Past pain key to success
23 Oct 2011
The All Blacks pointed to lessons from previous World Cup failures as central to their desperate resistance in the closing stages of the final.
After the All Blacks dominated the first half, France launched an immense counter-strike in the second, bossing possession and territory as they went in search of an upset victory.
New Zealand have folded when faced with that sort of onslaught at World Cups in the past, and there were times when they looked likely to succumb once more. However, their defence proved to be nothing sort of heroic, repelling wave after wave of attacks and scrambling brilliantly on the rare occasions they slipped tackles.
There was consensus as to the root of their success: lessons had been learned and the response was fitting.
‘The way we defended in that second half said a lot about the men in this team, many of whom had prepared a long time for their shot at redemption. We weren’t going to let it go,’ captain Richie McCaw said. ‘When they scored their try, that was the real test for us. We didn’t panic. Past experience helped our reaction. We stayed disciplined, composed and focussed on the moment [as opposed to the result].’
Coach Graham Henry said: ‘The players have become self-reliant in the years between this World Cup and the last and taken ownership of this team. Those things primarily helped us tonight. I don’t think that this side would have hung in there like they did two or three years ago. That is testament to our growth.’
Henry agreed that the decision to retain him and his assistants, Wayne Smith and Steve Hansen, despite their quarter-final defeat to France in Cardiff in 2007, bore fruit.
‘There is often a call for wholesale clean-outs when teams don’t get the results they are expected to, but there are lessons to be learned in defeat that can be invaluable, as they were tonight,’ he said. ‘The players from the 2007 group recognised that and asked for us [the coaching team] to stay on. The NZRU made a tough call then, but, it seems, the right one [in light of the result tonight].’
There were a number of outstanding players who contributed consistently along the way. But Henry described Stephen Donald’s late call-up as a ‘fairytale’ and lauded his contribution in the circumstances. Donald, on in the 35th minute for Aaron Cruden, kicked what proved to be the decisive penalty. Henry said his fourth-choice flyhalf had benefited from an attitude within the squad that promoted the success of every players.
‘Over the last couple of seasons Stephen took some stick from you boys [the media] and some of it was justified. When you come in as late as he did you need an environment to be right. That was the case and that’s why he slotted in without much fuss. The same goes for a guy like Aaron. That’s been one of the most pleasing things about this team.’
Henry also said the belief that pragmatism being the only way to success in the tournament was flawed.
‘We enjoy playing a certain way and we stuck with that belief throughout the tournament, although in the final it was a little different. It’s important that we showed we can play our style and win.’
By Ryan Vrede, at Eden Park
17 Comments
23 Oct 2011, 15:19 pm
Hold on … we had **** tactics but still won … we had a zillion page report taht said not to place to much emphasis on the WC but we threw the Tri-Nations (well done Aus) …what exactly did we learn?
23 Oct 2011, 15:21 pm
Didn’t mean to sound anti-AB … just this article sounds like bollocks
23 Oct 2011, 15:21 pm
maybe it is because Henry is full of shitte
23 Oct 2011, 17:09 pm
congrats to All Blacks and all kiwi bloggers…..
France threw the kitchen sink but you boys handled the pressure and buried the chokers tag……good on you all….
Plod and PDV…..4 more years because you fools were spineless……
Thanks for f all….
23 Oct 2011, 18:14 pm
“Henry agreed that the decision to retain him and his assistants, Wayne Smith and Steve Hansen, despite their quarter-final defeat to France in Cardiff in 2007, bore fruit. ”
Shame the way GH will be remembered was dependant on one sole game. The one who won the World Cup or the one who blew it twice.
And that’s about man who was in charge of meagre 85 or something winning percentage for his team during 8 years.
23 Oct 2011, 18:15 pm
Anyway, well done Henry, enjoy your pension and family life for once. Even his 95 year old mother will be happy it’s all over.
23 Oct 2011, 20:45 pm
So much for the bollox of “they can’t win without Carter”. They won with their fourth-best flyhalf. And, yes,it was he who clinched it. And was rock-steady under searing pressure.
24 Oct 2011, 03:21 am
@chch(chch)-3:
The guy has just won a WC and has an 87% winning record and he’s full of shite, take a good look at yourself buddy you’re a c lown, your bum chum Deans has a 49% winning record with the Wallabies would you prefer that?
24 Oct 2011, 08:13 am
@NZINCHINA(NZINCHINA)-8: Deans – lets be honest yes he has a 87% win rate but Deans would have installed the Sader style , which we all want the Abs to play and the evolution of footy ……….. Still dont rate Henry
24 Oct 2011, 08:14 am
No i dont have a provincial slant
24 Oct 2011, 08:34 am
Chch’s bleating about Graham Henry is tiresome. The ab’s have played some amazing rugby since crashing out at the 07 WC, and really only had one bad patch, against a v good bok side in 09.
We haven’t played scintillating rugby at this WC, but this was partly pragmatism and partly a reflection of the lesser player resources available to us this year (no lomu, kronfeld, Cullen, kirwan etc bursting onto the scene).
Also, the core of our forward pack was quite old and/or carrying or returning from injuries, so we weren’t really equipped to play a high octane 80 minute attaking strategy.
In short, it was a blardy great effort by Henry and co to nurse us through to the winners podium. I am not sure any other coach could have done it.
24 Oct 2011, 08:42 am
i see kiwi provincialism rearing its ugly head here
24 Oct 2011, 08:50 am
Kiwicide
24 Oct 2011, 08:59 am
@Gunther(gunther)-13: It’s like Lord of the Flies on that island.
(which also happens to be Pantie’s pseudonym when he goes out flashing on a Friday night)
24 Oct 2011, 09:05 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-12: Maybe a little lol
24 Oct 2011, 09:20 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-12:
Sbali……
Well done to ama AB’s…kodwa nayi into engifuna ukuyibuza…
Where the the spellbinding “revolutionary” attack rugby which we were told we were going to see from the “true word champs”??? From what I saw from QF onwards was conservative-largely penalty driven scoreboard and dare I say it…Kick/chase…Skop & Jag…Especially in the final. Lowest scoring final in history as well…
*chuckle*
24 Oct 2011, 09:51 am
@>^..^< katman(katman)-14:
welly bobble.
easy now.
corporal onnerpant ishanding out sore loser awards.
we don’t want to get one of those>
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