Graham Henry was proud as punch as his All Blacks finally delivered the performance they’ve been threatening for a while now, dishing out the plaudits to all and sundry for a performance he rated one of the finest in his time.
From Rugby Heaven , NZ
“It’s right up there,” said the veteran coach of the All Blacks’ five tries to nil, 39-12 dismantling of a France team that had made the Springboks look second-rate just a fortnight ago.
“There have been some remarkable wins over the years, and that one was very special. We’ve had a challenging year – and everyone realises that.
“We’ve won our last six games, after being 4-4 at one stage. I’m just delighted for the guys that they’ve put that record straight and that they can feel good about the season and enjoy the summer.”
But more than anything it was the nature of the All Black victory that would have pleased all Kiwis and most rugby people, with the possible exception of those who reside in this country. At a time when rugby has been struggling as a spectacle, the New Zealanders broke out with the full package of offensive skills, while at the same time keeping their line intact.
The win, which featured some sparking individual tries and one grunty one off a scrum, continues a couple of quite remarkable All Black records in these northern autumn internationals.
They have never lost one since Henry took charge in 2004, and they have now gone two full tours without conceding a try. The coach called those twin marks “remarkable” and as much as the All Blacks did go off the boil in the middle stages of their season, there’s no doubt they can feel incredibly proud of how they ended it.
Henry was clearly in the mood to pay tribute after a match in which Sitiveni Sivivatu, Mils Muliaina, Jerome Kaino, Cory Jane and Conrad Smith all ran in tries.
Top of that list was his two assistants Wayne Smith (defence) and Steve Hansen (backs). Smith brought up his 100th win as an All Black, which Henry broke down for the media as part of a long opening statement that covered a wide terrain.
“Their coaching on this tour has been superb,” said Henry. “I said to Wayne before the tour there’s a high standard set here – you’re not allowed to have any tries scored against us. He just said ‘I’ll take that up Ted’. Look what happened. I should have shut up really.
“And I thought the attack today was outstanding. It’s the best display by an international side for some time and it’s a real feather in Steve’s cap to put that together, obviously with the aid of some pretty talented young guys.
The New Zealand Rugby Union has told the country’s five Super 14 coaches that their teams must play a “positive” brand of rugby in next year’s competition to revive flagging interest in the game.
The ruling came from on high during one of the NZRU’s regular workshops and phone hook-ups with its coaches.
Seldom do the game’s administrators meddle in such matters – usually they leave coaches to worry about on-field matters – but Highlanders coach Glenn Moore said: “we are all concerned about the state of the game. We have to be more positive in how we deliver it to the fans”.
1 – Super hope we do something here too. Then of course Bulls won the S14 this year and thrashed Chiefs playing some great rugby.
Like Supa said to me , if you play kick and chase properly , with people chasing the kicks with conviction it will work.
But we must for once do what NZ does, loan players out and play the running game at higher levels. Just try it.
The good news is Australia and South Africa have also bought into the push to promote positive attractive rugby.
Rugby’s confusing rules are with us for the next two years. They can’t be changed thanks to a moratorium that doesn’t expire until after the next world cup in 2011.
So New Zealand and its Sanzar partners, who are equally concerned about the game as a product, decided to put their own spin and interpretation on the rules to remedy the game.
The process kicked off about two months ago in Brisbane.
Blackadder and Kiwi referees boss Lyndon Bray represented New Zealand at the meeting.
David Nucifora represented Australia’s interests and Stormers coach Rassie Erasmus was there for South Africa.
Blackadder said consensus was reached on several facets of the game including the most contentious: the scrum and breakdown.
“The scrum is a good example.
“What’s happening is a little like what is happening on [the All Blacks tour of] the northern hemisphere. Players are engaging before the referees have said `engage’. What was put in place was a really good process but teams started jumping the gun. What we are seeing now is a hybrid version of what was originally put in place. If we get back to that it will really clean up the scrums – it really will.”
Rugby’s biggest eyesore, the breakdown, is a classic example where subjectivity rules.
However, Blackadder was confident that, if the rules were refereed slightly differently, a lot of the mystery (and subjectivity) that has plagued this part of the game could be eliminated.
“It is going to be really clear and spelt out to all the teams that the tackler must let the ball carrier go.
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“What’s happening at the moment is there’s a ball-and-all tackle. The tackler is wrapping up the guy he’s tackled and then playing the ball.
“The tackler has to let the person he has tackled go first before he does that, but isn’t. If he does, there is a fair contest for the ball, and the person taking the ball into the tackle can do so with confidence that he can win the ball back.
“The referees have to be really strict on that.
Another article in NZ had this to say.
It took them the good part of 14 tests, but the All Blacks’ coaches finally worked out the jigsaw puzzle they have agonised over all season.
The 39-12 win over France in Marseille yesterday shows that New Zealand are ahead of the pack again as rugby reinvents itself for the umpteenth time.
South Africa’s tired squad stumbled through Europe without an expansive attacking game to fall back on and Australia capitulated to Scotland.
As their southern rivals slipped back, the All Blacks advanced. For that a pat on the back must be afforded Graham Henry and his two assistants, Wayne Smith and Steve Hansen.
It is not to forget that this season has not been perfect, four losses, whatever the reasons is not a vintage.
I mentioned earlier that the Coaches swapped their roles around.
It could have turned ugly. Four wins and four losses in June and the 2009 All Blacks were on track for the worst record since John Hart’s 1998 side.
They finished the Tri-Nations with a bang and then surprised everyone by shuffling their roles.
Some ridiculed Henry’s return to the forwards, Smith’s move from the backs to defence and Hansen’s from the pack to attack. Most at least raised an eyebrow.
It was a brave move. If it didn’t work the trio would have been cast as a confused trio who had made a desperate move.
The proof was always going to be in the pudding, and though one match should not be the sole judge of this season, progress has clearly been made in all areas.
In defence, the All Blacks have remained supreme. Under Smith’s guidance they completed a second northern tour in succession without having their line crossed.
On attack, they struggled till a conscious decision was made to view kicks, not as something to defend, but as a new attacking platform. Hours were spent by the outside backs honing their skills under the high ball.
Against South Africa they floundered under the high ball. Against France they flourished. Under Hansen’s watch the All Blacks ran in five tries for the first time in 18 tests dating back to the 32-6 win over Scotland on last year’s end-of-year tour.
It has been pleasing to see players changing angles again, fewer second-man plays, fewer short attacking kicks and more width. And in the forwards, Henry has turned around the basket-case lineout and reinvigorated the training pitch with his trademark bark.
“Our attack today was outstanding and the best attacking display by an international side for some time,” Henry said.
“It was a special day. All the players who played today played their roles superbly. It was good to see two sides trying to play attacking football because there’s been some pretty boring stuff over the past year or so in rugby.
8
When i read this before the EOY tour i thought , yes it might work for the All Blacks but i can not see how dick Muir can coach the defense strategies. Nor could i see Gary Gould have any impact as a line out coach. Peter as a ex scrum half coaching the forwards. No this would not work for us.
After our disastrous tour what do we do now. We need first of all more expert coaches. That we saw from the beginning of the season. Our backs need more ideas, more imagination.
In short we must read the All Black tour manual.
OPINION: From RH NZ
To the rescue come the All Blacks.
Stripped in white, the men in black lifted the darkness that has cast a shadow over rugby union this season with a 39-12 win against France at Stade Velodrome in Marseille.
Just when we thought the brilliance of yesteryear had been lost in a sea of rule changes and negative play, along comes the performance of the year.
This was the All Blacks as they sit in our collective memories, their imperious best.
The pace of the ball, the angle of the runners and the speed of the support play had France grasping for breath from the kickoff.
It is hard to remember the last time the All Blacks produced such a complete performance. They didn’t drop a ball in the warm ups and it was hard to remember an unforced fumble in the match.
France were reduced to spectators as Richie McCaw and his men thumbed their noses at those who say rugby can no longer be won with ball in hand.
They had spoken of their tiredness before the match, but with the knowledge that the beach towels are a week away they cranked up a gear and surged to the finish line.
If there were two keys to this effort it was first-five Dan Carter’s vision and the urgency of the All Blacks attack.
They had talked about their slow reload, the speed with which they set up their next attack, after the England match.
Against France it would have made Billy the Kid proud as players queued up to carry the ball like impatient commuters.
There were four All Blacks lurking as Cory Jane scored their fourth try, the first time they have crossed so many times in a test this season.
How about this thought :
Only five of the All Blacks who last started in Marseille – two years ago in the World Cup against Italy – returned yesterday.
The team has endured a challenging year, beginning without talismanic twins Richie McCaw and Daniel Carter, lost to France at Carisbrook and battled with their skills, style and game plan – being only 4 & 4 at one stage in the season, yet finishing with 10 wins from 14.
These ABs which battled to impose themselves this season no doubt drew not little impetus from a stirring pre-test address from Jonah Lomu who urged them to reach great heights – who wouldn’t be eh ? 😀
Mills Muliaina said “Everything was just perfect – the weather, the field, the occasion. Just running out tonight, leaving the changing rooms, you just knew something was going to happen. You could see it on the boys’ faces. We’re absolutely delighted.”
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This was a fitting finale for a brilliant Test season. We had our joy a bit earlier. ABs came back brilliantly.
now lets just enjoy a festive last Baabaas game, hope they play it as a friendly and not as a war. Who cares who wins.
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