The Worlds Greatest Rugby Nation

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The world's greatest rugby nation – it's All Black and white despite Springbok and Wallaby claims
Sportingo - James Mortimer (06/06/2008)
*Disclaimer - Views expressed within this story are not necessarily the views of the NZRU or allblacks.com



Sportingo
As the Southern Hemisphere international season commences, many - including some Kiwis - gloat about and mock the New Zealanders' demise. How uninformed they are.

‘... let’s get this hollow commercial concept of World Cups out of the way. The only real tournament was played in 1987 – which the All Blacks won with a path of domination that was astounding’Canterbury have completed the 2008 Rebel Sport Super 14 with their seventh title in the 13 years that the tournament has been operating. This means quite simply that the world’s dominant provincial team has won over 50 per cent of the toughest domestic international series - a tournament that ranks alongside the Heineken Cup.

If you add the three titles that the Auckland Blues have claimed, this makes for fearsome reading for Australian and South African supporters. Only three times has another country claimed the title. The current world champions, South Africa, for all of their bleating, have won only one title despite empty claims that they have the toughest domestic competition. As well as this, New Zealand has five times provided the losing finalist to the competition’s Grand Final. Fifteen finals appearances to seven by Australia, while the Africans have only appeared in three finals!

But, of course, many point to the fact that countries' overall domination is reflected in their international performance – and in this arena the All Blacks quite simply have no peer.

First, let’s get this hollow commercial concept of World Cups out of the way. The only real tournament was played in 1987 – which the All Blacks won with a path of domination that was astounding not only for the fact that they were unchallenged, but that they had recently had a massive number of their players banned over the “Cavalier” controversy.

In 1991, the All Blacks did the rugby world a favour by appointing two conflicting coaches and fielding a side on the decline. The Wallabies, eventual champions, nearly lost to Samoa in pool stages and only defeated Ireland by one point. The Australians at this point had evolved into a top team courtesy of being groomed by New Zealand by numerous Bledisloe thrashings.

In 1995, the All Blacks were the dominant team in the cup – hosted by South Africa, whose re-entry into top rugby was due to the New Zealanders’ consistent attempts to play African teams despite their worldwide sporting ban. The Springboks then repaid this favour by poisoning the entire All Blacks team, but despite this could only defeat the legendary team in extra time.

The following three tournaments New Zealand paid the price with poor selection policies, inconsistent game plans and over-hyped expectation. The victories by Australia, England and South Africa in the cups were by name only. John Eales, Martin Johnson and John Smit have all admitted publicly that their teams were given huge favours by having the All Blacks knocked out by once-in-a-lifetime performances by other teams.

South Africa and Australia owe their standing on the world rugby stage to the constant competition with the New Zealanders. The South Africans claim dominance in the amateur days of international rugby, but the controversy over apartheid, biased referees and constant cheating assured South Africa were a false world power. Despite this, New Zealand continued to send teams, despite fears of even being banned from Olympic events and they openly defied the Gleneagles agreement – the only country to do so. Ironically, the All Blacks continued to nurture the South African rugby beast.

Australia gained much from being the Tasman neighbour of New Zealand. Up until 1997 the Wallabies had only won seven Bledisloe Cups and the All Blacks held it for 27 straight years in the mid 1900s – however, the Australians grew from regular competition with the greatest of rugby nations.

But, of course, like any great argument, we need proof to back up these audacious claims. In over 100 years of rugby the All Blacks have only lost 96 times. Every other country in the world has lost at least twice that many games. South Africa have lost more, despite being banned from international competition for many years. New Zealand are the only team in world rugby not to have a half-century of points posted against them and their largest losing margin is 21 points – half of any other team.

The All Blacks have won 75 per cent of all games played, with a success rate almost as impressive overseas as at home, being the finest touring team in world rugby, and being almost unbeatable at home. Some people claim they are an over-hyped, over-marketed product. The simple reality is that they are the biggest rugby draw card on the planet and that any union will clamber to host the best team of all time.

Only five of the current Test playing nations have beaten New Zealand, and they have a dominant winning percentage over any team. They score more tries, more points and hold higher levels of game statistic ascendancy over all teams, dominating possession and territory even when on the rare losing end of the ledger.

This is why they are the most feared and loathed team in the world. They consistently play attacking rugby and are the most watchable team in the world … unfortunately to their downfall in the commercial World Cup. The sight of the black jersey and the magnificent sporting spectacle of the haka, an impenetrable black wall of defence, unrelenting wave of black attack – the All Blacks are a sporting team of legendary and godlike status.

All Blacks blitz Boks in Capetown

All Blacks blitz Boks in Cape Town

16 August 2008, 4:02 pm

By Scrum.com

The latest chapter in this year's Tri-Nations was played out in Cape Town on Saturday as the All Blacks scored three tries and shut out the Springboks 19-0.

World champions South Africa were unable to mark Percy Montgomery's 100th appearance with a victory as the All Blacks gained a valuable victory in Cape Town.

The match was meant to be a celebration of South African legend Montgomery, but for the Springboks it turned out to be a nightmare as tries from Conrad Smith, Dan Carter and Keven Mealamu proved their undoing.

New Zealand made the most of their chances to secure a victory which probably secures coach Graham Henry's job and puts one hand on the Tri-Nations trophy for the All Blacks.

Montgomery became the first Springbok to a century of caps but the match was one which will leave coach Peter de Villiers with more questions than answers concerning the team's future.

The Springboks created more than enough opportunities, despite several crucial decisions going against them by referee Matt Goddard, and they only had themselves to blame for the defeat.

The Boks were also beaten on several occasions at the breakdown in a match which was highly entertaining and played at an exceptional pace, with All Blacks fly-half Carter having an uncharacteristically off day with the boot, missing five kicks at goal.

In the fourth wave of early attacks from New Zealand, the ball moved squarely to captain Richie McCaw, who put a grubber behind a flat defence and watched as Smith beat Butch James in a desperate sprint for the ball behind the try line. Carter was unable to convert.

By half-time the scoreline had not changed, and it seemed as if the game was going to be a low-scoring affair, especially when the hosts fluffed more chances early in the second half.

With the prospect of tries looking more distant with every missed opportunity, it was two penalties - both when Fourie du Preez was shoulder-charged by All Blacks Jimmy Cowan and Brad Thorn - which brought penalties that could have helped the Springbok cause.

Montgomery, who was having a dismal game, missed both chances.

South Africa had a let-off when Montgomery - who was later replaced - and JP Pietersen forced John Afoa out in the corner, with the TV replays confirming he had not scored a try.

But it was only a matter of time before Carter found a gap close to the line and danced his way through to score the second New Zealand try and give the visitors some breathing space.

Minutes later a nightmare pass on his own line by Jean de Villiers into the hands of replacement hooker Mealamu gifted the All Blacks their third try.

New Zealand 19 (5)
Tries: Smith, Carter, Mealamu
Cons: Carter (2)

South Africa 0 (0)

New Zealand: Mils Muliaina, Richard Kahui, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Dan Carter, Jimmy Cowan, Rodney So'oialo, Richie McCaw (captain), Jerome Kaino, Ali Williams, Brad Thorn, Greg Somerville, Andrew Hore, Tony Woodcock.
Replacements: Keven Mealamu, John Afoa, Anthony Boric, Adam Thomson, Piri Weepu, Stephen Donald, Isaia Toeava.

South Africa: Percy Montgomery, JP Pietersen, Adrian Jacobs, Jean de Villiers, Bryan Habana, Butch James, Fourie du Preez, Pierre Spies, Juan Smith, Schalk Burger, Victor Matfield, Andries Bekker, CJ van der Linde, Bismarck du Plessis, Tendai Mtawarira
Replacements: Adriaan Strauss, Brian Mujati, Danie Rossouw, Luke Watson, Enrico Januarie, Francois Steyn, Conrad Jantjes

All Black Rodney So'oialo resigns

Senior All Black and Hurricanes captain Rodney So'oialo has re-signed with the New Zealand Rugby and Wellington rugby unions through to the end of 2011.

So'oialo is the latest in a group of senior players to have committed to New Zealand rugby through to 2011, including All Blacks captain Richie McCaw, Keven Mealamu, Dan Carter, Ma'a Nonu and Andrew Hore.

An All Black since 2002, 29-year-old So'oialo has played 55 tests for his country and is currently the joint third most capped All Blacks loose forward (with All Blacks great Michael Jones) behind Richie McCaw (77 tests) and Zinzan Brooke (58 tests). So'oialo has captained the side four times and has the rare distinction of having captained the All Blacks in a test from all three loose forward positions.

So'oialo has also played 79 matches for the Hurricanes and 55 times for his Wellington provincial side, is currently fifth on the all-time Hurricanes list of appearances and has captained the Hurricanes since 2006.

A family man away from the rugby field, So'oialo said the decision to re-sign with the NZRU had, in the end, been an easy one.

"I love living in New Zealand and particularly in Wellington and love playing my rugby here. My family is important to me and they were a key factor in me re-signing with the NZRU and Wellington Rugby Union. We are settled here and my wider family are also in Wellington and this is my home," he said.

"I am also excited by the Rugby World Cup in 2011 and would love to represent my country on home soil in that tournament," he added.

New Zealand Rugby Union CEO Steve Tew said the importance of re-signing someone as experienced and respected as So'oialo could not be underestimated.

"Rodney is an outstanding, world-class player who could have easily commanded a significant package overseas, so we are thrilled to have him re-commit through to the end of 2011," Tew said.

"He has been tremendously loyal to Wellington, the Hurricanes and New Zealand and we thank him for his loyalty," Mr Tew added.

Wellington Rugby Union and Hurricanes CEO Greg Peters said So'oialo was a "very special person and very special player".

"We are extremely fortunate that he has shown such great commitment to the Wellington Lions and the Hurricanes. His leadership qualities have helped so many of our young players to reach their potential and we are delighted that he will continue to influence the next generation of players, both on and off the field," Peters said.