Tri Nations Analysis So Far: New Zealand

The last word that comes to mind when describing the 2009 All Blacks is vintage, but they possess a fighting quality that has ensured they may still defend their Tri Nations title.

New Zealand is looking at recording an unprecedented fifth consecutive trophy that signifies supremacy in the Southern Hemisphere, and their ninth overall.

However, their back to back losses against the Springboks in South Africa have ensured that their destiny is not in their own hands. 

It is a chillingly simple equation.

The All Blacks must rely on the Wallabies to inflict at least one victory on the World Champions in either Perth or Brisbane.  If this is achieved, assuming that Australia doesn’t whitewash the Springboks on home soil—then the clash on 12 September in Waikato will be for the 14th Tri Nations title.

But irrespective of this, there would be a grim satisfaction residing with Graham Henry, with the fact that he is now 5-1 against Robbie Deans, well and truly putting to bed any concerns over whether or not the NZRU made the right decision in their then controversial decision to reappoint the former headmaster of Kelston Boys.

While there are still concerns moving forward for this All Blacks team, there are plenty of foundations to work with, especially from their match in Sydney.  As the Springboks themselves have proved in this year’s competition, you do not need the complete game plan, as long as the established pillars of your technique are strong enough to win matches.

In this, we can sum up the All Blacks' issues this year.

Unlike the South Africans, they have not been clearly dominant in one aspect that has allowed them to build into match winning control.

But the manifesto laid in Sydney, if built upon, could well change this.

The most fundamental appears to be there, the bedrock in which All Blacks teams throughout history have relied on, an unwillingness to accept defeat and a pride in the silver fern embossed on their left chest.

Even in the face of a Springboks onslaught, this All Black team has not folded.

The second elementary aspect is there, even if it is evident against the Wallabies far more than against the South Africans.

Their pack is strong, with a solid scrum, but in Sydney they showed one of the most desired aspects of a forward platform; the ability to evolve.  Their lineout improved and their tactical approach in the loose was alternated when it was required, vastly increasing their pick and drives and running off the pillars when evident that the Wallabies were struggling.

The challenge will be to achieve this against the Springboks.  Against both the World Cup holders and France this year, New Zealand has laboured at times to dominate themselves in the tackle area. 

However the cattle and technique are there, but for the All Blacks, as with their basic skills in all facets, it is more a question of accuracy and patience.  This could sum up their attack, with the All Blacks showing neither quality in spades. 

In this, the All Blacks are very much a diamond in the rough.

They are showing a willingness to run with the ball and employ an offensive stratagem, far more than their opponents, but the execution is not there.

While the desire is clearly evident, the tenets of such attack are missing, which also form the backbones of historic All Black rugby.  Hard direct running, close lines of support and exquisite short off loading are just not coming together for Henry’s men.

In many respects, heaven help their opposition when they slot the final pieces of the grand jigsaw, for against both South Africa and Australia they have made numerous breaks and running metres (almost double that of their opponents in the competition so far) but unforced errors have derailed their phases.

In this the men on the pitch must be responsible, but here a recent strength of New Zealand rugby, already seen under Henry, needs to again come to the fore.

Depth of players, and the resulting competition for places it ensures.

This was evidenced through the performances by both Ma’a Nonu and Rodney So’oialo in Sydney when coming off the bench.  With the All Blacks having other options in their positions (Luke McAlister and Kieran Read) the two Hurricanes came on to the park and played as if their very lives depended on it.

Contrast this to Mils Muliaina, who despite being an excellent player, hasn’t quite delivered to his very high standards in 2009.  Is he a little more relaxed knowing a certain Leon Macdonald isn’t challenging for his position?

This is where New Zealand’s jewel in the crown—the Air New Zealand Cup—is crucial.  This year we have seen All Blacks filtering back into the competition, but non performing test players should be put on notice.  Equally strong domestic performers should be rewarded.

Joe Rokocoko re-earned his test spot with a winger’s master class performance for Auckland at Kerikeri domain, but still his position should be on notice.  Otherwise it is an affront to the battalions of New Zealand wingers, such as Hosea Gear, Rudi Wulf, Rene Ranger, and Fetu’u Vainikolo who perform week in and week out.

Still, if anything the frustration felt by the All Blacks public is symptomatic of their demands for success and reflective of the usual high standards of the most successful test team (World Cups aside) in the modern game.

And beyond the above mentioned “platforms” to work with, 2009 has unveiled many positives.

Isaac Ross and Owen Franks have been unearthed as long term test playing options, crucial considering Ali Williams absence and the struggle to fill the immense shoes of Carl Hayman.

The defensive ethos of the All Blacks is strong, employing a mixed strategy of rush, swarm and umbrella tackle systems.

But for all the lack of crispness in New Zealand’s game, it is clear beyond any pessimism that they are—despite struggling to implement—looking at an innovative attacking match day strategy that could pay dividends come 2011.   As it was when they introduced a Randwick style attack to their arsenal in 2004, the reality is that these new approaches take time.