All Blacks' New Cycle Could Lead to 2011 Success

Graham Henry took control of an All Black team after the 2003 World Cup that had lost to the Wallabies despite both John Mitchell and Robbie Deans implementing what had been quite possibly the most effective offensive game plan ever seen by an international test team.

It was a game plan that in a five week period had the All Blacks put 50+ points on Wales, South Africa and Australia; the latter two in the great strongholds of Pretoria and Sydney.

But in the return matches against their old Tri Nations foes, the gap closed as both Eddie Jones and Rudolf Straeuli came close to countering the All Blacks strategy.  Jones then pulled off what was no doubt his finest hour as coach, knocking New Zealand out of the World Cup tournament.

In a sense, this began a disturbing modern trend for the All Blacks.

That at times, if their Plan A is countered, they found it difficult to adjust to an alternate game plan.

With a heartbreaking 18-20 loss to France in Cardiff, it was an awkward déjà vu for them again.

In this match—as it was in 2003—and in the recent games against the Springboks, we saw a similar methodology employed by Graham Henry’s men that his predecessors before him had tried.  An all out attacking style that despite not reaping the results intended was certainly watchable.

One wonders how often the All Blacks head coach and the NZRU chief executive Steve Tew converse in regards to their marquee teams approach.

Tew remarked earlier this year when referring to the Super 15 that ultimately, rugby was “about entertainment”.  Certainly, the All Blacks are considered the ambassadors of making our great game as pleasurable as possible to the viewing eye.

Incongruously for their devotees, all of the flair in the world doesn’t cut it when losing.

But there is no doubting Henry, despite some sceptics arguing that being at the helm of an international test team for six years is too long, is constantly looking to mix it up for his side.

So far this year, we have seen an All Black team looking to take more risks, a stark difference to the more measured approach that the 2008 side employed to record nine consecutive wins to close their season.

It may be that the All Blacks are looking to embark on a radical new cycle.

And while it may not have borne any fruits against the Springboks, the pragmatic approach that South Africa employs has been stopped by a high risk but potentially high yielding attacking game plan before.

The last time Henry instigated this, was when he first took the reins of New Zealand’s test team.  And while it generated success instantly, it did hit roadblocks in its earlier genesis.

In 2004, the All Blacks employed what was a flat line attack, a hybrid of the classical Randwick attack system pioneered throughout the mid 1980’s by the Ella brothers in their Sydney club and Australian test teams.

The first two matches of Henry’s reign was superb, as the World Championship winning English side (admittedly under strength) was thumped 36-3 and 36-12 as New Zealand executed their new style to devastating effect.

It was a style that had led England to 2003 World Cup success, remarkably similar to the way the Springboks are operating now, but a style that became redundant after too much use.

In the Tri Nations, the new All Blacks flat attack bore mixed results.  The All Blacks struggled to impose themselves against the Wallabies and Springboks, and despite victories against their old foes at home, losses in Sydney and Johannesburg would see them come last in the tournament by virtue of bonus points.

It would see Henry make stark changes.

Justin Marshall, Andrew Mehrtons, Carlos Spencer, Simon Maling, Sam Tuitupou, Xavier Rush and Kees Meeuws would effectively play their last test match that year.

New blood was ushered in to stunning effect, and through to the end of 2004, and all of 2005 and 2006 would see the All Blacks effectively rule the rugby world.

The ensuing defeat in Cardiff in 2007 at the hands of France would lend credence to two theories.

The All Blacks were specialists at peaking in between World Cup, and that it is almost impossible to for an international side to maintain dominance for a four year period.

While none involved with the All Blacks at any level, including their supporters, take pleasure in losing, the patterns are there for New Zealand to build now towards conquering what is one of the major droughts by a major team in sports.

The World Cup.

For a New Zealander’s sake, better they lose now, rather than be trapped in just “another cycle.”