New Zealand, who face their final autumn fixture tomorrow against Wales, stand alone. The depths of their concentration and the scope and range of their style of play separate them from all the other nations. They base their game on swift transference of the ball, turning defence into attack and pouncing on the mistakes of others.
Yet, even they can slip up and lose the occasional match, as they did against South Africa in the Tri-Nations two months ago — as indeed in 2005, too — which is the kind of isolated obstacle they must fear lies ahead in next year’s World Cup. This is the one-off ambush they have encountered in four of the five global tournaments so far.
Other teams may have one of their characteristics of intense focus and wide and moving rugby, but not both. England under Martin Johnson possessed the former but not the latter. While Wales, at present, and France, traditionally, enjoy a breadth to their game, they do not necessarily have the determined execution to go with it. Style can be more important than substance.
The exuberant play of the All Blacks is addictive. Even the most partisan fan of their opponents cannot resist searching for another fix while longing to see their comeuppance.
We search for a flaw in New Zealand but as that quest proves fruitless, they continue on their merry and successful way. They are, as ever, immaculate in the lineout, stronger than before in the scrum, clever in the backs. Sniffing the ball at the breakdown, they are like ravenous seagulls sighting a leftover picnic: they converge, devour and scatter once more.
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Failing to discover any flaws, in frustration we search for any shenanigans they may get up to. Do they cheat? Admittedly, they cut a fine line. But rugby, with its variety of interpretations, is always about cutting fine lines. Late tackle? “Well I came as early as I could,” says the flanker, expressing the narrow margins of rugby. The referee is there to adjudicate.
There is obstruction, for instance, but doesn’t every team commit body-checking now? This is a blight on the game that all teams practise while expressing innocence. As for infringements at the breakdown, is this not coming to resemble a free-for-all in any case?
But unquestionably the All Blacks have advanced our perception of what potential lies within the game. Brian Lochore’s team of the 1960s set new standards and, if a lull followed, Buck Shelford’s squad rejuvenated ideas of attacking rugby by the late 1980s, as, by the mid-1990s, did Sean Fitzpatrick’s squad, of which Jonah Lomu, though crucial, was but one among several talented runners. Reuben Thorne’s team of 2003 were also innovative. Yet at every stage, despite their envious manner of playing, the World Cup eluded them, apart from in 1987.
Their present form is unmatched. Their style is without equal and is dominating the modern game. If England won the last World Cup and Australia were runners-up, it is New Zealand who have thereafter led and expanded the game into a different territory.
By and large, it is the mechanical organisation of defences that has controlled the tactical thinking in recent years. It is New Zealand who have been prepared to think outside that particular rigid box. Their mentality is inspired by attack and to find ways to go beyond the confines of defence. If they are secure at set-pieces, they are at their best when the game breaks up.
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The loose kick from the opposition is the moment to think of the possibilities to run and get enough players behind the ball. At the tackle, when the defence is at sixes and sevens, forcing the opposition to surrender the ball gives the All Blacks the freedom swiftly to run while their opponents are on their heels. Everything is done at pace and in depth.
Other teams are not in this frame of mind; nor do they have the skilful wherewithal. It is a curiosity, given that rugby is a passing and handling game, to find so few teams prepared to refine that which is the game’s essence. New Zealand’s handling errors are few and even the awkward or bad pass can often be adjusted into a clinching one, the one that is made to matter.
To catch up with them, teams need to cultivate an attacking mood and enhance the virtues of a handling game. There are still ten months to go to the next World Cup.