Six months after the event, New Zealand’s review into what went wrong with their World Cup campaign arrived yesterday with an earth-shattering conclusion into why they came unstuck against France in the quarter-final. Nobody thought to try a drop goal.

Any boy, or girl, in any under-13 team anywhere in the British Isles could have told them that. Instead, the Kiwis spent £40,000 on an investigation and then proceeded to reappoint Graham Henry regardless of its findings.

Damage limitation: Henry is still in the New Zealand job
Sadly, the 47-page document published on Thursday could not resist another pathetic swipe at the English referee Wayne Barnes, as if one forward pass was the sole explanation for the All Blacks making their earliest exit from any World Cup.

‘Factors outside the control of the All Blacks contributed to the loss against France,’ said the review. ‘The performance of the referee and the touch judges had a significant, adverse impact on the All Blacks.’

Far from acknowledging Barnes for what he is, at 28 the best young referee in the game, the review even makes a laughable attempt to blame him for the team’s collective brainstorm in the final minutes.

Page 30 of the report states: ‘The coaches did send a message out to the team with 10 minutes to go to set up for a drop goal. The on-field decision was made to continue with the tactic of attempting to score a try or get a penalty.

‘When making those decisions, the players were unaware of a vital piece of information, that the All Blacks had not been given a penalty in the entire second half and were, therefore, probably unlikely to get one, notwithstanding their pressure, possession and territory.’

Did it not occur to them that Mr Barnes, clearly, found no reason to award one? They would have been better off saying less about that and more on an infinitely more credible reason for their failure, Henry’s rotational selection policy which, the report concedes, ‘did not become sufficiently consistent closer to the World Cup to allow combinations to develop’.

His wife (a keewee) is due to have a child that month. Johnno does not fear NZ.

Yep, Mettie i share those sentiments. Can’t see any of the major nations employing Jake. I would not higher any bloke who lamblasted their previous employer in the manner Jake did to SARU. Rightly or wrongly, as the employee you shut your mouth so as to remain attractive to the market. Sorry Jake, maar jou mond was te groot …

Why is it that nobody wants Jake. He unashamedly presented himself for the English job.

In fact: nobody seems to want him.

Whatever anyone may say: Jake is not regarded very highly as a coach in the rugby world.

If there is one country where he was supposed to fit in with his onedimensional dinosaurus rugby brain, then England was the one. They would rather opt for the inexperienced Jonno or Mike Catt.

Sorry Jake. Maybe you are your own worst enemy.

19 – He did play U-21 for NZ…….

I just don’t get it. How do you go from captain to manager in 4 years without actually coaching? We might as well get Joost to choose the Bok team and employ the coaches – it’s that ridiculous.

Any bets on England being back in the Top 2 come 2011?

Since when is not wanting to witness your Team getting it’s aarse kicked, “personal reasons”

Not a single professional team to speak of. Like Carel Du Plessis may have dabbled with a low level amateaur club team – nothing more. English Premiership coaches must be knocking their heads against the wall (just like over provincial and super rugga coaches did)

I think England is in for a couple more hidings.