Cracking the Code

For us outsiders, it is easy to pass off a rare All Black defeat as a one off. An anomaly. Like getting a B in religious studies when you’re rocking A’s galore in the subjects that matter. New Zealand will bounce back. It would take a brave punter to back their opponents next week, or the week after. Bugger it, you’re brave if you ever wager against the World Champs.  But, what outsiders classify as an anomaly, is simultaneously the greatest fear for those in the inner sanctum. It is the reason for the extra rep, the justification for the ‘clean as’ feed.  Whilst the rest of us might lie awake on a Sunday night asking searching life questions like ‘why am I still drinking Hooch at the age of 31’; The All Blacks’ sheep counting is interrupted by visions of that B grade performance, the anomaly. Why the worry? They’ll win next time, they will win the Rugby Championship.  For the answer, I defer to the All Black sides of the 1995, 1999, 2003 and 2007 Rug...

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 selec...