Mailbox - Murmurs of discontent in NZ

Perhaps it is just the sort of paranoia that arises from the pressures of history, but it seems New Zealand’s rugby public is beginning to sweat a bit as the Rugby World Cup approaches.

Line-outs are still a bone of contention, but not even the most celebrated back-line in world rugby is now escaping the critical eye of the world’s most demanding fans. Still, they are not quite fully panicking. Not yet anyway…

Here are some of the mails we received since Australia’s 20-15 triumph in Melbourne…

It was gut-wrenching to watch the Blacks lose not simply because they lost a close one but it never should have got to that point or even that close with the way the Kiwis performed in the first half.

The defence started superbly, their attack was somewhat ominous and then the team just went to pieces.

There were many worrying signs not least the poor game from Carter but the shoddy lineouts are now becoming a source of embarrassment.

I think I will tear my hair out if Henry and his men don’t now admit they MUST get a lineout coach.

It is simply sticking out for any team to take advantage and it lost the kiwis so much territory and advantage.

Its not weak to admit they need a coach its weak to lose another world cup over a correctable issue.

James Chellingworth, Brisbane, Australia

Well played by the Aussies…..good pressure and scarily the ones to feel it were the stars.

Mauger, Carter, Rodders, all had shocking matches, I can’t remember a worse display from Carter and Mauger in particular.

But a small side point: where was the introduction of Evans? Carter wasn’t firing, Evans should have been brought in.

I feel we missed some guidance from the sideline. Henry needs to lift his game a little when it comes to introducing new players…..it worked against South Africa.

But again, well done Aussie, you guys gave us a rocket up the rear end that we needed.

Gary – Kiwi in Edinburgh

I’m a kiwi but I’m picking an England v France RWC final and France to win.

Watching the Aussies win last night confirms my belief that NZ are mentally fragile and that plan B never exists in our rugby culture.

We are too scared to say “if plan A should happen not to work then plan B is this and that…”

Jerry

That was the ugliest All Black performance I’ve seen in a long time. Australia have exposed us yet again, consistently the best team in the world, we are far from invincible and the memories of 91, 95, 99, 03 come flooding back.

Will be a true test of character to take the Tri Nations (perhaps as well that SA have given up) and go on to claim the real prize! Again well done Australia, a deserved win from a team that were out-classed but not out-thought.

Rob Benson

Well, as a Kiwi I can’t say I’m surprised or all that disappointed we lost, sometimes a lot more can be learned from a defeat, and there was certainly plenty of room for thought with that game.

Firstly, it still defies belief why Aaron Mauger is rated by the selectors, he seems to be more of a hindrance than a help these days.

Also,with the travel and the large disruptions to the backline which required numerous shuffles and reshuffles this was probably the best chance the Aussies have ever had of knocking us over, which they deservedly did.

The All Blacks really should have closed out that game and made far too many very basic errors to deserve the win.

I would say however,that getting our scrum penalized so often when clearly we had the wood (hell, the whole damn Forest) over the Wallabies was ridiculous from the ref.

The Aussies won’t win over here,and they won’t be able to rely on the same factors (especially the travel) come World Cup time. Well done to them though, but from a NZ point of view, no major panic stations I don’t think.

Jason Lamb, New Zealand

Have the ABs peaked between World Cups? The rest of the 3N will let us know. If I were a Kiwi I’d be a little worried.

However, when you consider the players injured there is certainly room for improvement.

The line-out has been strong until the recent spate of injuries, playing McAlister out of position meant he had to absorb a lot of traffic, exactly where Mortlock had a good game. With Toeava or Muliana they would be more steady.

The backs didn’t look like the well-oiled machine they have previously and there were uncharacterisitc errors.

Add to this Carter having a bad day with the boot and some chances missed, it’s not all doom and gloom for the ABs.

Scottie – Englishman in Oz

Australia’s biggest advantage was out wide where McAlister’s defensive weaknesses were shown up by Mortlock.

The coaches can make the necessary adjustments to ensure this doesn’t happen in a RWC showdown.

The whole team appeared to be off their game in general play, partly due to the good Aussie defense, but mostly due to some poor ball control and poor kicking in general play.

Dan Carter also appears to be a shadow of the great player he is at the moment, both in general play and with his kicking.

The good news for AB fans is even with him being out of form the AB’s still had more than enough opportunities to win the game.

Despite the loss I’m actually more confident now that this will be the year the Blacks end the World Cup drought.

We’re still way in front of the Wallaby pack at scrum time and have made good improvement in the line out – despite missing Ali Williams. W

e also have more potential in our backline to score points where as Mortlock seems to be the only Aussie back who can regularly threaten an opposition defense.

Congratulations to Oz. Bring on France – the Blacks won’t lose again this year.

Devon Hamon – AB fan in Oz

Yes hats off to the Wallabies for having a win. I have to admit there was a strong element of luck in that game because had it not been for the All Blacks playing with 14 men, I am quite confident that the All Blacks would have held on and won the match.

However, in any elite sport you must play with composure and deliver under pressure and the ABs had their chance to win, but folded under the real pressure cracker situations in the last 5 minutes.

Their pattern of play amongst the All Blacks was terrible. This team have got pace, but coordination is not quite there at the moment.

I agree with Mr. Henry that this loss was a good thing and it is good for our game that we have 3 very even teams going into the World Cup.

In 95 and 99, there was nobody even close to the All Blacks before the tournament and in 2003 every pundit thought it was going to be a the ABs or the Poms.

But this year with all 3 Tri-Nations teams quite equal and the Welsh and the Irish not that far behind, I am hoping for the most open World Cup ever.

Ben Ibrahim

This was a great result for the sport of rugby union – I was getting very fed up with all the pundits saying that the ABs just have to turn up to the RWC for their coronation to the throne of world champions.

What with the Boks coming to form with a very close game against the ABs last week, suddenly things don’t seem quite so clear cut, which will make for a far better tournament in September.

I just wish some of the Northern hemisphere sides had shown that they had it in them to give the southern hemisphere guys a run for their money.

Tim Flack, Cambridge UK

Great to see Australia finally throw that very large All Black monkey off their backs. They were pretty close in games 2 and 3 of the Bledisloe in 2006 and just came up short, so to see them show that kind of resolve and courage was fantastic for Aussie supporters.

It’s probably not a bad result for both teams. The All Blacks won’t be tempted to believe the “Invincible” tag that many have thrust on them, while for Australia, there would no doubt be greater confidence that they indeed have the firepower to beat NZ and any other opponents come World Cup time.

A very exciting game – that is what Test matches are about! Two full strength teams going very hard at it for 80 minutes – Wales, South Africa and others please take note!

Andrew, Sydney

And finally, one mail claiming to reveal a truly winning formula…

I’ve been watching these last three games SA v Aus; SA v NZ and Aus v NZ, and boy, don’t bother England, Ireland, Wales and Scotland! You just don’t have it in you!

However, England might, just might, just about might, make something of the World Cup, if they do what I say for a change. These are my Ten Commandments:

1 – Pick a group of guys who can play 160 minutes without stopping for a breather. There are at least least 3-4 players in the Tri-Nation teams always up with a try-scorer!

2 – Pick only forwards who can run 100 yards in 9 seconds;

3 – Pick forwards who know every damn rule in the book – that means for England, leaving out half the regulars, like Grewcock, Chuter, Corry, Thompson et al.

4 – Pick forwards who have been trained by professional wrestlers in order to grab back any loose ball from opponant’s hands.

5 – Leave out Wilko and any other injury-prone player.

6 – Coach all ball-carrying players how to dummy or deceive – a ball in hand is worth two in the bush, meaning use your head and don’t give it away so easily.

7 – Never swear at the ref or offend an opponent – take it on the cheek or be sent off and watch your side lose.

8 – Stop kicking out of fright. Why give the opponents the ball back if you cannot be sure it won’t go into touch.

9 – Make your scrum-half express himself to the ref with his hands when a decision is made in your favour – Irishman Stringer is good at this.

10 – Lastly, have at least two good goal kickers and/or two good drop-goal kickers on your side, and start giving them practice now.

Do all these things and England might, just might, come fourth!

Maurice Llewellyn Lewis, UK