Tony Johnson
The All Blacks had a mantra through the last World Cup, one that has continued to serve them well.
“Expect the unexpected and deal with it” was a change of philosophy after years of striving to leave no stone unturned in the quest for a perfect preparation.
Somewhere along the way they realized that planning to have the best players in the best shape, and the team functioning tickety-boo on the day was unrealistic. It became more about embracing pressure and expectation, and being able to adjust when things inevitably go wrong.
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The focal point became the number 10 jersey, and by the time they got to the second half of the final they had their fourth choice… and a fairly distant fourth choice man in that pivotal role… and the rest is history.
It’s a similar scenario but from a rather different set of circumstances as the All Blacks head off on the final, and toughest leg of this years Rugby Championship, the trip to Argentina and South Africa.
Dan Carter, who the All Black bosses still regard as their top guy despite very sporadic game time over the past 12 months, is just now coming back from a broken bone in his leg.
Second choice Aaron Cruden did something that I cannot recall happening before – he missed the plane, and now he’s missed the boat.
He went out with some of his team-mates the night before they were due to fly to Buenos Aires and didn’t go home with them. He didn’t behave badly in any of the night clubs he visited, he just shouldn’t have been in them.
You do wonder why one of his mates didn’t look out for him, but frankly these are well paid professionals who need to take responsibility for their own actions. It is entirely out of character for Cruden, and a definite first offence. I suspect it will be his last.
These are two test matches he’ll never get back, one of which could well be the biggest game in the world this year.
Coach Steve Hansen has taken a zero tolerance approach, which has been applauded. He’s dealt with the problem instantly and severely.
It’s not exactly the ideal time to be confronted with such an irresponsible act from one of his key players, and a member of his leadership group, but the upside is there is unlikely to be a repeat from him or anyone else in the team.
It’s an altogether tougher stance than that taken when Cory Jane and Israel Dagg went out on the tiles a couple of nights out from the All Blacks World Cup quarter-final in 2011.
It transpires that situation might have been sparked by a mix of a sleeping pill and a couple of beers making a couple of guys go a bit doo-lally but it was a bad look at the worst possible time.
Their punishment was to have to front the team, and ‘fess up to their error of judgement and pay the team back with their performance on the field.
That worked out ok, but there is no such leniency this time. Hansen has laid down a warning a year out from the World Cup, and better now than next September.
A STAND ON DISCIPLINE
Whilst Cruden stays at home and stews, Beauden Barrett will get a rare chance to start. He’s been a devastating impact player off the bench, scoring a try and cutting down a flying Willie le Roux from behind in Johannesburg last year, and also making a telling contribution in their come from behind win over Ireland.
But it is a different type of pressure starting and this will be massive test of his considerable abilities.
Hansen has been ruthless in his decision, but what he will get out of it is another examination of his depth, and the knowledge that his players are now fully aware of where they stand on discipline.
It may, in some strange way, be not a bad thing in the long run, but it might hurt the All Blacks over the next fortnight, and it may hurt Cruden a bit more.
It is not the end for him, but come November he will have some ground to make up. I still think they’ll take he, Barrett and Carter on the end of year tour, but they might not be able to afford all three at the World Cup.
These sorts of things do raise their head from time to time in international rugby. The England team made idiots of themselves during the World Cup three years ago, and Ewen McKenzie took the draconian step of benching a bunch of his players ahead of a test last year because of a fairly major night out at the wrong time.
I know Trevor Nyakane was stood down last year, but I have to say I can’t recall too many such issues with the Springboks. Normally their discipline and the way they present themselves in public is quite outstanding.
So now we face a big weekend, which could decide the fate of the Rugby Championship.
Regardless of what happens in Argentina, whoever loses in Cape Town will not be able to win the title. Ok, start talking about two bonus points for a loss and so on if you like, but I’ll stick with the belief that whoever loses will be out of contention.
To all intents and purposes the All Blacks need a four point win at La Plata to sew up the title, because even if Australia or South Africa would catch them with two five pointers, the AB’s points for and against is unlikely to be surpassed.
I somehow think the All Blacks will get over the line in a tight one, leaving Ellis Park to stand alone as a rugby test, pure and simple.
The Springboks know they should have won in Perth, and with home advantage will not want to blow a second chance against a Wallaby side that has some fantastic strike power in the backs but lacks in effective forward ball carriers.
The Springboks will want to improve their set piece. They’ve been good at the breakdown, winning good turnover ball against the All Blacks, but their scrum, and even their much vaunted lineout have had wobbly patches in this championship.
And with the countdown to the World Cup now less than a year, every match now carries extra significance.
The Rugby Championship may be within New Zealand’s grasp, but there is something even bigger just over the horizon.