I do apologise to all those who have been waiting, with fish-baited breath, for the blog-post on the 2nd All Blacks vs Wobblies Test Match, played in Sonny Christchurch, this previous Saturday night.  Sonny?  Well, SBW had been the talk of the town leading up to the weekend in question, as he turned out for mighty Belfast at Sheldon Park, which sent the locals up a tree, without a paddle!

While the Sonny would set after about 50 minutes for Belfast, the Blackness played out the full 80, as the Men in All Black made a statement of intent, exclaiming, Not in our House, Men of the Wobbly, with a defensive display to delight the totality of the All Black nation, no matter where you presently reside on this planetary sphere.

While the man-flu has nearly taken the hood from the man-in-me, sending me to a place of Panadol-induced delirium, in our closing moments together, let me detail why All in Black should delight in the defensive display that Saturday night, signalling that this team is not a one-trick attacking pony!

Attack wins Matches, Defense win Championships

If this one-liner sounds familiar, it is, and it is often trotted out by those wanting to make a point.  While this should not be used to validate a lack in the attack, as there has been none in this All Black machine, the reason it is often quoted is because it has historical truth, which should be significant.

If I am an honest blogger, and this is the best blogging policy, what has transpired this Tri-Nations season has been very easy on the eye, but too easy in the “win” column.

Such a blatant display of attacking rugby beauty has been presented on the catwalks of International Stadia, all for a rugby world to watch, emulate, and seek to defuse.  Forewarned is Forearmed, and while this is presenting much joy to us supporters, and we should make the most of this time, it is also true that this provides the material for the opposition to blow-up this All Black attacking bus!

Even as I tweet [@iamjonnyking… come, join my par-tae]… and blog, national coaches will be tick-tock-thinking about a tactic and a game-plan, which can stress this attacking All Black Behemoth, pushing this into breaking mode, as a vital means and way to win the rugby war.  If this is an All Black team that is only winning with its attack, while such is a sight-to-behold, we are suggesting to the opposition that should they break this bus, they can beat the Behemoth!

Not so Fast Pussy Cat!

What we witnessed on Saturday night should be viewed as a rugby revelation, as this was a very different rugby evidence, demanding a very different verdict.

A week earlier we had the rugby version of the cirque de-soleil, as the Men in Black went freaky!  While on this subsequent Saturday night, while the start was frantic on attack, it was the amount of All Black D-fense that made its impact over the 80 minutes, not only on a Wobbly attack that looked more and more bereft of ideas, not only on a rugby world watching on, but also on a viewing public that dissects an All Black performance toward infinitum.

This team has proved that they can win with ball in hand, and win when the opposition are being dominated… when their smack is truly on. However, the real test of the concept of “team” does not tend to arrive when things are going your way, and the rugby is easy.  The true mettle of the intestinal fortitude of a team is validated when the blow-torch has been turned on, when there is heat in the kitchen, and your rugby backs are against the wall. Just as in life, when things are going well, it is easy to survive-to-thrive!

All This Underscores Why There Should Be Some Delight in All Black Disciples!

This should also explain why on the days following this 2nd Tri-Nations/ Bledisloe Test Match, there was glowing media praise from all in sundry about this performance.  While some may say the scoreboard doesn’t lie, it must also be said that it does not tell the whole truth, as it may only be with a long-term perspective, when we look back on this period of All Black rugby leading up to the Rugby World Cup that we may remember this performance in Christchurch as the first evidence of the final piece in our rugby puzzle.

They say that this All Black unit is unified like few other squads, which is no surprise when we look at this evidence of defense.

Defense is all about attitude, which means this team is not only healthy physically, but in the most important areas that count.  If it is true that at the top end, sport is so much more about the mental aspects, then this group of individuals have gelled together as one team, and if the Rugby World Cup, New Zealand style, is going to be a success, then it is paramount that this is so… which is to say, we should all be stoked about this All Black Saturday night.

For me, it says more about our rugby health than the previous week in Melbourne, and provides a real litmus test of where this All Black team presently resides in this world of Union!

Well, at the very least, until this coming week versus the Bokke in Johannesburg!

We would love to hear your thoughts on this Test Match… and of course, any other matters, fellow Member.

Step up to the Mike

Until Next Time

iamjonnyking