Comments on: Dispelling The All Black Myth http://www.whatisrugby.com/2007/06/30/breaking-the-all-black-myth/ Straightforward rugby commentary from a North American perspective Sat, 11 Oct 2008 18:47:48 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 By: Josh http://www.whatisrugby.com/2007/06/30/breaking-the-all-black-myth/#comment-13 Josh Wed, 11 Jul 2007 12:40:58 +0000 http://www.whatisrugby.com/2007/06/30/breaking-the-all-black-myth/#comment-13 I'll tell you what's going to happen to the All Blacks and this is something that transcends throughout the entire pro sports world. NZ in my opinion is in the weakest bracket in the World Cup, so no questions they will sail through into the quarterfinals. But that is exactly the problem. High caliber teams such as the All Blacks historically "shit the bed" when they are not tested early. This has happened to many pro sports teams where they face an unchallenging opponent and then go into the next round with a lax attitude and lose because their intensity is down. Mark my words, NZ will go down in the quarterfinals. As much as I'd like to preach that Ireland will win the World Cup, based on what I've seen from RSA, they will be the 2007 Webb Ellis Cup winners. I’ll tell you what’s going to happen to the All Blacks and this is something that transcends throughout the entire pro sports world. NZ in my opinion is in the weakest bracket in the World Cup, so no questions they will sail through into the quarterfinals.

But that is exactly the problem. High caliber teams such as the All Blacks historically “shit the bed” when they are not tested early. This has happened to many pro sports teams where they face an unchallenging opponent and then go into the next round with a lax attitude and lose because their intensity is down.

Mark my words, NZ will go down in the quarterfinals. As much as I’d like to preach that Ireland will win the World Cup, based on what I’ve seen from RSA, they will be the 2007 Webb Ellis Cup winners.

]]> By: Shags http://www.whatisrugby.com/2007/06/30/breaking-the-all-black-myth/#comment-11 Shags Tue, 10 Jul 2007 23:00:16 +0000 http://www.whatisrugby.com/2007/06/30/breaking-the-all-black-myth/#comment-11 Be Careful Guru... New Zealand is still the team to beat. Congrats to Australia for an impressive victory. They played well, showed they are fit to play at a high level for 80 minutes, and capitalized on a SH substitution and a yellow card given to the tight head prop. Looking forward to the RWC... Be Careful Guru… New Zealand is still the team to beat.

Congrats to Australia for an impressive victory. They played well, showed they are fit to play at a high level for 80 minutes, and capitalized on a SH substitution and a yellow card given to the tight head prop.

Looking forward to the RWC…

]]> By: admin http://www.whatisrugby.com/2007/06/30/breaking-the-all-black-myth/#comment-5 admin Tue, 03 Jul 2007 18:19:36 +0000 http://www.whatisrugby.com/2007/06/30/breaking-the-all-black-myth/#comment-5 My feeling is that the French will rise to the challenge on home-turf. Count on them or RSA to beat the All blacks in the world cup. My feeling is that the French will rise to the challenge on home-turf. Count on them or RSA to beat the All blacks in the world cup.

]]> By: Yue-Houng http://www.whatisrugby.com/2007/06/30/breaking-the-all-black-myth/#comment-4 Yue-Houng Tue, 03 Jul 2007 17:44:59 +0000 http://www.whatisrugby.com/2007/06/30/breaking-the-all-black-myth/#comment-4 While there may be signs of trouble, the fact is that New Zealand should still enter the RWC as fairly overwhelming favorites to win. Although, they do have a number of fairly easily identifiable weaknesses (poor lineout exacerbated by a number of injured top-choice locks, the center pairings, Dan Carter's lack of form), an examination of the top 10 teams reveals that there are probably not too many teams with the ability to beat them in France. The #2-10 rankers include (in order), France, SA, Australia, Ireland, Argentina, England, Wales, Italy, and Samoa. Surprisingly out of the top 10, Scotland sits at 11. Realistically, from #7 down (starting with a terrible English team), none of the teams have a chance. Argentina and Ireland have NEVER beaten the All Blacks, even at home. Australia, while winners of the last match, would still be the underdogs, especially considering neutral territory. If they are not paired with a ref that allows George Gregan to avoid putting into a scrum for half an hour (that first put-in resulted in a tight head), Australia will have much difficulty in seeing enough ball to take advantage of whatever center pairing NZ will fields. Perhaps the team with the best chance of defeating NZ, South Africa, is dealing with a number of crucial injuries. Also important, none of their top 22 will see international match play for quite some time, perhaps even until the RWC because of Jake White's decision to rest his players during the Tri-Nations. It should also be noted that South Africa has had much trouble in recent years away from home. While I like watching the French play, their recent match history shows a number of blowout losses within the last 2 to 3 years. Although they are number two, their form has been fairly spotty and considering their recent record against Argentina, it would not be a total shock to see them fail to emerge from the pool stages. I feel like I should clarify by saying that I don't support New Zealand. However, although they have had a number of pretty uninspiring performances in the last couple of months, they should still be regarded as the favorites by a decent margin, myth or no myth. While there may be signs of trouble, the fact is that New Zealand should still enter the RWC as fairly overwhelming favorites to win. Although, they do have a number of fairly easily identifiable weaknesses (poor lineout exacerbated by a number of injured top-choice locks, the center pairings, Dan Carter’s lack of form), an examination of the top 10 teams reveals that there are probably not too many teams with the ability to beat them in France.

The #2-10 rankers include (in order), France, SA, Australia, Ireland, Argentina, England, Wales, Italy, and Samoa. Surprisingly out of the top 10, Scotland sits at 11. Realistically, from #7 down (starting with a terrible English team), none of the teams have a chance. Argentina and Ireland have NEVER beaten the All Blacks, even at home.

Australia, while winners of the last match, would still be the underdogs, especially considering neutral territory. If they are not paired with a ref that allows George Gregan to avoid putting into a scrum for half an hour (that first put-in resulted in a tight head), Australia will have much difficulty in seeing enough ball to take advantage of whatever center pairing NZ will fields.

Perhaps the team with the best chance of defeating NZ, South Africa, is dealing with a number of crucial injuries. Also important, none of their top 22 will see international match play for quite some time, perhaps even until the RWC because of Jake White’s decision to rest his players during the Tri-Nations. It should also be noted that South Africa has had much trouble in recent years away from home.

While I like watching the French play, their recent match history shows a number of blowout losses within the last 2 to 3 years. Although they are number two, their form has been fairly spotty and considering their recent record against Argentina, it would not be a total shock to see them fail to emerge from the pool stages.

I feel like I should clarify by saying that I don’t support New Zealand. However, although they have had a number of pretty uninspiring performances in the last couple of months, they should still be regarded as the favorites by a decent margin, myth or no myth.

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