Tri-Nations game testimony to value of experience

The way the weekend’s Tri-Nations game unfolded was a testimony to the value of experience.

So far, so good. There were encouraging signs in phase one of the All Blacks’ World Cup build-up that, in the words of the haka performed by the 1924/25 Invincibles, “the New Zealand storm is about to break”.

The coaches and players would feel they achieved their primary objectives for the home leg of the Tri-Nations:

• Thump the second- and third-ranked countries in the world, thereby reminding all comers that confronting a strong and settled All Blacks team on home soil is rugby’s most difficult assignment.
• Halt the momentum generated by the Wallabies’ victory in Hong Kong late last year and the Queensland Reds’ Super 15 triumph.
• Rekindle the form and enthusiasm of experienced players who had unsatisfactory Super 15 campaigns because of injury (Richie McCaw, Conrad Smith, Piri Weepu) – or distractions (Andrew Hore, Ma‘a Nonu, Cory Jane).
• Put on performances that encourage an apathetic public to get behind theinjury (Richie McCaw, Conrad Smith, Piri l Put on performances that encourage an apathetic public to get behind the team.

In a perfect world Mils Muliaina’s name could be added to the list of revitalised veterans. It may just be coincidence, but because of the injuries to Israel Dagg and Isaia Toeava, he is probably the only player in the squad (apart from McCaw and Dan Carter, who are in a league of their own) who hasn’t faced stiff competition for a starting spot.

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And the second, much-trumpeted coming of Wyatt Crockett wouldn’t have hit a speed bump. (According to Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder, Crockett is “the best loosehead prop in the world”. Quite how a fringe All Black with a handful of tests to his name could have attained that status is a question only Blackadder can answer.)

At Eden Park Crockett made little impression on the Wallabies’ front row and a negative impression on the referee, reviving misgivings over whether his technique and body shape are suited to scrummaging at the highest level.

Going by Steve Hansen’s downbeat post-match assessment, those misgivings are shared by the All Blacks coaching staff. Their kid-gloves treatment of Tony Woodcock in his comeback from a long-standing foot injury makes it abundantly clear they don’t regard Crockett as the best loosehead prop in New Zealand.

Then there are the injuries. With little over a week before the World Cup squad is named, four players – Woodcock, Toeava, Dagg and Richard Kahui – are only just getting back on the field after lengthy layoffs, and a fifth, lock Anthony Boric, hasn’t been sighted. Whether the selectors are prepared to gamble on them, bearing in mind the World Cup final is still two months away, will go a long way towards resolving the logjam at wing and fullback.

Although there are risks in drawing conclusions from one game, there wasn’t much evidence at Eden Park to support the line being pushed across the Tasman that the All Blacks are a team in decline while the Wallabies are a team on the rise. The implication, of course, is that their trajectories will intersect to New Zealand’s disadvantage at the World Cup.

On the contrary, the way the game unfolded was a testimony to the value of experience and lent weight to the theory that the World Cup may be a year or so too early for the Wallabies.

They have talent to burn, the brash confidence of youth and the priceless commodity of speed, but the hallmark of immature teams is inconsistency: brilliant one week, brittle the next. On their 2010 end-of-year tour, their last-minute win over the All Blacks and dismemberment of France in Paris sandwiched a heavy defeat by England. Their recent vibrant performance against South Africa was preceded by an embarrassing loss to Samoa.

Nevertheless the Wallabies will pre­occupy all opponents at the World Cup. Their callowness is often evident, and despite signs of improvement, their scrum remains an uncertain proposition. But they will be bold while others play the percentages, and it’s reasonable to assume they’ll produce at least one magical display at the tournament. Let’s hope someone else has to cope with it.