Better, but still not good enough
June 22, 2009
"Cardiff, Dunedin, Wellington."
So went the optimistic banner that some French fans held aloft throughout the test at the Cake Tin.
Thankfully, the banner is now redundant and its New Zealand version would surely read "Cardiff, Dunedin, Relief."
And what a relief it was when Piri Weepu kicked the ball out to end a test that certainly had a "lottery-type" dimension to it as Coach Henry made reference to after the game.
So what the French now hold the Dave Gallaher Trophy! Ensuing victory against a French outfit that was just one try away from a two-nil series win in those flukey conditions was the obvious priority when 80 minutes were up.
Not only would a loss have become a ghastly trifecta of consecutive losses to the plucky French, it would also have been a telling blow to the confidence of an All Black team that has begun its 2009 season with a distinct aura of vulnerability.
That's why it was so damn gratifying to see the more experienced and battle-hardened members of this group of men in black lead the way in those atrocious conditions.
Brad Thorn, Keven Mealamu, Tony Woodcock, Mils Muliaina and Piri Weepu all admirably fulfilled their senior responsibilities.
They ensured a team down on its confidence was not going to be bullied again in consecutive weeks.
They ensured that the rookies in the team who will undoubtedly still be required for the Tri-Nations encounters ahead will take on the confidence and self-respect that only the taste of victory can engender.
Having said that, there are still alarming concerns in the All Black camp to be addressed and no wallowing in this win and the ensuing relief should remotely disguise them.
Concern No.1
Stephen Donald quite simply doesn't cut it as an All Black pivot.
His nerves, his mediocre option-taking and his patchy kicking all amount to one scary prospect in upcoming encounters where Matt Giteau and Ruan Piennar or Morne Steyn will bury him with their class.
Concern No.2
What chance is there of seeing two genuine, in-form All Black wingers in the near future.
In the last two weekends, Joe Rokocoko hasn't advanced his form one iota from a dismal 2009 tenure with the Blues.
And Corey Jane, despite his natural skills and enthusiasm, is playing out of position which runs the risk of him being exposed against both the Wallabies and the Springboks.
Concern No. 3
The nonsense that, at times, the coaches still insist on showering us with.
Steve Hansen especially, prefers to paper over any deficiencies with dumb accusations against the media and excuses like the All Blacks were less experienced than the French, even though our team had more caps.
Stop shooting the messenger Steve and stop the excuses. Your job as a coach is to solve problems, not to duck them with your intimidating behaviour.
Finally, I must say congratulations to Steve Tew for giving the definite impression that the NZRU is now likely to postpone any decision to extend Graham Henry and co's contracts until the 2011 World Cup until nearer the end this season.
Even Tew now obviously sees the common sense of waiting to see if the three men in control have completely abandoned the fatal mistakes they made in 2007.
Your views are welcome as usual.
So went the optimistic banner that some French fans held aloft throughout the test at the Cake Tin.
Thankfully, the banner is now redundant and its New Zealand version would surely read "Cardiff, Dunedin, Relief."
And what a relief it was when Piri Weepu kicked the ball out to end a test that certainly had a "lottery-type" dimension to it as Coach Henry made reference to after the game.
So what the French now hold the Dave Gallaher Trophy! Ensuing victory against a French outfit that was just one try away from a two-nil series win in those flukey conditions was the obvious priority when 80 minutes were up.
Not only would a loss have become a ghastly trifecta of consecutive losses to the plucky French, it would also have been a telling blow to the confidence of an All Black team that has begun its 2009 season with a distinct aura of vulnerability.
That's why it was so damn gratifying to see the more experienced and battle-hardened members of this group of men in black lead the way in those atrocious conditions.
Brad Thorn, Keven Mealamu, Tony Woodcock, Mils Muliaina and Piri Weepu all admirably fulfilled their senior responsibilities.
They ensured a team down on its confidence was not going to be bullied again in consecutive weeks.
They ensured that the rookies in the team who will undoubtedly still be required for the Tri-Nations encounters ahead will take on the confidence and self-respect that only the taste of victory can engender.
Having said that, there are still alarming concerns in the All Black camp to be addressed and no wallowing in this win and the ensuing relief should remotely disguise them.
Concern No.1
Stephen Donald quite simply doesn't cut it as an All Black pivot.
His nerves, his mediocre option-taking and his patchy kicking all amount to one scary prospect in upcoming encounters where Matt Giteau and Ruan Piennar or Morne Steyn will bury him with their class.
Concern No.2
What chance is there of seeing two genuine, in-form All Black wingers in the near future.
In the last two weekends, Joe Rokocoko hasn't advanced his form one iota from a dismal 2009 tenure with the Blues.
And Corey Jane, despite his natural skills and enthusiasm, is playing out of position which runs the risk of him being exposed against both the Wallabies and the Springboks.
Concern No. 3
The nonsense that, at times, the coaches still insist on showering us with.
Steve Hansen especially, prefers to paper over any deficiencies with dumb accusations against the media and excuses like the All Blacks were less experienced than the French, even though our team had more caps.
Stop shooting the messenger Steve and stop the excuses. Your job as a coach is to solve problems, not to duck them with your intimidating behaviour.
Finally, I must say congratulations to Steve Tew for giving the definite impression that the NZRU is now likely to postpone any decision to extend Graham Henry and co's contracts until the 2011 World Cup until nearer the end this season.
Even Tew now obviously sees the common sense of waiting to see if the three men in control have completely abandoned the fatal mistakes they made in 2007.
Your views are welcome as usual.
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