(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
As the countdown begins to 2011, how will Graham Henry manage the startling return to form from key players, the performance of the new blood, the declining status of veterans and stalwarts, and the possible return of some big names?
In the early period of his reign, Henry developed unparalleled player depth within the All Black framework, working to develop “two world class players for every position.”
This was essentially achieved, but at the 2007 World Cup, this depth led to what appeared to be uncertainty with what was the All Blacks’ best team. In the five matches played at that year’s World Cup, every position except two featured at least three different players.
This paid homage to the cliché that you only need 15 (or 22) world class players to win a championship—not 30 or 40!
At the end of 2007, New Zealand rugby suffered what we could call “the great exodus.” No less than eight front-line All Blacks would leave local shores immediately after the World Cup, and this would be followed by a host of test players, fringe players and other long serving domestic talent in the following months.
2008 was a surprising landmark year of success for the All Blacks, winning the Bledisloe, Tri Nations, a Grand Slam and finishing with a 13-2 win loss record.
This was achieved with Graham Henry all but forced to wield out a consistent test XV, relying on essentially a cocooned squad of 20 men. There would be less than half of the changes seen to a starting side—match to match—in this year than seen in each of the four years previous.
It showed a stark pattern from leading global test teams.
This year, South Africa has ruled, and has done so with a largely unchanged side.
Quality replacements and depth help, but nothing can quite equal having a team build consistent combinations and build experience as a winning unit.
Therein lies what could again be a problem for All Black rugby in the coming years.
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