Consistency not only brings results but also reality

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11146932

Next week Dan Carter gets a return to the AB jersey for mainly the wrong reasons. He needs to prove he still 'has game'. No longer do kiwis break into a crumbling mess when the DCs and McCaws of this side fall prey to injury. We're used to it. We have players to fill the gaps, maintain the standards.

With now two years to go till the next RWcup the reality is its possible two of the best players to ever play the game, let alone for the ABs just may not get there, at least as first selections.

If we are honest both are past their best, both will never be 'better' than they once were, both are trying to re-invent themselves, McCaw by changing the range and scope of his game, DC by simply refocussing on the basics if this article is anything to go by. Both are resigned to requiring non playing sabbaticals to prolong their careers, to merely 'last' in this oh so cut throat and unforgiving demand on high quality performances and standards.

Yet through it all, both remain realistic, humble, fully aware of the circumstances they find themselves in. DC wants to ...prolongue the dream he is living by his own comments.



They are both in fact victims if their own creation. Both set impossibly high standards that when at their best, no one can emulate. These same standards have meant the players coming through fortunate to have simply been born earlier than the two, are now setting themselves up in the home of emulating the same standards.

In no way is this meant to be an epitaph, obituary, or even a last word on the careers of both players but should they not go on to realise the next part of their dream, they can be rest assured that not only have they established fine careers for themselves but their influence on future generations is assured.

For DC I sure hope he gets back intro form, McCaw already a few steps ahead if him

Its becoming quite noticeable the amount of time that Dan Carter has been injured over the last year, I think this might be the beginning of the end.

Shows how this team is progressing when it can back up so well in most positions- even to the point where the position is weak or even absent altogether, its covered by others in other positions- e.g the yellows vs SA- everyone esle picked up the slack and just got on with it.

Still think theyre plateauing and need a loss. At least one loss is a must before the start of the world cup...it should come with either England or the RC's next year, but it still needs to come. Dont like seeing the ABs face critical matches with a string of wins as long as your arm- the two to the Boks and Oz in the 2011 3N was perfect for their mindset as was Englands last year for their prep for this year.

I have a theory about this.

the ABs at times play brilliantly and string a reasonable number of wins together by playing fast dominant rugby, then the focus changes and they start playing games with the main objective being to preserve that "unbeaten record", it affects the whole energy, mongrel and attitude of not only the preparation, but in how they play the game.

Yeah agree something changes and the AIs suggest they're susceptible to that again if we go on rankings alone. I think the other thing is we don't know what the sides weaknesses are, as understandably you only find that out when you lose...though I don't know what we learned from last year to be honest.

Schmidt an Lancaster will ask the biggest questions and France ...are France. Japan will be fun though we're going light on them I see.

Taylorman wrote:Yeah agree something changes and the AIs suggest they're susceptible to that again if we go on rankings alone. I think the other thing is we don't know what the sides weaknesses are, as understandably you only find that out when you lose...though I don't know what we learned from last year to be honest.

Schmidt an Lancaster will ask the biggest questions and France ...are France. Japan will be fun though we're going light on them I see.

I don't rate Lancaster and his coaches much. I absolutely do not think he is smart enough or savvy enough to find and exploit whatever weaknesses you may have. Our problem, like many others, is that we'll occasionally think we've been very smart and found a weakness - normally the same 'brainwave' of attack their scrum and target the 10 - not exactly rocket science. When the ABs deal with it, we just keeping banging away at the same thing. A one lock, one key approach if you will. It's embarrassing to watch.

Also, as much as I'd rather England won, it would be nice to see Carter lift the WC with the feeling he'd been part of it. That and a McCaw second would really be reward for their dominance and excellence over the years.

aucklandlaurie wrote:
Its becoming quite noticeable the amount of time that Dan Carter has been injured over the last year, I think this might be the beginning of the end.

In fairness to Carter the (completely legitimate) hit by Du Plessis would have injured a building.

Probably wasn't due to old age or lack of 'conditioning' on Carter's part.