What Waits for The All Blacks?

After the emphatic victory last weekend, the New Zealand press has been full of accolades for players, coaching staff, and just about everyone associated with New Zealand rugby. And why not? It was a massive victory, putting to bed ghosts from the past, confirming that the 2004 capitulation by the French was just the start for this All Blacks side who have moved on to bigger and better things. As the French coach said, his side were impotent against such an overwhelmingly superior force.

The question that is now being posed by the collective wisdom of the meida, is how to defend the world cup next year. The All Blacks are ranked number one, no one has been able to challenge them, and the media, almost without exception, are acting as if the competition next year is in the bag. Undoubtedly this will have an effect on the All Blacks, they are, and this has been proven over time, the worst team in the world when it comes to coping with favourite status. Remember the RWC final in South Africa in 1995? Remember the 1999 quarter final against France anyone?

The real test will be how this team develops and performs at the World Cup in 2007. If there is no victory next year, and the cup does not come back to New Zealand, that is what will be remembered. It will haunt the dreams of every New Zealand rugby fan for four more years, as Gregan once famously put it. Nothing else but that matters. This is the goal. Most New Zealand fans would trade a loss in every other game (except against England and Australia) for four years without hesitation if the team were to bring home the coveted trophy from the Rugby World Cup.

So, have the hopes, dreams, and fondest aspirations of the ruby watching public in New Zealand been placed in safe hands? So far, one would have to be pretty satisfied with what has been produced by the All Blacks coaching and management staff. The roation policy has delivered a team where, according to all reports, the biggest headache is going to be over whom to select in each position. With Conrad Smith having a good game (even though one good game does not a world cup win) it seems that the centre woes of the All Blacks may be over and Mils may be freed up to play elsewhere, if he can outclass Leon McDonald. Even the lineout now seems to boast four good locks, and two hookers that can throw in the ball reliably. The tight five have never looked better at scrum time, and the loose forward trio are amongst the most stout defenders in the gamecombination outclasses all opponents. Dan Carter and Richie McCaw are the best in the world in their positions, and our fijian wingers are better than anyone else's Fijian wingers (note also that Rico Gear is good and may edge out Joe).

The question that will be concerning the All Blacks now will be where to now for this side? They are at their peak, can any more be squeezed out of this side between now and RWC 2007? Come competition time the team will have to be firing new shots, anything left up the sleeve will have to come out at that point. A year is a long time to analyse video and pick out weaknesses. Other teams around the world can only get better, but can they do so quickly enough? And can the worlds worst team when going into a game/tournament as favourties cope with that label? Remember the losses in 1991, 1995, 1999 and again in 2003. "Will this be the case again in 2007?" must be the nagging doubt, often not allowed to be voiced out of fear that if spoken, the thought may become reality. Even worse, you could be called unpatriotic if you dared wonder how the All Blacks will go from here on in.

To be fair, the All Blacks management have not secured what they wanted in the lead up to RWC 2007. They wanted the All Blacks rested for the entire 2007 Super 14 season. Instead they have been given a half baked compromise that may not suit anyone, not even the big pay tv companies that were so outraged at this strategy when anounced. It will be interesting to see what, if any, further developments arise in this area as we head into the Super 14 season next year.

But wait a minute, the tour isn't over yet. Beware the wounded French, they could yet rally, although the defeat was so total it is difficult to see how. They failed to produce any penetration at all, and were only able to score via a wobbly old drop kick the just cleared the cross bar. Impotent is right. But still, this is the team that scored one of the best tries in World Rugby against a heavily favoured All Black side at Eden Park. I was there that day and I remember Stephen Bachop's kick that set it all off. I am confident that Daniel Carter is better than that. There is also Wales waiting at the end of the tour. The boyos could put on a show, but given they played well to get a 29-29 draw against the Wallabies, they will have to play out of their skins to overturn the All Blacks.

Everything seems rosy, the world has fetching pinkish hue for the All Blacks and their supporters. All that remains to be seen now is do the All Blacks management, coaching staff, players and supporters have what it takes to put together a side that can repeat the glory of winning the Rugby World Cup last seen by an All Black side in 1987, 20 years ago as the Australian media were pointing out until their team collapsed on the European tour. The latest word on that is the team is missing a captain...George will sort it all out when he returns...so what about Giteau then? Would want to be a Wallaby supporter at the moment...