After just five Test matches in the calendar year to date, many other teams would be wishing for more rugby build-up. For the New Zealand All Blacks, besides that unquestioned fact, the World Champions Toughest ‘Test’ in Pool Play will also see them step-up in gear towards their peak in a number of weeks.
Peaking too soon has been an issue for many sports people and pastimes to combat with. In Rugby, that might mean that if you have been the number one side for a period of time, where the natural cycle might then mean that you lose momentum over time, to slide a little in performance and to possibly be overtaken by your opposition or combatant. If you are at the top, everyone wants to knock you off.
Sport itself, that goal to win is the challenge to be the best side. So in that last four years term the All Blacks have played all major nations, and succeeded in the majority of those matches. You can count (and for those opposing victors, they do) those losses as evidence of a possible reduced performance, but the match between the All Blacks and Argentina will be a great challenge in itself, and the toughest out of the next four games. No doubting that.
I for one am always delighted and surprised often, to realize that a team that I support could possibly be number one over a period of ten years. Outstanding! It is almost fanciful, but for All Blacks’ fans across the rugby world, it is still a reality. While one must consider that incredible effort from this side to maintain a certain amount of domination over that time, fans must face the fact that sides must always be tested to retain standards – and that is the main concern for this 2015 Rugby World Cup.
Opposed training sessions aside, the value in only having just five tests under your belt is less than ideal, but in pool-play of this quadrangular competition you either adapt or you are ill-equipped to face the knock-out rounds.
POOL C
As we have known this Pools participants for a number of years. It has even been described as the “paddling pool”. While you can argue that the grading of teams has made this and South Africa in Pool B [if you are being realistic] are less demanding than the other two. That those leading teams might very well be under-done in match time and in hardened match play is a concern for many. Rest and rotation will be used later, but this initial Argentina match is ‘no opposing practice’.
Against Argentina on Sunday [Monday morning in the Southern Hemisphere] the playing 15 and management better take it seriously. With the three wise men in charge, in Steve Hansen, Ian Foster and Grant Fox, they will have planned for this event and developed strategies to peak for this match, while acknowledging that Los Pumas will be their only real Test match of the World Cup Pool D, and first game as well.
Players, such as Dan Carter admit this with a respectful nod to Tonga, Georgia and Nambia. While he acknowledges that Argentina is their toughest challenge, he mentioned that “we want to start the tournament on the right note with a win, but we’ll have to play extremely well to do that”
Bracing for an Argentinian barrage that will test them all over the park with their organised defense; as much as their powerful rolling maul that brought the visitors tries in the Christchurch test. Bringing their firepower to bear at its full potential is key for Los Pumas, and the upset of the tournament might occur on day three.
In opening matches, consideration of your opposition should outweigh the need to peak, in terms of opening the campaign with a strong statement. Obviously, the side selected certainly will be fit but must still retain a competitive edge for later matches. By building in squad experience and exposure to the International rugby atmosphere, your run-on side should garner maximum points firstly and set-up the next three games for other squad members and impact utilities like . Ask Fiji if that is critical, as will Italy.
So expect a real test for the World Champions, the early pressure being applied in full by Argentina. If they can bring a surprise in their gameplan not considered by their opponents, they might catch the All Blacks out and then hope to apply continued pressure through their substitutes. They must also improve on their last encounter result–New Zealand 39 Argentina 18
Has a greater side ever opened our World Cup campaign before?
Ask that question to a traditionalist, as was done at the Takapuna RFC fundraiser on Friday, and the argument is strong for 1987 to be considered. That team won the inaugural event and legendary players Wayne ‘Buck’ Shelford and Frano Botica made considered and hilarious argument for their side to be judged best in a luncheon to raise funds for a junior team. Some compelling stories and anecdotes were then proposed, with a rebuttal by some younger Harbour Rugby ex-players arguing that this 2015 side were the better.
All joking aside (and Frano was definitely the funniest ex-All Black) in this current World Champion side selected for the Wembley match, we have a fine example of high–performing athletes maintaining standards over another four year cycle. An impeccable record if they can win again and retain the Webb Ellis Cup. If that feat can be done, then the argument will be easy to decide on. Two-time World Champions would elevate the current group into legendary status almost immediately.
But, the All Blacks have been here before. Favourites, virtually unbeatable at home yet have come unstuck in the tight situations. What is different today you might ask?
On Sunday, there will be a total of 1013 caps in the All Blacks scrum alone. That incredible statistic is not only complimentary, but as much certainly ‘intimidating’ towards all the other 19 sides competing in England and Wales. The most experienced side; with an average age of 28 years old, they lead the nations with their collected maturity and an understanding of how to win matches – a 90% winning ratio over the last four years has made them favourites outright.
By picking the ‘A’ team here, we see them combine to hold an amazing 1211 caps. I joke you not, over 1200 caps and as I mentioned the pure intimidation those figures provide, there is also a little bit of the unknown on the wing. The junior player in this side is Nehe Milner-Skudder.
The excitement machine missed the Christchurch test, with Waisake Naholo selected that day (and he subsequently broke his leg) So this three cap tyro he will be ready to rip into the game. Non-rugby neighbours will be woken with screams of joy from All Blacks fans homes if this young man can bring the pure enthusiasm of youth, balanced with the control of Ben Smith and fearless tackling of Jerome Kaino to the match. A mix of vintage and newly minted players will begin the competition on Sunday afternoon.
The team they face have impressive players, including Juan Martin Hernandez, Agustin Creevy, Juan Imhoff and the combative and charismatic Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe. They too will have planned well and coach Daniel Hourcade is needing them to create memories that can match their stella performances of 2007 — when the side finished third outright.
It will be an epic start to this tournament for both fans, tournament organisers and for players. For New Zealand and Argentina the ‘big dance starts’ in game one for both teams, and they need to be primed and prepared. The World Champions Toughest ‘Test’ in Pool Play is on Sunday in London, played on the historic Wembley Stadium. Some expect the roof to literally be ‘blown off’.
It will be a huge opening match, and for the All Blacks, the perfect test of how they are ready to go back-to-back in 2015.
“Main photo”
