The lessons the All Blacks could learn from the Black Caps
I wrote last week about the All Blacks reconnecting with the public.
That got me thinking about the Black Caps and another World Cup that’s on at the moment.
New Zealand has reached its fifth consecutive Cricket World Cup semifinal, where they lost to hosts India by 70.
Despite the defeat, the public is unlikely to round on the team and there are a few reasons for that.
Cricket, for starters, doesn’t matter to folk here as much as rugby does and so defeats are more likely to be greeted by a shrug of the shoulders.
The Black Caps also have runs on the board. In the last eight years, they’ve made two Cricket World Cup finals, been world Twenty20 finalists and inaugural World Test Championship winners.
They’re astonishing achievements, given how unlevel the world cricket playing field is. England, Australia and India really should be contesting every final going and yet these plucky little Black Caps inevitably find a way to intervene.
But I reckon there are two reasons – which the All Blacks could learn from – which mean the New Zealand men’s cricket team invariably get a pass from sports fans.
First, they largely play to their potential or even above it.
Playing to your potential doesn’t entitle you to success, but it definitely gives you a chance.
I’m not sure the last four years of All Black rugby has been characterised by individuals – or the collective – playing to its potential.
Whether that’s environment, coaching, mental toughness, I don’t know. But I think the difference between the two teams in that regard is striking.
Relatability is another thing the Black Caps have going for them.
Let’s take Trent Boult. Like many of his teammates, the majority of his income is not derived from representing New Zealand.
He is a freelancer for hire, who’s not even on a New Zealand Cricket retainer.
Does he care less? Have his skills diminished? Is the team suffering for only being able to utilise his services on a part-time basis?
Doesn’t seem so.
New Zealand Cricket can’t compete with the wages players can earn elsewhere, so doesn’t attempt to. It sends players to tournaments, such as the Indian Premier League, with its blessing.
I think there’s something in that for New Zealand Rugby to ponder.
But that relatability comes back to a couple of things.
When Brendon McCullum became Black Caps captain, he quickly realised the team were dicks whose fans were embarrassed by them.
He made the necessary cultural shift and has successfully taken that ethos to the IPL and now the England test team.
If you’re humble, likeable and try very hard, you’ll win more fans than you lose. You might even enjoy doing it so much that you play well too.
Boult’s arguably our highest-paid cricketer and yet it’s not uncommon to see him turn out in Tauranga club cricket for Otumoetai Cadets.
Small gestures like that connect you to the grassroots game and your community and engender a great fondness from everyone involved.
How many All Blacks do that or even Super Rugby players, for that matter?
Cricket’s Super Rugby equivalents regularly return from four-day, 50-over or Twenty20 duties and slot straight back into the Saturday club teams that first put them on the pathway.
Rugby and cricket have different physical demands but – again – how many All Blacks have any connection to their clubs, even in a spectating or coaching capacity? Are they part of their communities or actively isolating themselves from them?
There’s a lot of rugby can learn from the way the Black Caps are run, contracted and encouraged to behave. In return, the All Blacks might receive similarly-unconditional support, rather than the criticism that comes with every defeat or poor performance.
The Black Caps, to me, are the embodiment of what New Zealanders hope to see in themselves and want to see from their sports teams.
They truly do punch above their weight and find ways to make do with much less than world cricket’s heavyweights have.
There’s something admirably Kiwi about that.
Comments on RugbyPass
Just what the Sharks needed to get things going in the right direction Defence on the outside really creates havoc for the whole team and needs to be addressed.
7 Go to commentsWell done guys both teams will be ready to play knockout rugby.
1 Go to commentsSurprised that Ramos isn't starting at 15. But what a squad of galacticos!
2 Go to commentsWhy is it a snub? What journalistic garbage is that? Sure the guy is a great player, but there are plenty of loose forwards and not all of them can be Springboks. Also, I know of no-one who doubts Rassie’s judgment. South Africa has a conveyor belt of loose forwards that just keeps producing, so the competition is intense. I certainly wish him well, but there is no entitlement and there is no snub.
17 Go to commentsSkelton may be brought back for the Wallabies so that would be the only reason that may hinder Wilson. Easily the form, most skilful and game IQ of any Oz 8. Valentini’s best and favourite position is 6, but lineouts may be an issue with Skelton, Valentini and Wilson. Will be interesting what Schmidt goes for but for me Wilson should be picked on form. Schmidt rewards work rate, skill and consistency. All that glitters every so often won’t be in contention. Greely is one of those players that has a knack of making the right decision. A coach is going to love him because he knows week in week out he’s going to get the job done. The second try Greely wasn’t the guy who made the initial break it was Flook, Greely was at the bottom of the ruck when Flook was off along the sideline. Greely got up and made the effort to catch up with play but also read the play nicely and hit the pass from Campbell at pace and then held the pass beautifully to Ryan.
6 Go to commentsSpot on Ben. Dead right. Havili looked great at 10. Easily the highest rugby IQ of any NZ player these days. Getting a kick charged down is a result of getting used to adjusting your depth to the line at 10, which he will sort out with time. But other than that it was an outstanding first effort in that position this year. I think the NZ media has misunderstood this directive from Razor. Havili might rank behind B Barrett this year, but Beuden is 33 this month and won't last much longer. DMaC is great but flaky and not really a test match animal (his efforts in Dunedin versus Aus last year for example). If Razor can't have Mounga, DMaC is too unstructured for Razor (and is just too small for test rugby). Havili will end up our first choice first five, and in partnership with Jodie will be excellent. Two triple threat operators in tandem, and big bodies and tough tacklers to boot. Jordoe will be the ABs goal kicker. I am an Aucklander and Blues (and Warriors) fan, but Havili at 10 is going to be sensational in time… he can be the best first five in the world by the end of this year. No question.
6 Go to commentsSharks deserved to be far further back by the last quarter. Their tackling was awful, their set pieces were disappointing, their defensive organization was poor (especially on the Kok side of the D line), they kept making unnecessary errors, and they never looked like cracking the Clermont defense during those first 60m. Masuku kept them in touch, with some help from the Clermont generosity on penalty opportunities. Agree with the writer of this article. It was belligerence, and ability to raise their pressure game just enough, that turned the last quarter into a Bok-style shutout. Clermont have a reputation of not playing the full 80m, and there was a bit of that for sure. But, quite often when the intensity of a team drops off in the last quarter credit is due to the opponent for tiring them out. At 60m, with the Kok try, you thought that just maybe the game was on. At 70m, with the Mapimpi contribution, one felt that Clermont were fading, while facing a team that would maintain the pressure game through the final whistle. Good win in the end, but the Sharks are still playing way below their potential. And with their resources, and a coach that has had enough time to figure things out, they are running out of excuses.
7 Go to commentsGood riddance
1 Go to commentswel the crusaders were beaten by a queensland reds side that hadnt beaten them at home since 1999 and queensland reds partied like it was 1999
6 Go to commentsHard to disagree with the 5 points - with the exception that Wilson should be a squad member but, depending on the other loose forward selections, is not yet a shoo-in. McReight is. Aussie is looking a lot better this year and JS has some selection options. Also, Havili’s tendency to get caught, charged down is also a liability at times but he seemed focused (mostly) and is definitely a consideration for utility back-up. Still feel Reihana is a better prospect at 1st five for Saders.
6 Go to commentsYeah nah, still not sure on Havili tbh. Even though I’m a Crusaders fan through and through I’d be stunned if Razor considers him after seeing some of the stunning talent coming through up North.
6 Go to commentsThink it was a great defensive performance by Northampton. They didn't have stage fright in the first half, the Nienaber defense smothered them. They limited Leinster to 15-3 in the first half. It could have been over by then. A great try from Leinster in the start of the second half looked to have sealed it. But Byrne missed another conversion. Northampton started trying little kicks behind the Leinster wingers. Leinster messed one and Smith brilliantly made the conversion. Leinster decided to tighten the game after Byrne missed a straight forward penalty. A few errors got NH into the 22 and they scored and converted with a few minutes left. Another brilliant steal from Lawes saw NH have a final attack which was turned over by Conan. A classic semi final. World record attendance of 82,300. Leinsters 3 week preparation warranted for this one.
1 Go to commentsJust came back from the game and the atmosphere was amazing. Players stayed afterwards for more than a hour to sign stuff and take photos with fans. Great day out.
7 Go to commentsA great game. The Sharks without Etsebeth are a shadow of the team compared to when he plays. The limitations of Some of the expensive Sharks players are being exposed. Credit to Clermont for some exhilaration play at times.
7 Go to comments100% Mr Owens. But who would want to be a referee.? It must be the most difficult job on earth.
1 Go to commentsStarts to be overdone and oversold this systematic SA narrative…which nevertheless has the merit in this case to recognise blatant refereeing mistakes in their favor
7 Go to commentsNice article. Shades of Steinbeck. They can win the final if they take the game seriously; but only if they take it seriously.
7 Go to commentsWhat a sad way to end a glittering career. Somebody should tell him to delete his social media accounts and face the consequences of what he's done. Then he should slip away quietly into obscurity. This isn't likely to happen, something tells me he'll be back in The Sun / Daily Mail sooner rather than later.
5 Go to commentsguys its fine! he understands why he did what he did and has taken accountability for it; why should he have to be accountable to a court? after all he did was abuse people in person - its not as if he was engaging in _online_ abuse!
5 Go to commentsChiefs flanker Kaylum Boshier yellow-carded for collapsing the scrum as it rolled towards the line. It was a maul….
1 Go to comments