Head-Coach Steve Hansen released his first All Blacks squad since assuming the top job this week, and while those selected were said to be part of the first ‘Training Squad’ of the year, there is much this squad says about the mind-set of Hansen and his coaching staff, and their vision for the future.
While there are plenty of recognizable faces in the 35 names read out today the side is very much Hansen’s own, and deviates in many ways from the sides put together by Graham Henry. Although battling Blues’ players Piri Weepu and Ali Williams have retained their places despite a lack of recent form, the mix of tried-and-true performers and exciting new talent is a definite indication of the direction the new coaching regime sees the side taking.

No less than six props were named, including newcomers Charlie Faumuina and Ben Tameifuna, the Chiefs giant youngster, while veteran Crusaders prop Wyatt Crockett earns a recall in the new Hansen-led era.
Williams is joined by two new faces in the second row, with Brodie Retallick and Luke Romano making the 35. Retallick has been the standout lock amongst the New Zealand franchises in the Super XV so far, and his potential is almost limitless. Romano on the other hand has failed to register on the selector’s radar over the last two seasons, and his presence is somewhat of a surprise.

Loose-forwards Brad Shields, Sam Cane and Luke Whitelock are new to the national squad, with Shields, who has been struggling for game time in the Hurricanes side, the biggest bolter. Sam Cane’s inclusion seems to confirm the fact that Crusaders’ flanker Matt Todd has fallen out of favour, the young openside who very nearly joined the World Cup squad as cover for Richie McCaw now seemingly out of the picture.

Journeyman utility back Tamati Ellison has been rewarded for career-best form with the Highlanders , while Julian Savea’s stunning try on Saturday night did his selection hopes no harm at all. Chiefs’ halfback Tawera Kerr-Barlow joins Otago’s Aaron Smith as understudies in the black jersey to Weepu and Andy Ellis, and young first five Beauden Barrett cements his position as the top emerging talent at ten with his inclusion.

Of those who were in the World Cup squad yet missed selection Corey Flynn is perhaps the most unlucky, his outstanding form for the Crusaders in recent weeks not enough to warrant inclusion alongside fellow veteran hookers Andrew Hore and Keven Mealamu.

Robbie Fruean’s defensive fallibilities continue to thwart his hopes for higher honours, while injury means Richard Kahui’s name is missing from the list.

Guest Author: Tim Cronin

First 2012 All Blacks Training Squad:

Backs: Israel Dagg, Ben Smith, Cory Jane, Julian Savea, Richard Kahui, Conrad Smith, Tamati Ellison, Ma’a Nonu, Sonny Bill Williams, Dan Carter, Aaron Cruden, Beauden Barrett, Piri Weepu, Andy Ellis, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Aaron Smith

Forwards: Kieran Read, Victor Vito, Luke Whitelock, Brad Shields, Richie McCaw, Sam Cane, Adam Thomson, Sam Whitelock, Ali Williams, Brodie Retallick, Luke Romano, Wyatt Crockett, Tony Woodcock, Charlie Faumuina, Ben Tameifuna, Ben Franks, Owen Franks, Keven Mealamu, Andrew Hore

For years there was a saying around the New Zealand rugby community, that ‘when Auckland is strong, the All Blacks are strong’. And it makes sense – the Auckland catchment area is far and away the largest in the country. The population, the talent pool, and the resources at the Auckland Rugby Union’s disposal are almost equal to the rest of the country’s combined, so it seems reasonable to think that a strong Auckland side reflects strength in New Zealand rugby, and conversely a weak Auckland side would signal a lack of depth or talent.

However, times have changed, and the Blues, the region’s flagship side, are visiting new lows every week as their Super 15 campaign goes from bad, to worse, to downright diabolical.

So what is wrong with Auckland rugby? What has conspired against New Zealand’s biggest rugby union, and derailed the once seemingly unstoppable machine that blew away everyone in its path?

As when all large organisations visit hard times, we must ask questions of the power-brokers at Auckland Rugby. While much has been said about the soon-to-be ex-coach Pat Lam, and even the possibility that an excessive Polynesian influence is effecting the team’s results, the fact of the matter is that suit-wearing, office-dwelling individuals at Auckland RFU headquarters are hiring these coaches, signing these players, and dictating the future of the union.

Auckland Rugby has always had an air of being an ‘Old Boys’ society, where you were either on the inside and in the know, or very much out of the loop. You could see it in the halcyon days of the late 80’s and early 90’s, when Sean Fitzpatrick and the Brooke brothers not only dominated the Auckland scene, but were also the Alpha-males of the All Blacks.

And to this day the Auckland Rugby Union is run by people who came through this era, and it seems the same culture has thrived, where those that know the right people are very much in favor, and those that don’t simply aren’t in the picture.

Auckland has a huge catchment area, and just by strength of population should produce the most talent each year. But the number of disgruntled, indeed disillusioned, young players in New Zealand’s largest city is mind boggling. Much of this can be attributed to the shallow promises the powers-that-be throw around. While one 18 year old ‘rising star’ is being told he is their ‘go-to man’, the kid they see as the future of Auckland Rugby, 10 other youngsters are being told exactly the same thing. When push comes to shove a couple of years later 10 out of 11 of these talented players are suddenly realising they’ve been strung along, and that there isn’t actually a career path for them.

That wouldn’t be so hard to stomach if the ARFU were keeping the very best talent. Afterall, that’s professional sport, and being knocked back and overlooked is part and parcel of the decision these guys make to pursue a career in Rugby. But the mediocre, run-of-the-mill players that the Blues trundle out each week suggests something more sinister is going on, and that some of these young guys never, ever stood a chance of securing a contract, no matter how well they played as they came through the age-group teams.

As a sport which is a baby in terms of professionalism, rugby is fast evolving and ever-changing, and to succeed in this contemporary age requires the ability to think outside the square, to be innovative, and prepared to move with the times. But under the influence of ex-players such as Andy Dalton and Gary Whetton it seems apparent that Auckland Rugby is content to stay with the tried and true principals that made it a super-power more than two decades ago, rather than accepting that the landscape has changed, and that so too must their mindset.

Without a doubt New Zealand’s largest Rugby Union is in crisis, and before things are set straight at the top they won’t improve on the pitch. With old ways of thinking seemingly so entrenched into the day to day running of Auckland Rugby it seems only a mass clear-out of those in charge can turn their fortunes around.

Thankfully for New Zealand Rugby the fortunes of the All Blacks no long rely solely on the quality of players produced in Auckland.

Guest Author: Tim Cronin

The Crusaders’ poor performance against the Queensland Reds on Sunday isn’t in itself huge cause for concern for the franchise. The coaching staff will chalk it up to being one of those outings when things just didn’t click, and while the accuracy needs to improve, the Cantabrians still look to be peaking at the right end of the season.

However, there were some ominous signs for the red and blacks, and indeed for New Zealand rugby in general, primarily in the way an unheralded loose forward trio managed to out-passion, and actually dominate, the Crusaders, including All Black captain-in-waiting Kieran Reid and up-and-coming star Matt Todd, at the breakdown.

For the last couple of years the talk around rugby circles has been that Todd is the next ‘freak’, who will inevitably inherit Richie McCaw’s number 7 jersey. He might not be a Michael Jones or a McCaw, but he is the next Josh Kronfeld or Scott Robertson, which in reality will more than suffice. But the fact of the matter is, he hasn’t really kicked on.

He had huge raps on him as he climbed the Junior ranks, and his first two seasons in the Canterbury NPC squad did little to dispel the lofty expectations that were heaped on him. So much so in fact that he was widely discussed as the likely replacement for McCaw, should the All Blacks’ leader have been forced to withdraw from the World Cup.

But this year he has been missing in action, unable to leave his mark on any of the Crusaders’ matches to date. And McCaw’s return to the side, and the influence he has played within the side when he’s joined the fray from the bench, underlines just how far New Zealand is from finding a replacement openside flanker.

Around the other New Zealand Super Rugby franchises the pickings are no better. Adam Thomson (Highlanders) and Liam Messam (Chiefs) have had more than their fair share of opportunities and neither has proved themselves capable of filling a long-term void at 7, while the Blues brothers of Luke and Daniel Braid are both capable players, without being anything particularly special. The Hurricanes’ Karl Lowe is playing well, but is benefitting more from a team which is playing cohesively than by any genuine freakish talent of his own.

So Todd remains the NZRFU’s best option as they crystal ball gaze to the day when McCaw hangs up his international boots, but there is still plenty of development and growth needed from the young Crusaders’ flanker before those boots will be a snug fit.

Guest Author: Tim Cronin

The recent return of Dan Carter to the Crusaders’ ranks in the last few weeks has provided us with the first insight into what we can expect in the coming seasons from the talismanic fly-half.

Having dominated international rugby for nearly a decade, the All Blacks’ champion number 10 had his World Cup dreams dashed with a devastating groin injury, and is only now returning to full fitness.

But, as inevitably happens with ageing players, and players returning from serious injuries, the Carter we see in the coming years will be a different Carter from the one we’ve seen previously. We’ll likely see less of the first-five who chip kicked then re-gathered to score a phenomenal individual try against the British Lions in Wellington, but more of an experienced, wiser, play maker.

While it’s his injury that has robbed him of his speed, it is his age that will take away some of his youthful X-factor. Flamboyance is often tempered by the physical impact of international and professional rugby as well as the opposition’s efforts to study and counter a player’s style.

Some players become less inclined to throw a 50/50 pass or back themselves in a counter-attacking opportunity with time and experience. As the years have rolled on we’ve also seen Carter change and evolve as a player, and when he finally swaps the 12 jersey for his cherished Number 10 we’ll see further evidence of this.

Carter 2.0 will produce less of the phenomenal individual brilliance as the original version, but we should expect to see a more intelligent leader on the field who, like all sporting greats, will make those players around him better. With every big match Carter plays he cements his position as one of the international game’s most experienced current players, and with that comes an ability to read a game and his opposition, to dictate play and direct those around him, and an innate ability to make better decisions.

Just as Mils Muliana changed from a game-breaking, out-and-out speed freak to a safe and dependable 100-test fullback, the Carter of the future will be a more worldly, reliable and potentially predictable player. But that’s not to say he won’t be just as influential in every game he plays. Carter certainly remains head and shoulders above anyone else the World Champion All Blacks currently have in their system.

Guest Author: Tim Cronin

After annihilating the Hurricanes in Wellington and grabbing a bonus point win in Sydney against the ‘Tahs last weekend it looks as though Super Rugby’s most successful franchise might be starting to hit top gear again.
It was a hard-fought battle for the Red and Blacks in Australia on the weekend, but one that they never really looked in serious threat of losing. Robbie Fruean played hero and villain for the visitors in the space of five minutes, first missing a tackle to allow the Waratahs to score the first try, then bursting throw the home side’s defence to even up the scores. He then played provider, setting up Zac Guildford for the Crusaders’ second try, while Brendan McKibbin kept the other side of the scoreboard ticking over with two well taken penalty goals, the half-time score a slim 14-13 advantage for the Crusaders.

While the two sides traded points and swapped the lead a number of times in the second half the Crusaders look relatively comfortable at all times, with Tom Taylor’s boot becoming an increasingly dependable weapon. Tries to Adam Whitelock and a second for Robbie Fruean eventually saw the Crusaders put the result out of doubt, and though the ‘Tahs narrowed the gap to 37-33 the visitors were staunch in defence, and closed out the game well.

Traditionally slow starters the Crusaders seemed little fazed by loses early in the competition, and the return of world-class players like Dan Carter and Richie McCaw, coupled with the outstanding form of game-breakers Fruean and Guildford means the Cantabrians look well on course to play a major part in the business end of the competition.

Guest Author: Tim Cronin