All Blacks let standards slip

By JIM KAYES in Lyon - Fairfax Media | Monday, 17 September 2007

In the week-long buildup to the 108-13 thrashing of Portugal, the All Blacks talked incessantly about getting the basics right.
Buck not convinced.

Do the simple things properly, they said, and the score will look after itself.

The All Blacks notched up their second biggest win and scored 16 tries at Stade de Gerland on Saturday, but they didn't always do the basics very well.

Certainly not as well as they will have to against Scotland on Monday, even though the Scots are only average at best, and in the World Cup playoffs.

This was always going to be an awkward game for the All Blacks. As a test it lacked the tension and uncertainty of South Africa's 36-0 drubbing of England, and even Australia's 32-20 win against Wales .

With 11 changes to the team that beat Italy, and Portugal never going to put any sort of consistent pressure on the All Blacks, it was destined to be a messy game.

But the All Blacks set high standards for themselves and as daft as it might seem to suggest given the lopsided score line, they were too sloppy against a passionate Portugal.

Coach Graham Henry wants the All Blacks to improve each week but they were below the standard set against Italy last week when they produced an almost faultless first quarter to lead 38-0.

The All Blacks started with a mistake on Saturday - when Chris Masoe dropped the kick-off - and the often unforced errors continued throughout the match.

When the All Blacks did do the simple things properly, the gap between the No 1 team in the world and the No 22 team was cruelly exposed.

Some of their tries came after just one ruck while others were straight from the kick-off as the All Blacks pace, power and quick thinking left the Portuguese grasping at thin air and the crowd of 40,729 on its feet.

It was Portugal, however, who got the loudest cheer when the video referee determined reserve prop Rui Cordeiro had scored a try.

If the All Blacks slipped a tad on Saturday night they will be a different beast in Edinburgh as they have shown in the past - and even in the last two weeks - that the better the opposition is the better they play.

Victory against Scotland will see the All Blacks top pool C and play whoever finishes second in pool D - Argentina, France or Ireland. None of that trio is a grave threat.

Of more concerns to the All Blacks are their injuries.

Fullback Mils Muliaina limped off in the seventh minute on Saturday with a minor hamstring tear. He was optimistic he would be fit to play Scotland but the coaches may err on the side of caution.

Reuben Thorne's hamstring may let him play, probably at lock, but lock Keith Robinson's calf remains a problem.

It would not surprise if he went home.

Henry has now given everyone bar Thorne and Robinson a game and suggested n Saturday the selectors would have a few headaches when they pick their top side.

Henry's biggest headache is how he gives Chris Jack and Ali Williams a rest if Robinson continues to be the team's resident food bill. Picking the top side is reasonably straight forward.

No 8 Sione Lauaki, for instance, was untidy at the back of the scrum and surprisingly lacklustre with the ball, especially compared to Rodney So'oialo's non-stop performance against Italy.

Hooker Andrew Hore and Masoe were busy and largely productive, but neither is in the class of Keven Mealamu or Richie McCaw.

And Brendon Leonard showed he is, for now at least, best used off the bench with Byron Kelleher starting at halfback.

Nick Evans played well, showed off his massive punt and finished with 33 points but is not as redundant as this is to say Daniel Carter.

The contested areas are the midfield and wing. Aaron Mauger is in a tight contest with Luke McAlister at second five-eighth, but Conrad Smith's return should cement his centre's spot unless Isaia Toeava can conjure an authoritive performance from somewhere.

Joe Rokocoko showed such pace and poise when he raced in for tries in the third and 11th minutes that he has to be a first choice wing.

The other, for now, is probably Doug Howlett.