After an historic 2005, the All Blacks were even more formidable this past season in an increasingly destined march to next year’s Rugby World Cup crown.
New Zealand enjoyed 12 wins in 13 Tests, mirroring 2005 with only one loss, but without a Grand Slam tour of the United Kingdom or a series victory over the British and Irish Lions to parade.
The All Blacks handled Ireland at home and Argentina in Buenos Aires with two squads, won an expanded Tri-Nations with two games to spare, and swept another end-of-season European tour, dropping record 40-point wins on France, England and Wales.
By year’s end, coach Graham Henry had used 46 players, 23 of whom scored tries, underscoring the belief of many who think the All Blacks not only have the best team in the world, but the second-best, too. They finished a third straight year ranked number one, with a record gap on second-ranked France.
France coach Bernard Laporte warned in November that the World Cup it will host will be a bore if nobody stops the All Blacks. His team couldn’t, succumbing 47-3 in Lyon and 23-11 in Paris.
”As far as we are concerned we ticked the boxes we wanted to tick,” Henry said.
Next year will mark 20 years since New Zealand won the inaugural World Cup, and its desperation to end disappointing outcomes in the succeeding 1991, 1995, 1999 and 2003 campaigns has allowed Henry unprecedented latitudes.
His policy of rotating the squad was criticised for devaluing the All Black jersey and insulting opponents. But New Zealanders have grown to accept Henry’s way, which has netted 32 wins in 36 Tests since 2004, an unbeaten home record, and kept his squad fresh, deep and hungry to play.
Henry also arranged for 22 All Blacks to miss the first two months of next year’s Super 14, setting aside provincial aspirations to the anger of the tournament sponsor, so they’ll be in prime condition for the World Cup.
Some are counting on New Zealand having already peaked.
”I think it is difficult to see them getting any better and, hopefully, they have mistimed it again and peaked too soon,” Wales flanker Martyn Williams said.
Wales’ defence of its Six Nations title crumbled under a welter of injuries, and coach Mike Ruddock shockingly quit after two matches. France rebounded from a stunning opening loss to Scotland to win a mediocre tournament on points difference from Ireland, still seeking its first title since 1985. However, the Irish were installed as favourites for the 2007 Six Nations after record wins over South Africa and Australia in November.
England promoted Brian Ashton from assistant to coach, replacing Andy Robinson, who oversaw a record-equalling seven consecutive losses from February to November. Ashton has less than 10 months to galvanise England into offering a respectable World Cup defence.
John Connolly had a mixed first year in charge of Australia, which struggled again to win away from home. The scrum was better but he has yet to sort out his best backline, which lost Mat Rogers, back to rugby league, and Wendell Sailor, who was banned for taking cocaine.
South Africa ended a five-match losing streak in mid-year, its worst run in the post-apartheid era, by beating New Zealand 21-20 in Rustenburg on a last-gasp penalty, ending the All Blacks’ 15-match winning streak. When the Springboks ended a nine-year drought at Twickenham by topping England 25-14, it helped coach Jake White survive a no-confidence vote by his employers.
Not so fortunate was former union president Brian van Rooyen, who lost an election to Oregan Hoskins, then was found guilty of mismanagement and lying and banned from any official positions.
Argentina, despite a near-bankrupt union, enjoyed notable firsts, a series win over Wales and defeating England at Twickenham, which bolstered its annual pleas to be included in either the Six Nations or Tri-Nations.
Fiji, in a season-long battle with England, won the Sevens World Series, ending New Zealand’s six-year rule.
Munster edged Biarritz 23-19 for its first European club crown after finals disappointments in 2000 and 20002, and, despite the Super 12 expanding to the Super 14, the Canterbury Crusaders retained their title by beating the Wellington Hurricanes 19-12, though not many saw it because of thick fog.
New Zealand found more success overseas. The Black Ferns won their third successive Women’s World Cup, having too much class for England, by 25-17 in Canada, the Junior All Blacks won the inaugural Pacific Five Nations and New Zealand Maori won the Churchill Cup.
All Blacks captain Richie McCaw was named world player of the year, and no other player prompted more stories for his peerless skills as a flanker.
Claims of illegalities at breakdowns followed him all year; through the Super 14, when he was throttled and punched by Hurricanes prop Neemia Tialata (an All Blacks teammate); in the Tri-Nations, when he was spear-tackled and punched by Australia, drawing claims of ”assault” from the New Zealand Prime Minister; to Europe, where he and the All Blacks were called ”cheaters” at worst and ”street-wise” at best.
McCaw might have thought he had it easier than two of his captain predecessors. Following the Super 14 final, Tana Umaga smacked teammate Chris Masoe with a woman’s handbag in a pub scuffle, causing Masoe to cry and the rugby world to laugh. And Anton Oliver posed nude for a painting, back-on, irritating All Black legend Colin Meads.
”We’re meant to be salt-of-the-earth, grass-roots, bloody good guys,” Meads said. ”You don’t pose nude or get a painting of yourself in the nude … he must think he’s pretty good.” — Sapa-AP