NZPA
Last updated 13:59 14/07/2010
Barring a major reversal of fortune the All Blacks will become the most prolific pointscorers in test rugby history on Saturday night.
New Zealand have been steadily gaining on France as the all-time leading scorers and now need just seven points in the Tri-Nations test against South Africa here to climb to the top rung.
In 660 tests, France have scored 11,792 points while the All Blacks have reached 11,786 in just 462 tests.
Given the New Zealanders have racked up 169 points in the first four tests of the year, the record is sure to fall and they should open up a clear lead before France next play, in November.
The All Blacks need just seven tries to overtake France's 1561 in the all-time tryscoring stakes and three conversions to be the first team to land 1000 of them in tests.
Tests played Won Points for Tries Cons Pens
France 660 364 11,792 1561 907 909
New Zealand 462 345 11,786 1555 997 953
Australia 509 256 10,260 1315 766 959
Wales 612 316 9860 1325 755 905
England 629 332 9837 1351 767 955
Argentina 331 183 9513 1244 769 688
South Africa 386 246 8713 1093 699 747
Ireland 593 248 7924 1014 574 793
Scotland 592 251 7542 1019 563 776
New Zealand and Argentina are the only leading nations to have landed more conversions than penalties
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Aggression key to matching Tri Nations heavyweights
ADAM FREIER
July 11, 2010
What's not to like about New Zealand and South African Rugby at present? We are extremely lucky to be part of a Tri Nations to benchmark ourselves against the world's best. The South Africans are an extremely structured and predictable side, but even if you know what's happening next, it doesn't mean you can stop it.
They are clinical in set pieces and rely heavily on it being flawless, but last night showed that when their scrum and lineout are off, their performance suffers.
One of their strengths is the ability to keep the scoreboard ticking. It's not just the game plan that can look a little predictable, but the playing roster as well, in particular one B.Botha. Did anyone see the headbutt by Bakkies in the first 30seconds after being held back? How did the whole planet see that, but not one official?
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They even flashed to him during a penalty kick and he had a red mark on his head. Guilty. Surely he can't be playing for the next few weeks.
A trick has always been to "bully the bully" against the large Springbok packs. But it's not something the Wallabies should be strategically doing; it should be imbedded in them. Winning the physical battle is the most critical point of all when playing these two great rugby nations. South Africa are the world champions, but after the All Blacks emphatic 20-point victory last night, many would argue how much longer.
Why are the All Blacks are so difficult? They are almost the total opposite to the Springboks: unpredictable, elusive and very instinctive.
They have an ability to turn on points from any situation, and leave opponents thinking: "What just happened?" How do you predict Brad Thorn kicking a grubber?
An example was the break by Mils Muliaina, which then lead to the try set up by Richie McCaw to Conrad Smith. How do you prepare for that?
You can't. The only way you can is to ensure that your defensive line, off kicks, has no fractures.
Last night New Zealand showed immense purpose in everything they did - at the breakdown, and in counter rucking and ball carries. Every All Black ball-carry was with conviction. Keiran Read's try didn't come from anything special - he just ran hard and with purpose. They do the simple things extremely well.
A rugby result can be illustrated by the reaction of a coach at full-time.
Graham Henry is usually a wet blanket in showing emotion, but it was all smiles in the coach's box, and he left his seat clutching the air after every try was scored by his players. Even after the match the camera caught him strutting across the field with an "I told you so" look in his eye.
Last night demonstrated that the All Blacks are the real deal. The scrum was solid and lineout flawless.
Although gallant in defeat, the Springboks looked very predictable and flat when things didn't go their way. They did well to hang on and stay in the contest (with Victor Matfield and John Smit always pointing at the sticks), but I couldn't imagine any Australian fan being happy if the Wallabies came home with a similar result.
This is a massive line in the sand for the rest of the world to follow including the Wallabies.
How do we beat the All Blacks and Springboks? I don't have the answer, but after watching the Tri Nations opener in Auckland last night, it is clear that this isn't a competition of skill. It comes down to the contest of will. Skill is a trait that can be called upon, but the will and the intent of the warrior is what needs to come through. We don't need to just win the physical contest, we need to absolutely blow it apart. That trait must be etched in this very young and willing Wallabies side.
July 11, 2010
What's not to like about New Zealand and South African Rugby at present? We are extremely lucky to be part of a Tri Nations to benchmark ourselves against the world's best. The South Africans are an extremely structured and predictable side, but even if you know what's happening next, it doesn't mean you can stop it.
They are clinical in set pieces and rely heavily on it being flawless, but last night showed that when their scrum and lineout are off, their performance suffers.
One of their strengths is the ability to keep the scoreboard ticking. It's not just the game plan that can look a little predictable, but the playing roster as well, in particular one B.Botha. Did anyone see the headbutt by Bakkies in the first 30seconds after being held back? How did the whole planet see that, but not one official?
Advertisement: Story continues below
They even flashed to him during a penalty kick and he had a red mark on his head. Guilty. Surely he can't be playing for the next few weeks.
A trick has always been to "bully the bully" against the large Springbok packs. But it's not something the Wallabies should be strategically doing; it should be imbedded in them. Winning the physical battle is the most critical point of all when playing these two great rugby nations. South Africa are the world champions, but after the All Blacks emphatic 20-point victory last night, many would argue how much longer.
Why are the All Blacks are so difficult? They are almost the total opposite to the Springboks: unpredictable, elusive and very instinctive.
They have an ability to turn on points from any situation, and leave opponents thinking: "What just happened?" How do you predict Brad Thorn kicking a grubber?
An example was the break by Mils Muliaina, which then lead to the try set up by Richie McCaw to Conrad Smith. How do you prepare for that?
You can't. The only way you can is to ensure that your defensive line, off kicks, has no fractures.
Last night New Zealand showed immense purpose in everything they did - at the breakdown, and in counter rucking and ball carries. Every All Black ball-carry was with conviction. Keiran Read's try didn't come from anything special - he just ran hard and with purpose. They do the simple things extremely well.
A rugby result can be illustrated by the reaction of a coach at full-time.
Graham Henry is usually a wet blanket in showing emotion, but it was all smiles in the coach's box, and he left his seat clutching the air after every try was scored by his players. Even after the match the camera caught him strutting across the field with an "I told you so" look in his eye.
Last night demonstrated that the All Blacks are the real deal. The scrum was solid and lineout flawless.
Although gallant in defeat, the Springboks looked very predictable and flat when things didn't go their way. They did well to hang on and stay in the contest (with Victor Matfield and John Smit always pointing at the sticks), but I couldn't imagine any Australian fan being happy if the Wallabies came home with a similar result.
This is a massive line in the sand for the rest of the world to follow including the Wallabies.
How do we beat the All Blacks and Springboks? I don't have the answer, but after watching the Tri Nations opener in Auckland last night, it is clear that this isn't a competition of skill. It comes down to the contest of will. Skill is a trait that can be called upon, but the will and the intent of the warrior is what needs to come through. We don't need to just win the physical contest, we need to absolutely blow it apart. That trait must be etched in this very young and willing Wallabies side.
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