scott Barrett. A fit and fizzing Tuipolotu together with one of the young towers, Sam Darry or Josh Lord, would give Razor the freedom to play Barret at 6.
15 Go to commentsOutstanding article, Graham. Agree with all of it. And enjoy the style of writing too (particularly Grand Slap!).
2 Go to commentsI wouldn't pay a cent for that loafer. He just stands around, waiting for play to come his way. He won't make the Wallabies.
1 Go to commentsGood bit of te reo maori Nic. Or is that Niko or Nikora? On the theme of trees the Oaks v Totara. Game plan would be key. I have one but it would cost you.
10 Go to comments> Shaun Edwards’ You should not have to score 30 points to win a game, as exciting as it is. This statement was surprising to me. It is nonsensical .I guess it is a defence coach speaking. But head coach, defence and attacking coaches all work together. They are inseparable. You score more than the opposition to win. It only needs to be one score. You score whatever the game demands, whatever the opposition demand. You defend whatever it takes. The attack coach needs to be able to clock up 30pts if need be.
10 Go to commentsWho’d have thought, not having Farrell & Youngs kicking the ball at every possible opportunity and playing flat and allowing your centres to run and pass would pay off? No one could possibly have seen this coming. FML. It took a LONG time coming but at least that time has finally come. England need to find a backup to Lawrence. Freeman is the best candidate for me, I see no reason why he can't play 12. He's big, strong, fast and has great hands.
10 Go to commentsLove Manu but he's not the player he was and I imagine Bayonne have paid too much money for him.
3 Go to commentsNew Zealand have not beaten England since 2018 and even that was a pretty close shave.
1 Go to comments“a renewed focus on Scottish-qualified players” Scottish-qualified is another way of saying English. England has development more players for the Scotland national Rugby team in the last 4 years, than Scotland has.
2 Go to commentsThis sounds a lot like the old Welsh rugby proverb “Wales never lose. Other teams just score more points.”
5 Go to commentsFinally,at last, Borthwick has done what the whole of England have been crying out for. Ditch the kick chase and let the players have freedom to attack and run with the ball. It was great to see. Ford played really well and for the first time in ages was 5 yards closer to the gainline which then allowed a more attacking position . Pity it has taken 90 odd caps to do so. However, this has to continue and not be a false dawn . One issue. Marcus. With Ford having one really good game in 5 ,is he the answer long term . Smith puts bums on seats and is terrific to watch . How can you leave him out before he departs for France in disillusion . England are in danger of Simmons , Alex Goode , Cipriani , Mercer and now Smith being unable to get a selection ahead of “favourites” of the management regardless of form . Great to see England play so well .
2 Go to commentsCockerill was an abrasive player in the mould of a Georgian front rower who will have the respect of that pack. Looking forward to seeing what he can do with this exciting team, hopefully they can send a message to unions like Wales that money alone doesn't buy you wins.
2 Go to commentsI like the look of those July matches. Hopefully they'll get some good tests in November too.
2 Go to commentsThis is a poor article, essentially just trolling six nations teams
22 Go to commentsConnaught man? How you can write that without blushing.
6 Go to comments