FIVE THINGS WE LEARNED FROM THE ALL BLACKS TOUR
1: Five games, five wins.
Looks good on paper but this wasn’t a case of the All Blacks freewheeling merrily through the fields of Europe was it? They were forced to fight for these results, especially against the Scots in Edinburgh.
After that 22-17 win over Scotland coach Steve Hansen maintained everyone in NZ was his getting ‘‘bored’’ by the All Blacks’ dominance (and given his old coaching buddy Graham Henry was most prominent with a comment in relation to the ABS’ successes we can only connect the dots on that score), and suggested they have a cup of tea to ‘‘think about that’’.
After draining the teapot and staring at the ceiling for inspiration, some AB fans may wish to offer a reply by saying they never agreed with Henry’s comments in the first instance. In other words there are plenty of New Zealanders who like to see the All Blacks keep a clean sheet.
So it’s happy days on that front.
2: Plunging deeper into the talent pool.
Being forced to promote young players, whether to reward them for good form or to replace injured men, is a fact of life for the selectors ahead of a long tour.
Tim Perry, Jack Goodhue, Matt Duffie, Asafo Aumua, Atu Moli, Akira Ioane, Dillon Hunt, Mitch Drummond and Richie Mo’unga got the opportunity to represent their country.
Hansen used the non-test outings against the Barbarians and French XV to give them an eyeful of what is required in the lead-up and during games.
It was undoubtedly a worthwhile exercise. It remains to be seen whether they can kick-on.
3: Collection of captains.
This could be a future quiz question for rugby tragics hunched over their plastic jugs of beer in clubrooms all around the country.
The first person to name the four skippers used on the All Blacks’ tour of England, France, Scotland and Wales in 2017 can grab the last cheese and mince savoury before the pie warmer is switched off.
They were: Beauden Barrett (against the Barbarians in London), Kieran Read (France in Paris and Scotland in Edinburgh), Luke Whitelock (French XV in Lyon) and Sam Whitelock (Wales in Cardiff).
The major talking point on this topic was that Sam Whitelock was preferred ahead of Sam Cane and Barrett for the tour finale when Read was unavailable because of injury. Unlike Cane and Barrett, Whitelock had never led his country. Yet Hansen, taking into account the fact Whitelock had led the Crusaders to a Super Rugby title, preferred the big lock.
It was the right choice, even if Whitelock did get yellow carded for a professional foul in the final quarter.
4: Williams slaps down his critics.
The indignant shouting about Sonny Bill Williams’ form, or lack of it, dried up as the tour progressed.
Everyone is entitled to their opinion, and no shortage of punters, some unfortunately falling into the category reserved for the belligerent or witless, like to pummel the pulpit if asked to deliver a shouty sermon on the midfielder Williams.
Just how he could forget the rules and slam the ball over the deadball line in the test against the French at Stade de France, subsequently copping a yellow card and gifting Les Bleus a penalty try, is anyone’s guess. Williams said he was unaware of the rule. The mind boggles.
Yet it would be worth noting Williams’ form outside of his inability to remember one of the more basic laws in this complicated game, going back as far as the Rugby Championship, was pretty good.
Few players break his tackles, and those unlucky to get drilled when running down his channel always remember the occasion. His offloading game returned in Edinburgh and Cardiff, and his positional play and workrate continued to be accurate.
5: Patrick Tuipulotu’s comeback.
This fellow appeared to have slipped into the shadows mid-way through the year. The season started on a dreadful note when he was wrongly accused of taking an unspecified substance last November and suspended from playing.
His form was shabby for the Blues in Super Rugby, he was dumped from their match against the British and Irish Lions in Auckland for breaking team protocols and never got close to winning selection for the All Blacks.
With established lock Brodie Retallick unavailable, Tuipulotu made three appearances in the Rugby Championship, and played against the Barbarians, French XV and Wales on the northern tour.
His busy effort in the 28-23 win over the French XV in Lyon proved what a force he can be. Against Wales he was selected to start alongside Sam Whitelock, ahead of Scott Barrett whose form dipped as the tour progressed.