Our best selector ever - Thought Leader

A lot has been said about the RWC, dangerously, people have been splurging predictions … we should know better than that by now. I have maintained for all time (well my time anyhow) that the tournament is a temporary and jaded measurement of world rugby status. I will categorically state that bar one or two years here and there, the All Blacks are the supreme rugby nation spending many weeks, months and years rated as the number one team in the world. Yes, I know they have only one Rugby World Cup victory.

The All Blacks have their own battles to fight, internally, they have a big match temperament issue evident by being knocked out of the world cups: 1995 in the final, 1999 in the semi-finals, 2003 semi-final (I think) and 2007 in the quarter-finals. Poor reading for the number one team in the world but judging their rugby prowess and dominance on one game in a knock-out tournament is something you do at your own risk and I state you are wrong.

So why have they battled: in 1995 they lost to the better team on the field, in 1999 they were dealt some shocking adjudication and in 2003 they lost it themselves. In 2007 I do remember a New Zealand team that wasn’t quite sure of themselves in terms of when they rested which players in their build-up. Once again they had peaked way to early. I fear the same is the case in 2011.

The Springboks and other teams’ best weapon is the fact that Graham Henry, for all his rugby knowledge, is a shocking selector. First he leaves Sitiveni Sivivatu and Wyatt Crockett out of his RWC squad and there is no secret that he is not clear on his centre pairing, wings and full back. Dan Carter is injured. Though there are reports that he is feeling better, I don’t think it’s true. Now that the cracks are starting to show will the hosts be able to handle it when in other countries they have failed.

If Henry does not get it right very soon and let his best play together and get into their strides, no matter how good they are, they will be in a spot of bother. They will lack the team feel and consistency, crucial elements to winning the showpiece.

From my point of view, let Henry make as many errors as possible, but for world rugby’s sake I think the All Blacks need to win this tournament, they need it as a team and their nation needs it after a most shocking year.