Let’s hope the new squad has Thorn’s sort OFDNA

Anew era of All Blacks rugby has officially kicked off – Steve Hansen has had his first 24 hours with his first playing squad.

At the same time as the ‘‘Shag’’ journey has began, Europe’s showpiece club final has been played out by two Irish sides.

Jake White reckons the All Blacks are smack in the middle of a Rugby World Cup hangover, pointing to the historically poor records of all Webb Ellis Trophy winners in the year after their success.

So what are we to make of it all? Could Ireland, buoyed by Heineken Cup club dominance, possibly catch us short and inflict their firstever defeat of the All Blacks?

Ahead of last Monday’s squad naming, I’m certain there was more anxiety than normal around the incumbent All Blacks. I used to hate squad naming, especially the first one of the year.

When you’re a test regular, while you never take the black jersey for granted, you see it as yours. You’re giving up your arm or a leg before you’re giving up a hold on that jersey.

It’s the wait in the last couple of days that gets you. You haven’t heard from the selectors yet. You don’t know if you’re in or out.

That’s when your mind goes into overdrive. ‘‘Last time they talked to me they told me to work on this . . . have I done enough there?’’ ‘‘Why is the bloody media talking up my rival? Why’s that idiot writing I’m out of form! B......., I’ll show them if they just give me a chance.’’

Your mind is swirling contrast of emotions. Then you’re picked. Your first reaction is relief, the second is pride, the third is anticipation.

Quite a few of last year’s All Blacks will have been on that emotional rollercoaster ahead of that relieving phone call from Hansen.

There’s been a lot of debate since over whether they all deserve to be there or not, but my view is the selectors have got this initial squad right. It has a nice balance of experience, potential and enough proven talent to extinguish any new-found confidence the Irish have for next month’s three-test series.

I’m not disrespecting Ireland. They have experienced tight forwards, great loosies and some outstanding backs such as O’driscoll, Bowe, Sexton and Kearny.

But I’m also not quaking in my boots just because they had two sides in the Heineken Cup final.

Very rarely have I seen club form translate to test form when it comes to Ireland. Their club sides, Leinster and Munster in particular, are very good. Ulster are now a regular force. But it hasn’t transferred to Irish test dominance in the Six Nations.

I don’t think it will this time against us either. For me, the greater interest from the European Cup final lies in the Kiwi influence. Leinster coach Joe Schmidt must now surely be in consideration for the Blues job next year. Leinster are the only second club to win successive Cup finals and Schmidt, a former Blues assistant, is clearly making an impact.

Then there’s Brad Thorn’s achievement in adding a European Cup to his legacy as aworld Cup winner, Australian league rep, State of Origin winner, NRL premiership victor and Super Rugby title winner.

Thorn, of course, was prised out of Japan by Leinster during an injury crisis. That he could step straight out of Japanese rugby and play at the highest level in Europe is a reflection of Thorn’s professionalism and preparation.

I’ve talked to people close to the club who say his contribution has been immense, more in attitude than anything.

Leinster has an Irish test loosie with a reputation among his team-mates for being way too opinionated especially during training.

The story goes that Brad had only been there for two weeks when at training one night the loosie started having too much to say again.

Thorn apparently withdrew that gnarled head of his from out of a scrum and in that gravelly voice nobody can imitate, scowled: ‘‘Save the energy for the scrum mate. I can’t even feel any weight from you. Less talk, more pushing mate!’’

I also can’t help but think of the Blues when I tell that story.

They don’t necessarily need Brad Thorn next year (although they could do worse in the market), but they certainly need some Brad Thorn attitude and his type of player.

Steve Hansen’s job this week is to ensure that same unyielding determination Thorn always shows is deeply embedded in the DNA of the 2012 All Blacks model. He’s picked the right players to achieve that.