Nothing could rattle All Blacks of 2014
BRODIE Retallick was the power under the hood of the All Blacks 2014 season, a big young man with an enormous engine and the technical know how to maximise his impact on a match.
Out wide it was 24-year-old wing Julian Savea’s raw power, pace and skill that piled on the points, 11 tries in 13 tests, as he underlined his immense potential.
And at halfback, Aaron Smith continued to be the fulcrum of All Blacks attack.
But it was not audacious talent, flamboyant game plans, or untethered youth on which this team’s success was built.
The foundations were laid upon the poise and leadership of the senior player group and the careful planning of the coaching staff led by Steve Hansen.
The presence of captain Richie McCaw. The peace of mind created by centre Conrad Smith. The reassurance of veteran hooker Keven Mealamu. The confidence of Jerome Kaino. The mana of Liam Messam. The constant output of Sam Whitelock and Owen Franks. Collectively those players had seen it all.
Unbeaten in 2013, there was no situation that could rattle this group, no scenario they had not been in before, no crowd they had not silenced, no stadium they had not played in.
The Closers wouldn’t be a bad moniker for the class of 2014.
They were not the prettiest team to watch, nor the most stylish. The counter-attacking brilliance that’s been a trademark of All Blacks’ past was noticeably absent.
Teams have learned the hard way not to kick aimlessly to the All Blacks. Chase lines have improved. Opponents were more patient with ball in hand, more aggressive in pushing up in defence, particularly in the middle of the park.
They competed more at lineout and created messy ball for Smith to transfer to his backline.
At times the All Blacks looked predictable with their two-pass tactic of running forwards into the middle of the park to create options either side of the ruck.
They struggled to get the gainline from set play without Ma’a Nonu at second five-eighths, and the short kicking tactics, though well thought out, were poorly executed at times, overdone at others.
You get the feeling the attack could have flowed more smoothly had there been more consistency at first five-eighths where Aaron Cruden, Beauden Barrett, Dan Carter and Colin Slade took turns steering the ship.
Cruden started strongly and looked like a player maturing into the role to which Carter had previously held a mortgage.
The All Blacks attack sizzled at Eden Park where they piled on the points against the Wallabies. Cruden, with Barrett’s freakish skills coming off the bench, pealed as a winning formula.
When Cruden missed a flight to Argentina he gave Barrett his chance but in truth, the latter would have been handed the controls regardless.
Barrett started five tests, displayed many of his freakish talents, and may yet command selection in World Cup year. But in 2014, he did not always have complete control.
A clearer pecking order will emerge in World Cup year, but if the final was tomorrow, Cruden, on 2014 form, would probably be tossed the No 10 jersey.
Goal kicking was another issue and one wonders if the selection pressures on Cruden and Barrett
ap- did not contribute to their tive inconsistencies.
But such criticisms picking.
The All Blacks had some close shaves, but their average victory score was a healthy 31-16.
The 51-20 demolition of Australia in Auckland, the demoralisation of England in Hamilton, and the romp over the USA Eagles showed the underlying threat when they hit their straps.
But most of all these All Blacks were ruthless in their collective pursuit of victory.
They were a true team, not reliant on 15, but inclusive of all of the 41 players Hansen used during their various campaigns.
There were seven new
collec-
are
nit-
caps with Malakai Fekitoa and Patrick Tuipulotu impressing as players with big futures. Of those on the fringe, midfielder Ryan Crotty and Slade made the most ground.
Retallick was freakish, Smith ever-present, Savea irresistible, and Dane Coles influential, while McCaw was just McCaw.
The tone for the season was set in the opening two tests against England. Cruden’s heads up quick tap penalty provided Conrad Smith with the winning try in Auckland and a week later it was Ben Smith’s try saving tackle on Manu Tuilagi.
Even the All Blacks one loss of the season, to South Africa, displayed those qualities as they worked their way back to the brink of what would have been a famous win in Johannesburg.
Hansen deserves plenty of credit for the ongoing success.
He has rammed home the old school values that New Zealand rugby has been built on. Stoic defence, self-belief, leadership, and execution under pressure were all constants.
There was a clinical final quarter execution of England at Twickenham, where 14 men in black out-thought 15 in white, and a tricky night negotiated at Murrayfield against Scotland.
Fekitoa’s last gasp try and Slade’s ice cool conversion brought a 29-28 victory in Brisbane over Australia, and there was a Great Escape against the Wallabies in Sydney, where a draw was salvaged despite two sin-bins.
In between times, unflinching defence, and a magical McCaw try in the corner, overcame South Africa in Wellington.
The performance of the season was against Australia, in Auckland, where the forward pack squeezed the life out of their opposites and provided Cruden with a dream ride at first five.
But perhaps the final match said most about 2014.
In Cardiff, the All Blacks absorbed Wales’ energy, stayed on task under adversity, stuck steadfastly to the plan of kicking to space behind the line, then used their superior conditioning to cruise to the finish line.
Where previous sides have been burnt out, Hansen’s squad were still fresh, enthusiastic, and happy in their work after 14 tests.
That was no accident, and a major plus heading into World Cup year.
The Closers wouldn’t be a bad moniker for the class of 2014.