The year that was, the big year that lies ahead
It’s all over for the All Blacks for another year. If this team was from outside New Zealand, the 12-2 record would be considered an unqualified success.
But this is the All Blacks. Defeats to the Springboks in Wellington and Ireland in Dublin have created an under-current of tension among nervous supporters ahead of next year’s World Cup in Japan.
The flag wavers and cheerleaders say the defeats are a timely a reality check, while the prophets of doom and kings of clickbait are doing anything they can to convince everyone that it’s already game over.
Hold on to your hats in 2019. There’s going to plenty to discuss. RK: If the All Blacks retain the Webb Ellis Cup in Japan, it’s Foster’s race to lose; the transfer to the top job will surely be swift. Working for eight years as Hansen’s assistant should count for plenty. A failed campaign in Japan could be the kiss of death.
HB: No. Foster would no doubt do a decent job and New Zealand’s playing stocks aren’t suddenly going to dwindle, but you feel there are better options out there. Steve Hansen will forever be the benchmark for All Blacks coaches for all sorts of reasons, but that doesn’t mean his staff have a divine right to succeed him. Other Hansen assistants, such as Wayne Smith and Mike Cron, will always enjoy an exalted status, but there aren’t many who mention Foster in the same breath.
RVR: Not without inviting outsiders to send their resumes in for consideration. Even then, you have to wonder if it’s time to freshen things up a little. RK: Yes, to a point. That’s the price you pay for losing to Ireland All Blacks captain Kieran Read could earn $2 million a season playing for French club Racing 92 after next year’s World Cup.
French rugby paper Midi Olympique reported the club, which signed Dan Carter after the 2015 World Cup, have offered Read €1.2 million (NZ$2m) a season to join the club after next year’s tournament in Japan.
Read, 33, has made it clear next year would be his last in New Zealand, having played 118 tests for the All Blacks since 2008, and taking over the captaincy after Richie McCaw retired at the end of 2015. The French report also said Read has two offers from teams in the United Kingdom to consider.
Should he opt to sign with Paris-based Racing 92, he could play alongside former All Blacks wing Joe Rokocoko, and lock
on their home soil for the first time. But if you’re calling for Hansen to walk the plank, you’ve got starlings fluttering inside your skull.
HB: Absolutely. Coming off the back of the matches against South Africa this year and the fortuitous win over England, losing to Ireland looked more like a trend than a freak occurrence. The All Blacks have work to do.
RVR: It’s been wildly over the top. Last I checked, the All Blacks went 12-2 on the year, bagging the second most important trophy (Bledisloe Cup) after the World Cup on the way. Sure, they were at times disjointed, but spare the knee-jerk inspired flak for a quarterfinal exit in Japan. RK: Blindside flanker. Liam Squire just cannot string enough games together because of injury. Vaea Fifita’s season with the Hurricanes, where he is supposed to start at No 6, could shape his test career.
HB: Midfield backs and loose forwards. Midfield depends on how wedded Hansen is to Sonny Bill Williams and Ryan Crotty. If we assume the World Cup knockout phase will be a slugfest, you imagine he’ll retain that pair and leave out Ngani Laumape. Blindside flanker is wide open and there are question marks at 7 and 8 given Sam Cane’s situation and Kieran Read’s performances.
RVR: The jostle in the midfield will again lead the way, while Dane Coles’ and Codie Taylor’s scrap to be the starting rake
will be a beaut. Liam Squire should face a stern challenge for the No 6 jersey, particularly with Jordan Taufua now over his broken arm. There should be no contest for fullback. Put Ben Smith there, and leave him there. RK: Yes. Only a serious injury will result in him being demoted.
HB: Doesn’t matter. He’ll be the captain and that’s that.
RVR: Absolutely. Case closed. RK: Go with what you know. Put it this way, if the 2015 World Cup squad was selected on Super Rugby form then Richie McCaw, Dan Carter and Ma’a Nonu would have been on the outer. Top players perform on the big stage.
HB: Again, if we’re assuming the knockout’s a grind, Hansen will turn to his tried and true performers, as most defending champions do. It’s just that, until New Zealand did it in 2015, none of those nations had gone back-toback. The temptation is always to back the experienced men to rise when it matters.
RVR: It would be foolish to slam the door on anyone, but those expecting a raft of new faces to feature would be naive. If there’s one position we could see it, it’s wing. Another standout Super campaign from George Bridge might be too difficult to ignore.