ABs try to break dour mould of winning teams
Fast and furious. No, not the elongated movie series; the All Blacks.
From the outside, that’s how it appears they will tackle this World Cup.
Why change a successful formula?
The selections of electric outside backs Waisake Naholo and Nehe Milner-Skudder alone suggests an aggressive, attacking approach.
It’s long been the All Blacks’ point of difference; one they’ve worked hard to enhance and refine. Only the Wallabies, French in their heyday and the Pacific Island nations have come close to matching the flair and flamboyance of the All Blacks.
Traditionally, though, World Cups aren’t won this way. Springboks coach Heyneke Meyer said as much when he pronounced this tournament will be won by dominating scrums, lineout drives and the breakdown.
Pressure tends to tighten the noose, squeeze ambition and smother instincts. Look to the 2011 World Cup final as a clear example.
The early stages of the eighth World Cup should allow the All Blacks to showcase their favoured brand of running rugby. But, come the knockout stages, they may have to sacrifice some style for substance at times. They will be prepared to win ugly, too.
That doesn’t mean the All Blacks will suddenly adopt the conservative tactics many of their rivals will employ.
Far from it. Creativity comes in many forms. It may mean crossfield kicks are used and more decoy lineout moves similar to the match-winning one at Ellis Park are pulled out of the bag of tricks. No doubt blueprints have been held back for this stage.
But, for the most part, expect the status quo. The All Blacks will chase quick ruck ball, space and speed in the wide channels, just as they have the past four years. They’ll still attempt to run the opposition off their feet and back their bench to lift the tempo further. And in doing so, they’ll attempt to break the often dour
We’re not going to change who we are. That’s how we play as New Zealanders. All Black halfback Aaron Smith
World Cup mould. No-one has been, or will be, more central to this than Aaron Smith. His fitness and speed to the breakdown; quickness and length of pass have been focal points of Steve Hansen’s desire to play at breakneck pace.
Smith doesn’t see any reason to differ from that play-book, especially with Naholo on track for a return in the third pool match outside him.
"He’s had a helluva year. He’s so fast. Pace is pace. There’s something with Fijians, they can just make something out of nothing and you need that in a team,’’ the world’s leading halfback said of his Highlanders team-mate.
‘‘ I don’t think we change how we are because of the tournament I know the way we try to play seems like it’s always fast but it’s controlled. We’re not going to change who we are. That’s how we play as New Zealanders. It’s in our blood.’’ . "Defence becomes much bigger,’’ Smith said. "That has to be a lot better and, with Wayne Smith coming into it, defence has been a big focus. He’s such an awesome coach that it excites me to see where we could possibly go.’’ .