Jack Tame: The All Blacks' big opportunity

A confession: I didn’t want the All Blacks to lose, but I’m sure I’m not the only rugby fan who felt a little flicker of satisfaction or joy as they unraveled last weekend. They were woeful. The Irish were superb. And for anyone who has ever prickled at the smugness with which the All Blacks and New Zealand Rugby sometimes present, the result felt like just desserts. It’s true, I’m a lousy fan. At halftime I was slagging them off, but a few minutes later I screamed and screamed when Will Jordan sprinted off for that runaway try. ‘Go boy! Go! Go!’ I might be an All Blacks cynic but deep down, I still wanted them to win. Crises call for cool heads. If the coaching staff had all been sacked this week, if half the team had been dropped and Sam Cane stood down as captain, there’s a reasonable chance we’d be furiously accusing New Zealand Rugby of overreacting. But as All Blacks fans we demand an assertive response. A panicked reaction would have done little to help the team’s fortunes, but whether it’s the coaches, leadership team, or a wholescale tactical shift, something big still has to change. So far we haven’t seen it. Ian Foster was contrite at yesterday’s media conference, but coy about his future plans. That approach can’t last for long. You cannot repeat the same action and expect different results. The best explanation for the mystery at this stage is that New Zealand Rugby is working through changes to the wider coaching team. Employment negotiations take time. If the All Blacks do bring in new coaching talent, perhaps it will go some way to sorting their lineout and organising more creative attacks. Regardless, Ian Foster only has a handful of games to prove himself. One final point. There is still opportunity in all of this. Yes, it’s nice to support a team as dominant as the All Blacks. I’m a Crusaders fan and I don’t get sick of winning! But often the greatest sporting narratives are those in which an athlete or a team overcomes adversity. Victory against all odds. Hi