This has been as bad an All Blacks season that we could have imagined
All’s right in the rugby world.
The All Blacks are home and out of quarantine, captain Sam Cane has been crowned player of the year and we can all write the team’s ordinary performances off to COVID-19.
That’s about the tenor of things right now, isn’t it?
Cane, for instance, has proved his leadership credentials by playing well. Never mind that the team had a 50 percent win rate and suffered miserable defeats to Australia and Argentina.
You only had to watch the Pumas and Wallabies play each other to realise how limited each of those sides were. And yet they both cleaned up the All Blacks.
Again, though, that’s not the narrative now.
No, from head coach Ian Foster on down – who declared himself “satisfied’’ with 2020 – we’re sitting back and admiring these brave fellows in black. They’ve been through a lot, you know, what with having to justify their big pay packets by actually playing some rugby.
The domestic part was too taxing, mind. Not enough walkovers and byes and All Blacks-prescribed rest weeks.
Internationally, we’re being told to cherish the Tri-Nations trophy as if it means something and to savour the wins over Australia in Sydney and Argentina in Newcastle. They’re a true reflection of this team under Foster and Cane, not the other rubbish that was served up.
You’ll probably have detected a tone to this column by now. Maybe deduced that I haven’t been dazzled by the All Blacks’ performances this year and am not ready to rewrite history.
That I don’t feel that, because a panel gave Cane a prize and he did a little bit of media, we need to pretend this has been a stellar season of All Blacks rugby.
Sam Cane has played well this year. He’s an immensely brave man who always tries his best. But, let’s be frank, that’s the least we should expect from every All Black, let alone the captain.
We went through this before with Kieran Read, when he was skipper. There were periods when his play actually wasn’t that good but, boy, look out when he did play well.
Anyone who’d been critical of Captain Kieran prior was promptly told to tender an apology.
All Blacks teams need to win. And win well. New Zealand rugby hasn’t scaled the heights it has because we all endorse mediocrity. Far from it.
Excellence is the expectation and anything short of that is a failure.
Which takes me back to the top.
We seem to be acting – or least being told or encouraged to act – as if this has been a satisfactory All Blacks’ season.
The team’s admirable captain has been praised for being a fine fellow (which he is) and we’re all now looking forward to seeing coach Fozzie and the boys build on their Tri-Nations title-winning success. Is that a fair summary or not?
Again, Sam Cane is a good bloke. You know he’d be a great mate, who could be relied upon in any situation. Cane’s the kind of guy you’d be happy for your daughter to marry and you just know he’s going to enjoy a full and successful life after rugby.
But the team lost to two pretty ordinary teams in 2020 and won just three of the six tests they played. And when you get results like that, then the captain, the head coach and the first five-eighth are responsible. Always have been, always will be.
This has been as bad an All Blacks season that we could have imagined. To be that average, against such scant opposition, really isn’t an endorsement of those in charge.
Will it be any better in 2021? Maybe. It’s hard to be a lot more positive than that.
You suspect that if the team succeeds it will be in spite of Foster while, despite Cane’s many fine qualities as a man, he doesn’t look like the actual leader of that team. That’s Sam Whitelock.
The 10 bit is a worry, too. Either Richie Mo’unga or Beauden Barrett needs to be in charge but, for the time being, it appears as if it’s neither.
We’ve come to the point where one needs a clear run without the other, otherwise we’re going to continue to get the muddled footy we’ve had ever since Mo’unga emerged. It’s nice to have multiple playmaking options, but the first-five has to have absolute authority and you don’t look at that All Blacks team and see anyone who’s taking ownership for the winning and losing of matches.
It’s easy to like Sam Cane. Just as it was to like the similarly-admirable Taine Randell, when he was All Blacks captain.
Only the team didn’t win under Randell. Or at least win often enough.
You didn’t develop a sense that Randell, for all his many qualities, had a command over that side or that the team were fully playing for him. The results bore that out and he was eventually replaced.
We can all sit around and write puff pieces about Sam Cane. We can garland him with awards and proclaim his greatness as a human being.
But it’s the results that matter in the end and 2020’s didn’t reflect that well on the All Blacks captain.
Comments on RugbyPass
Sorry 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.
1 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.
2 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 commentsBrett Excellent words… finally someone (other than DC) has noted that Hanigan is very hard and very good at doing what Backrow should do… his performance via the Drua sauna was quite daunting for those on the other side… very high tackle count… carries with good end result… constant threat to make a good 20-25 meters with those long legs… providing his mass effectively to crunching the Drua pack… Finally he is returning to quality form… way to much injury time over the last 2 years… smart-strong-competent in his skills… caught every lineout throw aimed at him and delivered clean pass to whoever was down below… and he worked hard for the whole 80 minutes… Ned has to be in the top 5 for backrow honors… He knows what is required as he has been there before…
20 Go to commentsI think Sam Whitelock should not touch a return with a bargepole. He went out on a high, playing in the RWC Final. He would be coming back into a team that will be weaker than last years, and might even be struggling to win games, especially against the Boks. Stay in France, enjoy another year with Pau, playing alongside his brother.
10 Go to commentsRyan Coxon has been very impressive considering he was signed by WF as injury cover whilst Uru has been a standout for QR, surprised neither of those mentioned
2 Go to commentsIt’s the massive value he brings with regard team culture/values, preparation, etc. Can’t buy that. I’m hoping to see the young locks get their chance in the big games though.
10 Go to commentsAll good, Gregor, except that you neglected to mention Sam Darry amongst that talented pool of locks. In fact, given Hannah’s inexperience and the fact that Holland won’t be eligible until next year, Lord and Darry might be the frontrunners this year, to join Barrett, Tuipoluto, Va’ii and possibly Whitelock. In fact there might be room for all of them if Barrett played 6 (like Ollie Chessum).
10 Go to commentsHis value is stabilizing the ship 20 - 40 minutes out from the final whistle plus his valuable experience to the underlings coming through.
10 Go to commentsWhat is criminal is she acts like it's no problem her actions have have cause the Italian player to lose her playing career, lose salary, if she did this in day to day life she would be in jail, she is a complete thug!!!
3 Go to commentsCorrect me if i’m wrong but the sadas have to win all games running into the finals yeh nah?
1 Go to commentsDon’t like Diamond but the maul is a joke, the sight of a choke tackle creating a maul then players in offside positions flopping on it killing the ball but then getting the put in? Banal.
3 Go to commentsHopefully Tabai Matson returns to Crusaders as head coach next season.
1 Go to commentsstorm in a teacup really. Penalty only so play on as the try was scored. Now the real question is: why was Maitland allowed to pass the ball off the floor? That is illegal but refs never pick it up.
1 Go to commentsWhen Beauden Barrett signed his contract before the 2023 RWC to play in Japan in 2024, it was NOT part of a sabbatical agreed to with NZRU prior to his signing, as was Ardie Savea and Sam Cane. Barrett changed his mind after the fact and negotiated his return to NZ Rugby and he was given permission to be eligible for All Black selection straight away once he signed a new contract to return to the Blues in 2025. Therefore, why would anyone argue against Whitelock returning to the All Blacks straight away after his season is France is finished if he signs a new contract with NZRU which includes a Super Rugby contract in 2025? If Barrett can, Whitelock should be allowed too.
10 Go to commentsThe All Blacks will select 5 locks this season. Scott Robertson will most likely want to select 2 veteran locks who can start right away in 2024 and 3 young promising locks who he would like to be pushing hard for selection in the starting XV in two years time- 2026. Scott Barrett is a world class lock. Who would you rather start beside him this season against England, South Africa, Ireland, and France- Sam Whitelock or Patrick Tuipulotu? I would choose Whitelock over Tuipulotu all day, every day.
10 Go to comments