Time is right for bit of old black magic

JUSTIN MARSHALL

Last updated 05:00 25/07/2011

OPINION: If the All Blacks are going to make a bold statement – fire the first psychological blow in this all-important rugby year – then they need to produce something emphatic over the next fortnight.

The phoney war is over and the Tri-Nations, albeit abbreviated, is before us. Nothing short of two wins at home against South Africa on Saturday and Australia a week later will do.

While in the event of a loss in either game I would caution against hitting the panic button, the importance of this next two weeks cannot be overstated. The Rugby World Cup will be played on our turf, our grounds, in our cities, and in an environment we feel at home in.

That's why it's so important the All Blacks lay down a marker in this Tri-Nations and produce the type of obdurate performance which will win us the cup – hard, hostile, uncompromising, ruthless and very accurate.

Imagine if the Aussies beat us at Eden Park on August 6. Imagine the boost their confidence would receive.

Perhaps it's better not to. They're never short on confidence, so while these next four tests won't win us the cup, they could contribute to losing it. Step one was on Friday night when the All Blacks took on Fiji.

Richie McCaw's side was solid, if not spectacular, and I think the All Blacks should be reasonably pleased with their performance. There was plenty of rust and yet they managed to score 60 points while looking a tad average. We also garnered a small insight into their game plan for this year, which they need to evolve. Teams will come to New Zealand this year having studied their every move.

While it was impossible to fully assess how much progress the All Blacks have made against Fiji, they appeared to make some tweaks, which could be effective when the big guns are ushered back in after their rests.

Australia too appear to have moved on from last year.

They looked good in beating an under-strength South African side 39-20 on Saturday night. Both sides will be tremendously difficult to beat at home in the Tri-Nations. That's why executing Henry's blueprint for success will be as important as retaining the championship.

In other words, I want to see substance over style. For any last-minute tips, Henry need look no further than Christchurch's Rugby Park on Saturday, where Southland won the Ranfurly Shield off Canterbury, notably, via a rarity in New Zealand rugby, a drop goal.

The win should resonate not only in Invercargill, where the passion for the log is undimmed. Southland are now expert in their approach and attitude in sudden-death-style rugby. They are the obdurate, stubborn, win-it-any-way-possible force the All Blacks aspire and need to be over the next few weeks.

History against them but belief is back for Wallabies

Greg Growden

July 25, 2011

THE Wallabies believe they have their best chance in years to defeat the All Blacks in Auckland, but are not beating their chests just yet as they are well aware of their dreadful Test record at Eden Park.

While Wallabies coach Robbie Deans said yesterday that his team was better placed to counter the All Blacks than in previous years, he was - naturally - not keen to elaborate, knowing how hope can turn into helplessness when confronting the world's best.

Apart from the Wallabies' run of 10 straight losses to the All Blacks before defeating them in Hong Kong late last year, their record at Eden Park - the venue for this year's World Cup final - is diabolical.

The Wallabies haven't won in Auckland since their 1986 Bledisloe Cup triumph. That was followed by 11 successive losses at the venue. Of the 22 New Zealand-Australian Tests in Auckland, only four have been won by the visitors - in 1949, 1955, 1978 and 1986. And New Zealand's home wins over Australia sit at an extraordinary 75 per cent, from 48 victories and a draw out of 64 Tests.

At least Deans is confident they will have ample time to prepare for the Bledisloe Cup fixture.

''It's great we have a week to regroup, so that we can really focus on this match,'' Deans said. ''It's a key game for us now. We haven't had a lot of success at Eden Park, but now [we] have a great opportunity to really target that game, and make the most of it.''

Rusty All Blacks swamp Fiji

July 22, 2011

New Zealand 60 Fiji 14

Sitiveni Sivivatu of New Zealand scores the opening try of the game. Photo: Getty Images

New Zealand's All Blacks opened their rugby World Cup build-up with a lopsided 60-14 win over Fiji in Dunedin on Friday but failed to produce the dominating performance they sought.

After leading 32-0 at halftime, the All Blacks were held to only two more tries for most of the second spell, before they broke away to cross the line twice more in the closing minutes.

The shining light for the All Blacks was the performance of Colin Slade, who staked his claim to be the flyhalf understudy to Dan Carter after missing most of the Super 15 season when he twice broke his jaw.

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Ben Smith of the All Blacks makes a break. Photo: Getty Images

In his first Test start, Slade posted 19 points with a try, four conversions and two penalties and steered the side around the park with confidence before he was substituted with 20 minutes to go.

But around him there were question marks over the All Blacks' performance as they struggled in the second spell against a side ranked 14th in the world and lacking several key players.

The forward domination of the first half faded as the game wore on and the decision-making was at times questionable as the All Blacks allowed themselves to be bustled by the Fijians' physical approach.

Piri Weepu of New Zealand scores a try. Photo: AFP

The one tactic which did pay dividends was the chip kick over the Fijian backs, which provided three tries.

In a match billed as the definite farewell for the iconic Carisbrook venue after it won reprieves following three previous Tests also billed as the last, Slade received an early confidence boost with a penalty in the third minute.

Sitiveni Sivivatu, another player under the microscope, followed with the first try when the All Blacks moved the ball wide after sucking in the Fijian defence with a series of pick-and-goes.

Ma'a Nonu of the All Blacks. Photo: Getty Images

One of the Fijians' rare attacking periods in the first half turned to disaster for them when Zac Guildford latched on to a turnover ball and kicked downfield and caught fullback Iliesa Keresoni.

Quick ruck ball was fed to Slade who chipped over the Fijian defence, gathered in the ball and scored under the posts.

With 18 points on the board and the initial rustiness starting to wear away, the All Blacks stepped up the pace in the closing minutes of the first half with Andrew Hore and Adam Thomson both crossing for tries.

Ali Williams of the All Blacks makes a break. Photo: Getty Images

But having spent most of the first half in defence, a fired-up Fiji took control of the second half and were rewarded when bruising backrower Sakiusa Matadigo broke from a scrum to run 50 metres before sending halfback Nemia Ranuku in for the try.

The All Blacks replied with two quick tries to Conrad Smith and Piri Weepu, both resulting from chip kicks by Weepu, and Fiji were successful with the same tactic when Vereniki Goneva kicked over Weepu and won the race for the ball over the line.

The All Blacks' superior fitness told as they regained the initiative in the closing stages and picked up a late 14 points with a penalty try and a try to Mils Muliaina, both converted by Carter.

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All Blacks thrash Fiji in season opener

Crouch ... touch ... pause ... engage. Photo: Getty Images

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New Zealand 60 (Sitiveni Sivivatu, Colin Slade, Andrew Hore, Adam Thomson, Conrad Smith, Piri Weepu, Mils Muliaina tries, penalty try; Slade 2 pens, 4 cons; Dan Carter 3 cons), Fiji 14(Nemia Serelevu, Vereniki Goneva tries; Seremia Bai 2 cons).Ht: 32-0.