The All Blacks should not play in the Tri Nations next year.
Why?
Because who cares what South African and Australia are doing. This All Black team are better than both of them and unless something miraculous happens between now and next year we are quite a lot better than them. So lets simply concentrate what we are going to be doing without worrying about the Jaapies and the Wallabies. Also lets shield our boys from anyone being able to sew any seeds of doubt.
So what to do instead? Well simple, we play All Black trials. Three or four of them. Now when I have explained this theory to people today and you say 'play 3 AB trials' I drew some blank faces.
However imagine these two teams going at each other next season, across three weeks to decide who is going to make up the World Cup squad.
Probables - O Franks, Mealamu, Woodcock, Thorn, Donelly, McCaw, Read, Kaino, Cowan, Carter, Nonu, Smith, Jane, Sivivatu, Muliaina
Possibles - B Franks, Hore, Afoa/Tialata. Whitelock, Williams, Braid, Messam, Vito, Weepu, Slade, SBW, Fruean, Gear, Toeava, Dagg.
Missing from those two teams and spread across the bench would be Rene Ranger, Joe Roks, Benson Stanley, Andy Ellis, Alby Mathewson, Stephen Donald, Hika Elliot. Those are all current All Blacks. Add to that guys who have been floating around the squad for a couple of years like Latimer, Leonard, Kahui, Guilford plus any one else who comes onto the scene next year and those would be two outstanding squads that could play some really great football if people were sufficiently desperate for that World Cup spot.
The second element to my theory is that you take these games to the provinces. The NZRU have wanked on a for a season or two now about taking the All Blacks back to the people, 87 players still talk about when BJ Lochore had them at homestays in the Wairarapa. Take these games to Gisborne, Napier, Whangarei, Timaru, Oamaru, Invercagill, Nelson. Imagine it! People would be hanging from the rafters to watch Nonu and Smith take on SBW and Fruean.
Let the players take there families with them around the country, they will quickly realise how much Rugby and the jersey means to the people of New Zealand. Sure it may make them feel the pressure of expectation more but im sure they would rather get out and about than be cocooned away in their own country for the second half of next year.
And also it used to be the highligh of my year when TV1 started playing "Should I stay or should I go now" before the All Black trials when I was a kid. Bring that back!
Its far from the silliest idea Ive heard though it goes without saying it wont happen because of the TV dollars and all those commitments.
ReplyDeleteStill, the AB's cannot go and cocoon themselves next year, not in their own country, and expect unconditional support. Getting out amongst the people, a la '87, is a must.
Hmm.. I would rather that they played 3N games in the provinces then included a trial or two for the non-vet/non-guaranteed members of the WC squad.
ReplyDeleteYou can play 3N games in the provinces because the WC is around the corner with all its big $$. Its all about TV anyway and that doesn't change playing in a smaller centre..
We're going to be lucky enough to see Nonu and Smith take on Fruean and SBW in the Super 15 this year.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I like your idea but would prefer the teams to be North Island V South Island based on what ITM Cup team they represent. A state of origin like Tri-Series.