New Zealand rugby has developed a remarkable ability to complicate simple issues.
Writes Chris Rattue for the New Zealand Herald
The All Black coaches did it throughout 2007.
Faced with the final countdown to a World Cup, Graham Henry and co looked at the powerful All Black machine they had developed and started tinkering with rugby’s basic mechanics. Maybe they felt that their place in history was almost assured, and wanted to claim it in exalted glory.
Along the way, they forgot that young men thrive on the field of battle and in relative certainty. The also ignored form and fitness, and forgot that Aaron Mauger had been their linchpin.
The New Zealand Rugby Union picked up the ball of uncertainty yesterday, pulling the rug out from under Henry, then suggesting he might try to find his feet again.
The NZRU had two straightforward tasks. First, it needed to decide if Henry should keep his job. Secondly, if Henry was to be axed, it needed to decide who should be the next coach.
Instead, it managed to do neither and has opened the All Black job up to applicants. In doing so it has fallen between two stools and introduced more uncertainty in the form of Henry having to decide whether he will join the race.
It also risks aggravating the outstanding applicant, Robbie Deans, who must wonder why he struggles to win clear support.
Confused leadership by men who have been shell-shocked into procrastination? It might also be corporate-style ass-covering.
Henry and his cohorts, principally Steve Hansen and Wayne Smith, devised a World Cup plan so radical that some of it – specifically the Super 14 player pullout – required special boardroom support. Henry’s regime certainly brought earlier success. But they reinvented the wheel and ended up smashed to pieces in a ditch.
All those in power at the NZRU – Chris Moller, Steve Tew and friends – are tied to the World Cup disaster.
For the NZRU to axe Henry outright, through not offering a new contract, would be to strike a blow to their records.
With this leadership procrastination, little wonder that those highly prized and pampered All Blacks couldn’t organise a drop goal attempt in Cardiff.
The only central player who has acted with any certainty in the past few weeks is the Crusaders’ brilliant coach Robbie Deans, who has shunned Australia and declared he wants the All Blacks job.
There are no certainties in coaching but his record says there is no better coach in the game.
Deans’ presence should have made it easy to cast Henry adrift.
Deans is far and away the best All Black candidate in world rugby. The NZRU bosses should sit down and have a cup of tea, unscramble their brains and appoint Deans pronto.
November 16th, 2007 at 5:46 pm
The also ignored form and fitness, and forgot that Aaron Mauger had been their linchpin.
———–
Patrick,
A point I take complete issue with you on.
Aaron Mauger is the complete footballer and New Zealand never look more composed or better than when he’s at the helm at 12.
You constantly bag him but he’s superb and everyone, inside and outside of him, play better when he’s there.
He’s the quiet man of NZ rugby but no less deadly, in his own unassuming way, than the likes of Frank Bunce.
Aaron Mauger is one of the great players of the last 5 years.
November 16th, 2007 at 6:21 pm
Rasputin Old Cobber,
Something has got into your brain. In all sports every contestant has to have something going for him. Aaron Mauger has ONLY his passing to his benefit. Many fans get a bit upside down when rating a player. Mauger has a PhD in passing the ball, the rest of his game is about C-. There is only one way to win any game and that is to score more points than then other lot. Mauger has NEVER been a contributor with points, not now, nor ever.
Certainly he has good passing skills but he can’t break the line in attack, and he’s always sus on defense…..I can’t see where you can find any value in him. Remember,calmness, a good team man, helpful to the coaching staff, a good communicater, etc..etc.. etc…are all good attributes, but it is POINTS scored that wins rugby games….Mauger has NEVER featured in the Points Scored part of rugby…..yes he is also has a MODEST kicking game, about the same level as Butch James, just modest. Everything about Mauger is just modest,
Patrick.
November 16th, 2007 at 7:03 pm
Patrick,
I am with Ras on this.
What more do you need really than a guy with a PHD in passing in the modern game at 12?
He hasn’t got a bad boot either and all the good communication skills etc you explained just adds to his value.
For me NZ was worst off this year because they refused to play a specialist 12 & 13 in their backline (Mauger and Tana).
November 17th, 2007 at 8:50 am
Look at the scores in the games and see the AB who scored them in the inside backs. McAlister was preferred because he generated points….points win games…..,I can’t recall any game won by communication, or calmness. Mauger is only a modest tactical kicker, no better than McAlister, and miles behind Nick Evans. It doesn’t matter which way you twist and turn, when it comes to the nitty-gritty Mauger simply doesn’t rate,
Patrick.
November 17th, 2007 at 9:31 am
But surely NZ’s major strength from their backline over the years has always been an extremely potent back three, or even outside quarter including the 13.
McAlister might be a point scorer more than Mauger with bashing at the defensive lines more often or being a goal-kicker, but nothing beats or is more important than a 12 players can play off.
McAlister is one of those guys that plays best when he plays off creative flair and not where he has the role of creating space and time for the outside backs.
Compare in relation (according to AllBlacks.com) the points scored by the AB backs and which positions or players (outside backs mainly) scored them and who was at 12.
I think we differ on how we see the role of the 12, which is why we would essentially never agree on this.
November 17th, 2007 at 11:34 am
i’d tend to agree with Patrick, but perhaps Ras and PA are right about the quiet man of the NZ backline. Perhaps a bit of composure was just what was needed against France.
However, with the dynamic McCalister there, i just cant see how Mauger is going to get much of a look-in, then again Deans is a crusaders man.
November 17th, 2007 at 12:05 pm
Mauger has thrown the towel in and is now playing in the Euro league,
A TEAM needs the whole 15 capable of scoring points, not 14, not 13,not 12 etc. The major problem with the Bok backline is that neither Fourie oe De Villiers are capable of breaking the line, thus they don’t create opportunities. You can’t leave it to one or two players because the defense will simply gang up on them,
Patrick.
November 17th, 2007 at 12:22 pm
what??!!! neither De Villiers or Fourie capable of breaking the line…crazy talk, these are great centres with pace, size, skill, defense the works. Grnted, Frans Steyn is a gem and has a great step for a bigboy.
November 17th, 2007 at 3:51 pm
The beauty of Mauger has always been that those around him score tons of points precisely because he has vision and the ability to distribute so well.
The AB’s missed him terribly.
November 17th, 2007 at 3:54 pm
However, with the dynamic McCalister there, i just cant see how Mauger is going to get much of a look-in, then again Deans is a crusaders man.
Comment by cab — November 17, 2007 @ 11:34 am |Edit This
Whilst McAlister is a barnstorming player, he’s fairly one dimensional when compared to Mauger.
McAlister is the bigger unit by far but no better defensively than Mauger.
He’s also predictable, you know he’s going to attack the line.
Don’t get me wrong, a wonderful player but without the guile of Mauger.
November 17th, 2007 at 4:20 pm
The Kiwi’s will never run in the tries they desire without a 12 that distributes…
November 17th, 2007 at 4:27 pm
G
November 17th, 2007 at 4:28 pm
H
November 17th, 2007 at 4:28 pm
O
November 17th, 2007 at 4:29 pm
S
November 17th, 2007 at 4:29 pm
T
November 17th, 2007 at 4:30 pm
Exactly, Bryce.
As well as young fransie did for the Boks, we’d have run in a shedload of tries with Mauger at 12.
For all his undoubted talents, Frans needs to work on his glaring weakness – distribution: passing, when to pass, who to pass to etc.
November 17th, 2007 at 4:30 pm
Hence the call for Carter @ 12 with Stephie @ 10… Butch and Frans would mangle them!
November 17th, 2007 at 4:32 pm
Hey!!!!!!!!!!!
It’s the Lord of the Trout, the King of Catch & Release, the Prince of the River!
Alloa Duiwel!
How fares it with thee?
November 17th, 2007 at 4:33 pm
Geez, even Schalk passes these days!
November 17th, 2007 at 4:34 pm
Duiwel,
Long time, boet.
How goes it with the boy, the laaitjie and Ben?
Not to mention your good wife and yourself?
November 17th, 2007 at 4:34 pm
Duiwel… check it out… I’m here on the 24th of Dec… running salt-water fly for Spanish Mack, Mack Tuna, or any other pelagics we can get at this time of the year on the gold coast…
http://www.bksfishing.com.au/archives.htm
Watch the vids at the bottom too…
November 17th, 2007 at 4:39 pm
Comment by Rasputin — November 17, 2007 @ 4:30 pm
Indeed this is why Frans has all the potential of an AWESOME 15…
Balls, boot, step, pace, unpredictability… now if he can just roll his socks down to his ankles… ala Latham…
November 17th, 2007 at 4:43 pm
Balls, boot, step, pace, unpredictability… now if he can just roll his socks down to his ankles… ala Latham…
Comment by bryce_in_oz — November 17, 2007 @ 4:39 pm |Edit This
He’s still got 12 years on Latham, Bryce….:-)
November 17th, 2007 at 4:46 pm
Duiwel… check it out… I’m here on the 24th of Dec… running salt-water fly for Spanish Mack, Mack Tuna, or any other pelagics we can get at this time of the year on the gold coast…
http://www.bksfishing.com.au/archives.htm
Watch the vids at the bottom too…
Comment by bryce_in_oz — November 17, 2007 @ 4:34 pm |Edit This
Have you got your own boat, Bryce?
Geez, there are some beauts here in Perth.
Went to the Mandurah Boat Show, we went on the top of the range Princess, awesome!
3 double cabins en suite, luxury fittings throughout, washer, dryer, flat screens in every cabin, gorgeous lounge.
Costs $3.2 m each and they sold FOUR during the boat show!
November 17th, 2007 at 4:52 pm
Wow, apparently it wasn’t the top of the range but ther closest I can find is this one
http://www.princess.co.uk/princess-21-metre-21M-motor-yacht.html
Suffice to say, it was bloody gorgeous!
There’s nothing like a boat show to get waves of nausea coursing through your veins – JEALOUSY!!!!!
Went on a number of others, all wonderful.
November 17th, 2007 at 5:01 pm
Bryce, what’s the definition of a pelagic fish as opposed to others?
November 17th, 2007 at 5:04 pm
Lord above but those Spanish Mackerel get huge! I was imagining pan sized fish!
November 17th, 2007 at 5:21 pm
How to make a fortune unexpectedly……
I suppose by now everyone around the world has heard of the TV comp, The Weakest Link?
Anyway, way back in the day, when it was still in promo stage without a buyer and being tested out in studios, a young music composer was requested to come up with the music for the show. He did so as he walked through the hills of his local area in the UK, basically it was just 4 notes and is used for any dramatic moment during the show.
He says it took him 5 minutes to put the 4 notes together.
As mentioned, everything was still in pro-mo back then, nobody eben knew whether it would ever get aired. As a matter of routine this young composer got the copyright on the music, as he had probably had on countless other worthless compositions.
To cut a long story short – those 5 minutes walking through his local hills putting 4 notes together are now worth:
Wait for it……..
Pounds 70 for EVERY show shown in places like Lithuania, Azerbajain and Mongolia.
Bear in mind that it is shown EVERY day of the working week!
But, it gets better…..
Pounds 700 for EVERY show shown in the UK! 5 days a week at Pounds 700 = Pounds 3500 PER WEEK!
But it gets better…..
Pounds 5000 for every day shown in the US! 25 000 Pounds per week!
But it gets better……
The show is now shown in 98 countries around the world!
This oke is 34 years old!
He admits that it’s all overwhelming, he says he’s not flash, besides buying a Pounds 2 million house in the hills he used to walk, he’s hardly spent any but he could have retired years ago.
November 17th, 2007 at 5:25 pm
Geez, ask a question about a fish, talk about a conversation buster!
November 17th, 2007 at 5:50 pm
dig the music, LMAO
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSHxZJsfNGE&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjE6R7ALP2o&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ijqac_6ME28&feature=related
November 17th, 2007 at 5:59 pm
:-))))))))))))))))))))
Cab
CLASSIC!
November 17th, 2007 at 5:59 pm
Kandas,
Did you and JT ever put up that vid I wanted?
November 17th, 2007 at 6:02 pm
Ras you in Mandurah… have you made it more South into foodie heaven (although these days in Aus there is no excuse for a bad meal no matter where you are)?
Have you made it way up North into the Kimberly’s and beyond (an absolute must)…
Freo is pretty much my scene in WA (unless I had an unlimited budget in Margaret River)… stay there everytime en-route to RSA… not a fan of Perth nor the burbs surrounding…
Pelagic… the nomadic deep water hunters… like tuna, mackeral etc… I’m no fan of dropping bait in the water… but prefer lures and fly… more like hunting…
November 17th, 2007 at 6:14 pm
have you made it more South into foodie heaven (although these days in Aus there is no excuse for a bad meal no matter where you are)?
—————-
Not yet.
November 17th, 2007 at 6:15 pm
Have you made it way up North into the Kimberly’s and beyond (an absolute must)…
————-
Not yet.
November 17th, 2007 at 6:16 pm
Ras you in Mandurah
—————-
Nope, in Perth centre, it was just a perfect excuse to head down there for the day.
November 17th, 2007 at 6:31 pm
Freo is pretty much my scene in WA (unless I had an unlimited budget in Margaret River)… stay there everytime en-route to RSA… not a fan of Perth nor the burbs surrounding…
——————
I’m desperately trying to avoid being that ‘guy’ who is overbearing on opinions and comments without having been in a place long enough. I reserve judgement.
I WILL say this…….
My wife and I now swim in the sea every afternoon or evening, we cycle 8 km’s around our local lake which is literally right behind us and watch Swamp Harriers and Pelicans. We see dolphins on the beach and we breath fresh air. If we don’t swim or cycle, we take a good walk along the coast from Cottesloe Beach towards Freemantle.
If we desire a change, we go north and walk towards Hillary’s Harbour.
When the opportunity arises we will head up north and/or into the hinterland.
Is it Cape Town? No.
Is it better than Cape Town physically?
No.
Is it an ideal city for an outdoor lifestyle?
Yes.
Can you get off work, cycle 10 k’s and go to the beach for a swim all before 8 at night?
Absolutely.
Perth is ranked at 4th on the world wide Liveability Index of cities – everything added up, it’s a very comfortable place to be.
Personal choice – if South Africa was remotely ‘normal’ – I’d be home in a flash.
In the interim, Perth is an outdoor city to live in, if you have a great deal of money [we don't] you’d be quids in!
It has aspects of being a lovely place and it has a lot going for it.
It’s very relaxing and a very safe place to live.
T^he weather is generally sublime but the wind blows a lot, not too much of an issue if you grew up in Cape Town and, trust me, that wind helps with the temperature.
November 17th, 2007 at 6:50 pm
i think oz sounds great. u cant really go wrong with the outdoor lifestyle.
November 17th, 2007 at 6:51 pm
Oh,
So far, we’ve been here 2 months and my wife and I both agree 100% on one issue – neither of us has thought about London or England. We don’t miss it, we literally haven’t thought about it – after 12 years of living there.
The life here is head and shoulders plus a dwarf better than living in that mish mash sardine can of a city – a filthy city too. Perth is spotless, through every suburb.
No, I wouldn’t begrudge anyone their opportunity to live in London and experience London as a young person but, in my opinion, to really live your life, you have to leave.
Hopefully we’ll never go back but, who knows, circumstances may force us back.
Hope not, I prefer the flies to Londoners.
November 17th, 2007 at 7:03 pm
hehe, 12 years, thats a long time in london. reckon its the lack of space that does one’s head in.
November 17th, 2007 at 7:13 pm
are u over your 3rd degree burns yet?
Spent a holiday with an aussie pal in sydney a few year back and all the kids have flapped hats to protect against the sun for their face and neck. think the sun is very harsh.
November 18th, 2007 at 2:10 am
Comment by Rasputin — November 17, 2007 @ 6:31 pm
Lol Ras… I’m certainly not knocking Perth she’s a beauty… and I’d take her over Sydney any day… but I’m into Melbourne for now…
Will definitely be looking to settle around one of the Northern NSW rural coastal towns… that is if property prices and development don’t continue at this ridiculous pace…
November 18th, 2007 at 2:11 am
Comment by cab — November 17, 2007 @ 7:13 pm
Cabby it’s compulsory at most Aussie primary schools…