Is the All blacks thrashing Italy and Scotland good for Rugby? Glenn McLean doesn't think so...

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/7966972/Time-wasting-All-Blacks-tests-Whats-the-point


By GLENN MCLEAN

OPINION: I've heard all the sporting cliches after the All Blacks' win over Italy at the weekend.

"This will be really good for world rugby" and "Italy have learnt a lot in recent years" have, predictably, been hauled out.

The best thing about the game, by far, was thankfully it did not resemble the borefest of three years ago in Milan.

Yes, great atmosphere, equally good stadium and the weather was perfect, but don't for a minute think that was good for world rugby.

Sure, the Italians have learnt a bit, that's only natural, but they are never going to beat the All Blacks. Not yesterday, not next year, probably not ever.

Same with Scotland. The gulf between Scottish rugby and New Zealand rugby is wider than ever.

So why then does the New Zealand Rugby Union play these sides so regularly?

I know there are International Rugby Board regulations that these matches must take place but the All Blacks meet Italy and Scotland enough times at the Rugby World Cup without having to schedule these waste of time tests on end of year tours.

It's time these tours actually started becoming meaningful.

There is a counter argument that these occasions provide a platform for All Blacks coach Steve Hansen to blood young and untried players, but what does he really learn from seeing the rookies come up against opposition who would barely find a place in most Super Rugby teams, Australia aside?

Not much, I would suggest.

Yes it was nice to see Taranaki's Beauden Barrett given an opportunity, but his time will come.

It's time for these end-of-year tours to comprise three-test series, preferably against France, England or Wales, although the last might be pushing it given their awful form of late.

When was the last time the All Blacks actually played the trio in a proper series away from home?

It should not be that these series are solely reserved for New Zealand shores.

For starters, it is totally unfair on the sides north of the equator to have to come all the way down here, always at the end of their taxing seasons, to try to win a series.

One-off tests, which rugby fans are fed year after year, provide no real insight into how the teams compare.

A series provides strong test nations the opportunity to learn how to beat their opposition, forces coaches into actually coming up with different game plans and puts pressure on teams and players to perform when injuries hit.

Another counter argument would be the vast majority of these series would be dead rubbers by the time it came to the third test but that should not be an influencing factor because England and France are capable of taking a test off the All Blacks, if given the chance.

NZRU boss Steve Tew skilfully negotiated a return of $4 million for his union's coffers for next month's test at Twickenham.

Why not treble that and put some real money in the bank?

The appetite of England and France supporters would certainly be there and it would force the All Blacks into unfamiliar venues, which in itself would bring different challenges.

The All Blacks are victims of their own success at the moment and it is starting to reflect in their play. The fact Hansen made 14 changes from the side that belted Scotland meant it was always going to be a second-rate All Blacks performance against Italy and that was certainly the case for 65 minutes.

The All Blacks kicked away far too much possession, were inaccurate with a lot of their play and were static in their attack for long periods.

Maybe if the weekend's game had been a second test against meaningful opposition it would have been a completely different story.

maestegmafia wrote:It's time for these end-of-year tours to comprise three-test series, preferably against France, England or Wales, although the last might be pushing it given their awful form of late.

Agree with that.

Wow Cyril, having been banned about five times already, how long do you think your current i.d will last?

About as long as your's normally do, evan me old chum.

How's the bike shop?

Scotland wasn't a thrashing - but it is a bit pointless for both teams

There is some validity in the post but not much again the universal season would even out the field a bit.Yes dump the july and Ai`s along with the RWC.Go back to proper full tours by Sa,Nz,Australia once every 5 years or so of 28-36 matches.
Have away tours and Home tours with Pacific Islands,Canada,Japan.USA.
The bean counters will never allow it Scotland will NEVER beat NZ that is
a huge statement.NEVER is a long time .

1) Who is this Glenn McClean?
2) The memorable Autumn tours were those like the 84 Wallabies GS tour. The European countries are so compact - compared to journey times in SH rugby - that it is easy to play in 4 countries.
3) This seems like just another way to screw Samoa/Italy etc.

emack2 wrote:There is some validity in the post but not much again the universal season would even out the field a bit.Yes dump the july and Ai`s along with the RWC.Go back to proper full tours by Sa,Nz,Australia once every 5 years or so of 28-36 matches.
Have away tours and Home tours with Pacific Islands,Canada,Japan.USA.
The bean counters will never allow it Scotland will NEVER beat Scotland that is
a huge statement.NEVER is a long time .

This kind of rubbish article needs to be thrashed for what it is: ignorant pap that has no appreciation of what touring test rugby is about.

emack2 wrote:The bean counters will never allow it Scotland will NEVER beat NZ that is
a huge statement.NEVER is a long time .

Its not really that long when you think of it...

Fact is it's about economics.

You won't fill Twickenham or the MS three times to watch NZ play ENG or WAL in a series. THey maximise revenue by playing each team once and getting a full house.

You could say this with all sports from tennis to strongman a person or team will dominate , still good to watch no matter what the results.

He's a d*ck! Forget him. All sports have different competitors at different levels and you play most of them.

anotherworldofpain wrote:Fact is it's about economics.

Proof please.

anotherworldofpain wrote:You won't fill Twickenham or the MS three times to watch NZ play ENG or WAL in a series.

Again, no proof. Pure speculation written as proof becasue you think that's the way it is.

i reckon they would fill the Millennium three times over for the All Blacks, even thou we know we never really have a chance the Welsh pubic love watching the masters at work.
They always sell out ,within hours sometimes for the All Blacks.

Italy should stick to beating France.

Cyril on 606v2 wrote:About as long as your's normally do, evan me old chum.

How's the bike shop?

This guy has some serious issues and lacks a social life, eh maes?

There is a counter argument that these occasions provide a platform for All Blacks coach Steve Hansen to blood young and untried players, but what does he really learn from seeing the rookies come up against opposition who would barely find a place in most Super Rugby teams, Australia aside?

I see that as nothing but arrogance.

His original point is a good one. Perhaps it's wise for teams not to play NZ until there is a more level playing field. And that won't be for a while. When NZ tour perhaps they should just stick to England, France and Wales/Ireland. If they wanna rotate their squad then perhaps they should take their boys to Samoa, Tonga and Fiji; it would help them.

So how did Ireland get on against them?

And againstFiji?

Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler wrote:So how did Ireland get on against them?

And againstFiji?

Against who?

I think it is pointless to play NZ every year - especially for Scotland. AIs used to be a time to experiment and blood new players. getting thrashed by top teams is pointless. Better to play a couple of emerging nations

Aside from the prospect of a three test series in Europe instead of this licorice allsort tour we have, he doesn't make a single valid point. It's just your typical trumpet blowing gush written for rags like the Herald toilet paper.

Who are the ABs supposed to play then? They've only been beaten by the regular playing nations England, France, Wales, SA and Australia and some on that list haven't been in a while. Does Argentina sit out the RC games against NZ. If NZ wants to spread their brand on a global basis, then they need to play these games. If you want the rest of the rugby world to improve, not having the top tier teams play them is going to achieve that. Absolute twaddle and he should give himself an uppercut. Get your f***ing hand off it Glenn.

Yeah wonderful points Mr McLean. I would suggest the All Blacks take their balls and play with themselves.

Seriously, why would you want to keep rugby in the ghetto? Getting a chance to see the All Blacks can inspire young fans to fall in love with the game, all over the world.

NZ media are the worst. If you don't play well, you get no respect. Fair enough. But if you have the temerity to suggest you can beat them! God save us.

Best team in the world, worst journalists.

That's not far off the mark. Not sure which country has the best journalists though. Papers nowadays create controversy for the sake of attracting readers. This LCD journalism isn't confined to NZ I'm afraid.