Of stars or a star team?
of our attack was much better.’’
Now the elephant in that particular room was Beaudy. Again this is not a criticism of him. But the fact is that the Blues looked much more of a team without him.
Again it’s about finding the right fit. Sam Cane is a superb player but the Chiefs looked more of a team last year when they went on their run without the All Blacks captain at the helm. They came together and played for each other.
We saw some of the same with the Highlanders at theweekend. Aaron Smith has been a magnificent player over the years, but you wonder now if the team just revolves too much round him. Smith’s game is the pass, as we know, but the lack of a running option from No 9 has been hurting the Highlanders.
The best player on planet rugby right now is the French halfback Antoine Dupont. His power, speed, vision and low centre of gravity make him a devastating runner. He is also a superb tactical kicker and defends like an extra back rower.
If the All Blacks are going to progress they need to realise quickly that thewide game is becoming increasingly redundant against rush defences. They need a 9 who can snipe or who can run lateral patterns to put in runners coming off him. That is not Aaron Smith. He has been a great halfback but at the age of 33 his time is up.
No, the All Blacks need to make their case with World Rugby, which is a very strong one, to sort out Folau Fakatava’s immediate eligibility. When the Tongan-born Fakatava came on against the Reds he changed the game. He has learned his pass at the feet of the maestro, but he also brings a brilliant running game and the ability to jackal like a third flanker.
Yes, his kicking needs to improve and he is still working back to fitness. But he is nearly there and he is the future. And if Super Rugby showed us one thing at the weekend it was that the All Blacks need to look to the future now. As TJ Perenara said, this country has some ‘‘freak athletes’’. So let’s pick the young players who can play together and find them the space.
The weekend’s Super Rugby showed the men in charge of the All Blacks the way forward, the way to create a new team. The question is, do they have the vision to change?
Sometimes having superstars in a team can be a problem.