All Black Fundamentals Exist, Just Need Polishing

There is no way in glossing up the ignominious fact that this New Zealand team is potentially one loss away from recording one of the worst test years on record.  But numbers beneath the final score lines paint a picture that could be on the verge of becoming a masterpiece.

It is an interesting realm that the 2009 All Blacks team find themselves in.

We won’t buck the dominant trend seen throughout the media and offer initial pessimistic views of this New Zealand team.

Probably the hardest aspect in their test losses this year is that they have been their own worst enemies.  As Steve Hansen said recently, it is more of a “skills thing.”

While injuries to key players haven’t helped, there are still some very good players in this All Blacks team.  But many of these stars have failed to fire so far in 2009.

Hopefully, the adage will bear true that class is permanent and form is temporary.

While the lineout has become a glaring chink in their black armour, it has been the “Je ne sais quoi” characteristic of the All Blacks that has seen them sink to four test losses this year. 

Spilled passes, knocked balls, and aberrant decision making has let them down at key moments in test matches this year.  In fact, when looking at those three mentioned factors, they are probably the key area’s which have been all but absent from the Springboks game this year, who have been responsible for all but one of New Zealand’s losses.

And here, we must be realistic when looking at the All Blacks current situation.

This is probably the best Springbok team of all time, filled with once in a generation players.  From 1 to 15, at least half of the South African team would dominate a current World XV.  And whether it be by fitness, conditioning or just luck, they have suffered no major injury concerns, to allow their best team to be on the park for the majority of 2009.

Joined by a Wallaby team that appears to be tweaking themselves for a tilt at future prominence, we must again remember that the Tri Nations is match for match the most difficult championship in the world.

To avoid a cliché and a huge pretext, the All Blacks for so long—outside of the 2007 World Cup—the best team in the world, surely were eventually going to experience their own slump, for when you are at the top, there is only one way to go.

And that downward slump has hurt, with this year on the verge of equalling if not surpassing the horror runs of 1949 and 1998, widely acknowledged as the worst ever years for All Blacks rugby.

But closer inspection of what the All Blacks have achieved against the other two teams in the top three of the world can bear some optimistic outlooks.

Their lineout is no doubt an issue, and it all begins with the throw.  When looking at the current pecking order of New Zealand hookers, Andrew Hore, Aled de Malmanche, and the injured Keven Mealamu, there is a consistent theme.

They are all brilliant in the loose, excellent with ball in hand and outstanding scrummagers, but lacking in confidence and assuredness with their throw.

So at least the problem is obvious and therefore fixable?  Equally, this year could be an ugly aberration, with both Ali Williams and Chris Jack likely back in national colours next season.

But it is in three key areas that define typical All Black play that gives the most excitement.

First, in the rucks.

In every Tri Nations match the All Blacks have won more rucks than their opponents, lost the fewest, and turned over the most.  They are winning the contest of the ball, arguably the most important fundamental in the game.

In Hamilton, the numbers are astounding. Seventy-five rucks to 31 and nine Ruck turnovers to five, this shows New Zealand is laying down an essential platform.

Secondly in attack.

With the exception of the first test at Eden Park against the Wallabies, the All Blacks have executed double the line breaks, broke more tackles/beat more defenders and thrown more offloads than any team.

Again, in Hamilton, these numbers were fantastic.  Five line breaks to three, and 22 broken tackles/beaten defenders to South Africa’s two, and 15 offloads to South Africa’s two.

Finally in defence.

With the exception of the Eden Park test, the All Black tackle percentage has been better than any team.  In the second and third tests against the Springboks, New Zealand missed only five tackles in two matches.  South Africa missed 30 in both those tests.

Ironically, these statistics could make it even more disheartening to be an All Black supporter, as it does actually prove that they have done enough throughout this Tri Nations to win more than they have lost.

It also shows that they are missing the execution and patience required to make the above numbers into potentially match winning ones.  Again, two key facets that have been abundant with South Africa.

Still, while the heartbreak may not be over, surely (hopefully!) the blueprint for a very good All Blacks team is being laid for the future.