Horses for Courses

All Blacks 19 vs Wallabies 34
Saturday July 26th 2008
Subiaco Oval, Perth Australia

Let’s look at where it all went wrong – forget the fact that Graham Henry and the NZRFU got it all wrong at the beginning. With the introduction of the “re-conditioning period” - now coined the infamous “de-conditioning” period by Doctor Somers- by removing the Top All Blacks from the 2007 Super 14 and triggering the most disappointing World Cup exit in the history of the All Blacks. OR forget the fact that the NZRFU let the most successful and respected coach in world rugby - Robbie Deans go to the Wallabies and the ARU by reappointing a failure in Graham Henry, for a further two year term and taking our National Team to the depths of sporting disaster annals.

You would have thought that All Black Rugby coaches would have learnt good lessons from their predecessors. Lest we not forget our woes at Centre before and after Tana Umaga came to our rescue (Cast your minds back to - Christian Cullen, Leon McDonald, Isaia Toeava, Luke McAlister, Conrad Smith and Mils Muliaina). You have to wonder what Tana knew that led him to jump ship before the disappointment of the 07 World Cup. Perhaps he was not in favor of the “re-conditioning period” in the year following his retirement? Perhaps the most inspirational All Black Captain of all time knew the plans and tactics set in place would not lead to World Cup glory?

So the question that begs to be answered is – Why do we persist with players who do not have the ability to perform or produce at Test level? Why does Graham Henry persist in playing players out-of-position? I would like to present a few theories of my own…

Daniel Braid – How far off the pace was this young man? Recalled into the National team after almost 5 years since he last proved he couldn’t play Test Match Rugby! There is no finger to point at Daniel Braid – he did the best he could do for his Country given that he played two club games (Auckland University) and one NPC match vs Poverty Bay in a month. And Graham Henry deems him worthy enough to take on the likes of George Smith – Arguably the best Openside flanker in the history of the game since Jones, Kronfeld and McCaw? This was where the match would be won and lost – at the breakdown of a running game.
What of the likes of Tanerau Latimer the understudy to McCaw in Canterbury or the block busting Liam Messam, who both had thorough preparation with the NZ Maori – Should I even mention Chris Masoe?

Sione Lauaki – A product of Kelston Boys High School – in Auckland. A monster of a man who was born to demolish opponents in the game of rugby – someone forgot to tell him you need to ball to do that. Yet time and time again he has failed to deliver his so called impact off the bench. A negative impact with poor ball skills, lackadaisical defense, an inability to scrummage or clear rucks and passionless play. Lauaki single handedly lost us this test match when players like Dan Carter were doing there best to pull something out of the bag in a tactically flawed display of All Black rugby. Lauaki epitomizes everything the All Blacks are not.

Jerome Kaino – A drunkard from yet another Auckland school – St Kentigerns. He was completely dominated by a free ranging Rocky Elsom. Yet another player out of his depth in the wrong position, the wrong place at all the wrong times. He moved to 6 when it was discovered Braid could not keep up with the play. This puts into question the treatment by Graham Henry with Jerry Collins. The World’s most fearsome player in the game. Quite frankly I enjoyed Collins making origami shapes of human rugby players at the tackle ball area. Why did Collins leave so abruptly to join his good friend Tana in Toulon?
Would we have been better off having the experience of Collins, So’oialo and Masoe with a combined 114 test matches between them versus an Australian backrow boasting 143 tests and 87 of those going to George Smith. Instead Henry chose to go with two players Kaino and Braid with 9 tests between them.

Rodney So’oialo – Could be considered one of the best players at No.8 in the world. Why would we move him to 7 or 6 unless Henry wanted him to fail as test captain? You could see the frustration of So’oialo raising his arms at every breakdown and free kick awarded to the Australians. I will not be surprised if So’oialo finds himself packing the scrum with Collins in Toulon after the end of year tour. Jason Eaton was placed in the ‘de-conditioning programme’ before he unfortunately suffered a broken leg prior to the Worldcup – A proven player at either lock or 6 – perhaps his career could have been revived.

Andrew Ellis – Well a boy amongst men – any halfback worth his salt can see he’s taking two steps too many, to clear the ball. Thank god he is now injured and Weepu has reluctantly been called up into the squad. This is the third conspiracy amongst Wellington based players in the All Blacks. Why was Weepu dropped from the Worldcup squad and now suddenly the coaches, swallowing a bitter pill must have him recalled. I call this Karma. Weepu is still the number 1 halfback in the nation when motivated. He has a kicking game far superior to Ellis or Cowan and can certainly take pressure off Carter with the boot.

The excuse that is now being touted is that the All Blacks are inexperienced and undergoing a learning experience. The coaches have openly admitted their failure in adapting to the new ELVs. We have lost two tests in a row and its just another glaring example along with the quarterfinal debacle - that Graham Henry, Wayne Smith and Steve Hansen are not the men to lead the All Blacks. A third successive loss in Auckland this weekend will not be acceptable. And by Wayne Smith’s own admission “Frankly I think the Coach (Henry) lost the tactical battle” – the cracks are appearing amongst the coaches, not to mention players who no longer wish to put their bodies on the line for a man with no rugby playing history and a man who should step down as All Black coach and return to being the master of boys, in a school, in Auckland.