Brendan Gallagher: Beware the All Blacks ‘in transition’
The quality of the tournament has been exceptional throughout, something underlined by the appearance of all four teams in the semi-finals of last year’s World Cup. The crowds have been steady – a 40,600 average in 2015 – without ever threatening to compare with the stellar figures the Six Nations always produces.
On the playing front the inclusion of Argentina as a fourth team has been relatively smooth. The Pumas, while only managing two wins and a draw during that period, have always been competitive and there is every indication they will gradually increase that win ratio. Last season they avoided the wooden spoon, that ignominy fell to South Africa, albeit in an abbreviated tournament ahead of the World Cup, and avoiding bottom place realistically remains their priority for the time being.
Logistically Argentina are always going to suffer the most on the travel front but that, to be honest, was the price they had to pay for their admittance and the Pumas have taken it on the chin. What it does do, however, is emphasise the importance of their home fixtures and their one big failure in the Championship so far has been not making Argentina a more intimidating and hostile place to play. Meanwhile, although Australia took the quickfire Championship last season New Zealand have still been the dominant team with three titles in four years and as the reigning World Champions undoubtedly remain the team to beat.
There has been much speculation, most of it rather wistful, that New Zealand might be pegged back a bit following the retirement of a clutch of legends and the “inevitable” transition period but the evidence of their 3-0 series win against Wales rather refutes that.
Yes they were, as ever, a little rusty early on in the first Test, their first hit out for eight months, but they soon picked up speed and a whole host of quality tyros seem to be queuing up to step into the shoes of Richie McCaw, Dan Carter, Ma Nonu and Conrad Smith. It could be, in the heat of battle, that the organising and stabilising genius of the latter is the most difficult to replace. We shall see, but so far, so good.
Key to a smooth transition has been the decision of coach Steve Hansen, right, to continue until the 2019 World Cup. Such a call might have appeared a formality but that is to misunderstand Hansen’s psyche. Little time is spent dwelling, or enjoying, past victories. The focus immediately switched to the next set of challenges and whether he in fact was up for the long haul to 2019 again. As the man himself explained:
“It was never going to be an easy decision nor a foregone conclusion that I would extend my contract. It had to be right for my family, for myself and for the team. In speaking to my family, they’ve all given me their wholehearted support and I’m very thankful for that, because you just couldn’t do this job without that.
“In asking the important questions of myself, I had to be confident, firstly, in my own mind that I still had the passion, drive and commitment to keep pushing this team to improve and be better. The recent series against the Welsh confirmed to me that I still had that internal motivation.
“The second question I had asked myself was: could I improve as a coach? And I believe I can, and must, as I will be asking others to do the same.
“With regards to the team, I spoke to a number of players and management to get their thoughts on what would be right for the team going forward and I received unanimous feedback from them that it was right for me to continue. Once I had confirmed all three of those considerations, it really was a ‘no brainer’ to continue, because, as a coach, there is no better job in rugby.”
So Hansen remains fully on board and don’t underestimate the significance of that. After cutting his teeth under Graham Henry, both with Wales and New Zealand, he has emerged as a great coach in his own right and the continuity he brings is part of the reason the so- called transition has gone so smoothly so far.
Last year’s champions Australia should pose the biggest threat this season despite their 3-0 series defeat against England which was both a setback and something of a wake-up call. Australia covered a lot of ground very quickly last year to win the Rugby Championship and reach the World Cup final after the appointment of Michael Cheika and there was always going to come a moment when they paused for breath and caught up with themselves.
Australia’s bad luck was that moment coincided with the arrival of a very fired-up, Eddie Jones-inspired England and the result was a good old-fashioned kicked up the backside. Tough to take but they will kick off against New Zealand next week battle hardened and the return of the experienced European based players should add much impetus.
Cheika is a quick learner and will be keen to hit back and make a statement and already this opening game in Sydney could well prove the pivotal game of the entire tournament.
South Africa were the least impressive of the Southern Hemisphere’s four World Cup semi-finalists last Autumn even if they did beat the Pumas for third spot and they took that lack lustre form into their June programme when they struggled mightily against a feisty
Ireland side. The Boks did, however, emerge with a 2-1 series win which buys a little time and patience for former Western Province and Stormers coach Allister Coetzee who took over from Heyneke Meyer.
Injuries and fatigue have been a factor but there is also no doubt that South African rugby has stalled a little in recent season with a number of promising youngsters failing to fully kick on or being plagued by injury. One star of their Junior World Cup team five years ago – Johan Goosen – has however stormed back into contention for a start place after a series of stunning performances for Racing Metro 92 in their successful T 14 campaign.
The former Cheetahs utility back is still only 24 and can operate equally well at Fly-half and full-back – where the Boks currently have selections issues – and inside centre for that matter. Coetzee has wasted no time in calling up Goosen who seems set to add to his six senior caps. South Africa might not top the table but Goosen could well emerge as one of the Championship stars.
