THE PRESS, Christchurch Saturday, September 17, 2011 WEEKENDSPORT D7 RUGBY Playing the never-ending ‘what if’ game Tony Smith The Bald Facts et’s not heap any more pressure on the heads of the Three LWise Men on the All Blacks’ coaching panel. But their selections over the next few weeks could be as critical to the All Blacks winning the World Cup for the first time in 24 years as Dan Carter’s kicking or Richie McCaw’s rucking Hard to stomach: All Blacks midfielder Aaron Mauger dwells on his technique. disappointment after the quarterfinal defeat in Cardiff. It could be disconcerting that the All Blacks do not English referees turning a inexperienced in that role? seem to know yet their best Lord Nelson blind eye to Poor old Laurie Mains had options at halfback or at wing. forward passes, purist players to contend with two But their mix and refusing to kick pragmatic phenomena beyond his matching is certainly dropped goals and fantasies control in South Africa in ensuring complacency will be about a vengeful 1995. A food poisoning bug absent from the team camp. Johannesburg waitress ripped through the All Blacks’ The team to play France spiking tucker with toxins. ranks, meaning some of their will be their most instructive The coaching staff was not biggest stars played less than selection yet. Convention to blame for the first big fully fit in the final. And no suggests they should field a blunder back in 1991. That force on earth could have tried and true XV. But this responsibility belongs to the beaten the Springboks once may represent their best bright spark around the New Nelson Mandela took the field chance to see if fringe players Zealand Rugby Union board wearing Francois Pienaar’s like Andy Ellis, Sonny Bill table who suggested pairing No 6 jersey. But did Mains Williams and Israel Dagg Alex Wyllie and John Hart as make the right call on playing have got what it takes to All Black coaches. his most poorly players? feature in the playoffs phase. Individually, they were Would it have been better You just don’t get a gauge two of the best coaches in the to have started with men like of that in games against world at the time. But they Marc Ellis? Did he make a Tonga and Japan which are were poles apart mistake playing his faithful the Rugby World Cup philosophically and had about servant Mike Brewer on the equivalents of the old mid- as much in common as an blindside flank? Or would the Tearful time: A Jonah Lomu look-alike phones the bad news home after the All Blacks lost to France in the World Cup quarterfinal at Cardiff in 2007. Photos: PETER MEECHAM/FAIRFAX NZ week tour matches. environmentalist and an more abrasive Jamie Joseph The All Blacks also need industrial dairy farmer. have been the ideal individual space and scoring tries from chose Leon MacDonald to That wasn’t the reason the time again, would he have decision making told. impact off their bench. They Some dodgy decisions were to fight fire with fire against nothing, rather than feeding replace an injured Tana All Blacks fell to Australia in still selected Keith Robinson The All Blacks coaches look to have a clutch of made around personnel in coves like the late Ruben outside backs. And what Umaga at centre and kept the Sydney semifinal – their at lock when the Waikato man were infatuated in 2007 with closers rather than 1991. Was Bernie McCahill Kruger and Mark Andrews? induced Hart and his Mils Muliaina at fullback and, pack was outmuscled on that was so clearly short of match their Wellington back row gamebreakers at the moment. really New Zealand’s best Hart has to be accountable coaching team to break up the moreover, made MacDonald occasion. But would the All fitness? (Rodney So’oialo, Jerry Graham Henry and Wayne second five-eighths? Or Mark for some eccentric selections Justin Marshall-Andrew the first-string goal kicker. Blacks backline have Why oh why wasn’t Aaron Collins and Chris Masoe) as Smith have two games left to Carter the best option at in 1999. He had one of the Mehrtens combination in the MacDonald had not played displayed more confidence Mauger in the 22 when Carter partners for Richie McCaw. work out who out of Williams, openside flanker with world’s best wings (Jeff halves by dropping Marshall centre for years and had not and more incisiveness had was under an injury cloud? But what would McCaw – Ma’a Nonu and Dagg are their Michael Jones unavailable on Wilson) at fullback and the for Byron Kelleher? The two kicked goals since his MacDonald’s and Muliaina’s Nick Evans was there, on then still a tenderfoot test ultimate circuitbreakers. Sundays? Was Buck Shelford universe’s No 1 fullback Crusaders stars’ strengths schooldays at Marlborough roles been reversed? form, as first-five cover but captain – have done for the Selection issues have over the hill or would he have (Christian Cullen) at centre. complemented each other. College. Yet Muliaina had On to 2007 and the World once he went off hurt too high EQ (emotional quotient) surely contributed as much to been a battle-hardened better Cullen’s genius was his John Mitchell and Robbie played centre all year for the Cup quarterfinal in Cardiff. there was a lack of leadership of Reuben Thorne beside him the All Blacks’ failing to win bet at No 8 than Zinzan sheer unpredictability. He Deans seemed to get the mix Blues, who won the 2003 It’s easy to be wise after the in the greenhorn inside backs at a time when all around him the past five tournaments as Brooke, then relatively thrived on playing with extra wrong in 2003 when they Super 12 title. event but if Henry had his division and that dearth of men were losing their heads? Crusaders’ trials topic of talk, coach expects Tony Smith Dave Rennie and New Zea- ‘‘It’s not only a great challenges the Crusaders Blackadder and his col- Blackadder said some of amenities because college land Rugby Union high per- honour to be reporting [to the faced this year when they leagues spent a day at the college sport facilities in players were amateurs. Crusaders coach Todd Black- formance manager Mike Chiu conference] but it’s also a were forced to play every Stanford University this California were ‘‘mind- The New Zealand rugby adder says he is honoured to have been inspecting facilities great learning opportunity.’’ game away from their Christ- week, meeting their elite blowing in terms of how trio were due to meet elite be asked to make a presen- and talking to elite coaches at He attended a similar sym- church base with earthquake- coaches and inspecting high much they’ve invested in coaches at the UCLA campus tation at a major inter- California universities. posium last year in Colorado devastated AMI Stadium performance sports facilities. them’’. in Los Angeles today. national sports psychological They leave tomorrow for where he met the US Olympic rendered unplayable. They spent time with the ‘‘One of the colleges we Blackadder said the Prime conference in Hawaii. Hawaii where they will take programme coaches. He said ‘‘everyone seems to coaches of American football were at [yesterday] spent Minister’s Scholarship pro- The former All Blacks part in a sports psychology ‘‘The learnings I took out of know about’’ the Crusaders’ team Stanford Cardinals. $500 million on high perform- gramme was ‘‘great for per- captain has been in the United conference examining elite last year were immense and I situation as he had been They also went to Califor- ance sports facilities.’’ sonal development’’ but he States for a week as part of his athlete performance. was able to implement a few asked about it already on this nia State University’s Berkley He said some college was also ‘‘looking forward to Prime Minister’s Scholarship Blackadder said from San things at the Crusaders.’’ trip. campus where they enjoyed football games grew crowds of getting back home next week programme. Francisco yesterday he was Blackadder expected he ‘‘It’s a small world, isn’t catching up with the college’s up to 114,000 so universities to catch the rest of the World Todd Blackadder Blackadder, Chiefs coach looking forward to the event. would be talking about the it?’’ rugby programme staff. were able to invest heavily in Cup’’. BOWLS FOOTBALL 1200 bowlers need new home after earthquake Deadline looms Kevin Tutty The Burwood Park club pool table and some green has already decided to amal- keeping equipment for sale. for Phoenix boss Sixteen clubs in the Christ- gamate with the nearby He was not sure if the church area will be without Dallington club. ‘‘One of our clubrooms will have to be Sam Worthington Serepisos at the helm they greens, and 1200 bowlers will two greens is unplayable and demolished. ‘‘The engineers have been floundering during be displaced when the Bowls the clubrooms are damaged,’’ have been through and if it’s Looks like it will be a working a long off-season. Canterbury season starts this said the president of the to stay we will have to have it weekend for the Wellington Only 17 players are on the weekend. Burwood Park club, Les repaired and see about selling Phoenix owner. books, coach Ricki Herbert Damage from the February Carney. ‘‘We’ve bitten the it off or leasing it,’’ said Terry Serepisos has been has not hosed down reports he 22 earthquake and subsequent bullet and we’re moving on.’’ Carney.