Cracking the Code

Despite losing against South Africa last weekend, New Zealand will enter this world cup as red hot favourites, just as they did four years ago and four years before and well you get the picture. On each occasion this tag has been justified by their superior level of performance in the lead up to the competition. However time after time the men in Black have skulked away from the world stage disappointed. Much has been made about their inability to handle the pressure and expectation that is part and parcel of the favourites tag. If the All Blacks are victorious this autumn they will finally exorcise the ' choker ' demon that has tarnished the black jersey for too long. Given the above evidence just how important is form and performance prior to the World Cup? Ultimately it is the team that  that can produce results not attractive performances that will reign supreme come October 23rd. What can deduced from the 'choker' example is that winning a world cup requires a ce

Cracking the Code..: ABs slade by Bokke : With the All Blacks trailing 15-5 at the break in yesterdays test in PE, assistant coach Wayne Smith commented that the ABs had created enou...

With the All Blacks trailing 15-5 at the break in yesterdays test in PE, assistant coach Wayne Smith commented that the ABs had created enough opportunities in the opening stanza to have won two games. But for the Boks scramble defence which was typical of the fight and desperation that they brought to yesterdays test, New Zealand could have been two tries to the good within the opening 10 minutes. Had they been more clinical in converting their line breaks, which came at a frequency which will concern PDV, they would have forced the springboks outside their kick, chase, smash, penalty comfort zone. The selection of Morne Steyn at 5/8 was indicative of the designs that De Villiers and his side had for the afternoon. Prior to the reverse fixture PDV came out and told how Steyn was drinking at the last chance saloon with regard selection for the world cup. However given the failure of the 'more creative' Butch James to create anything at Kings Park the previous week Steyn was ha

At Eden Park two weeks ago the All Blacks cemented their status as the worlds premier rugby team and with it the favourites tag for the World Cup. They had looked somewhat comfortable in defeating a wallaby side that most believe to be their greatest rivals to lift the Webb Ellis trophy on the same ground in late October.  Today Graham Henry's men will climb another rung on the ladder if they can defeat the Bokke at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth. The challenge they have is to tame a beast that is fighting for respect and pride in the republic following a sub standard performance at King's  Park a week ago. As we have seen time again with the Boks when the chips are down they will revert to the style of rugby they know best. Bismarck starting at hooker ahead of John Smit is a clear indication of the physicality and brutality that the Boks will bring to the occasion particularly in the first quarter. Allied to this the selection of Morne Steyn at fly half woul