NZ rugby ‘going backwards’
The All Blacks have lacked innovation, French domestic rugby has been the perfect school for the test arena, and the exclusion of South African teams from Super Rugby may make it difficult for New Zealand to regain top spot in world rugby, says former Crusaders and All Blacks No10/No12 Tom Taylor.
The 33-year-old Cantabrian left New Zealand in 2015 and spent five years in France before shifting to Toshiba Brave Lupus in Japan, where he plays under Todd Blackadder and alongside Matt Todd, Michael Leitch, Tim Bateman, Seta Tamanivalu and rising young lock Warner Dearns.
Those travels have opened his eyes to the quality and variety of rugby overseas, and in a candid critique of New Zealand rugby’s current standing, he sees warning signs flashing.
‘‘People are starting to say France has just come out of nowhere, and they’re playing great rugby,’’ he said from Japan. ‘‘But for me, I noticed that change three years ago.
‘‘I noticed that French competition was getting stronger. When I was over there, I could see the development and see how they were improving year, by year, by year.
‘‘It’s difficult because I feel like New Zealand ... it almost feels like a younger competition.
‘‘Personally, I feel like we’re going a little bit backwards. We’re losing our talent too soon. You know, some of that talent is really excelling overseas and in European competitions.
‘‘Some of the best players in the teams are Kiwi guys that maybe didn’t get their shot, or left early.’’
Charles Piutau, Steven Luatua, Johnny McNicholl, Gareth Anscombe, Bundee Aki and Tawera Kerr-Barlow are among the huge number of New Zealanders who have taken up contracts in Europe, for one reason or another.
At the very least, it has affected the quality of New Zealand’s Super Rugby sides, and it is likely naive to think there hasn’t been some flow-on effect at All Blacks level.
Asked how the All Blacks were placed at this point of the Rugby
World Cup cycle, Taylor said: ‘‘It’s been difficult, I think, to put it bluntly.
‘‘It’s been a bit of a difficult period, they haven’t been as dominant as I’m sure they would have liked.
‘‘But sometimes that’s good because it can breed a bit of change.
‘‘They need to do things differently, they can’t just rely on what they used to do.
‘‘They’ve maybe got to be a bit more innovative, try something new, and try new tactics, some new game plans, because the same old thing isn’t working any more. The All Blacks have always prided themselves on being at the top of their game and trying new things.
‘‘So, I think it’ll be an interesting season coming up for them this year ... and I’m sure they will be behind the scenes working furiously.’’
The All Blacks play Ireland in a hotly anticipated three-test series in July, and it will provide context in the debate about where they stand compared to the best sides from the northern hemisphere.
Losses against Ireland and France last year clearly exposed some weaknesses, but the full picture is incomplete until the Irish travel south for a tour that is likely to include two additional games against the Māori All Blacks.
However, Taylor was also sceptical about the decision to exclude South Africa’s teams from Super Rugby, saying it raised the risk of New Zealand rugby becoming too insular.
‘‘I do have my questions,’’ he said. ‘‘Is losing the South African teams to the northern hemisphere, is that having some effect?
‘‘I feel like we’ve just consistently been playing New Zealand team versus New Zealand team over and over again and, for me, you develop a lot playing different styles of rugby.
‘‘Kiwi teams playing Kiwi teams is often a great game, but is that going to benefit them in the future? I’m not so sure.’’
‘‘We’re losing our talent too soon. You know, some of that talent is really excelling overseas and in European competitions.’’ Tom Taylor