Fans fall 'out of love' with All Blacks

nzherald.co.nz's Your Views readers want both coach Graham Henry and centre Ma'a Nonu out of the All Blacks. Photo / Getty Images

All Blacks fans are despairing after Saturday's loss to the Springboks, judging by the hundreds of nzherald.co.nz readers'views pouring in.

Reader Sam Olsen is typical of those who say that they have now fallen "out of love" with New Zealand rugby - and blame Graham Henry.

"It is hard to place the blame for all this on one man but to me he is the representation of all that is wrong with this team and NZ rugby. The smug, boys clubs, holier than thou attitude makes me cringe."

Also singled out for a cleanout are the players who are not performing - Rokocoko, Nonu, Cowan, Donald are common targets and even the NZRU's CEO for what a Singapore fan described as "presiding over the whole mess without doing something about it."

A Kingsland reader was among those who can't understand why the All Blacks aren't showing any improvement and repeating the same problems each time.

"The frustrating thing about the All Blacks rugby at this time is that nothing is really being done to address the issues that constantly appear during tests. I wouldn't mind the occasional loss providing the AB's game was improving.

"The key failing the coaching staff is their repeated inability to take some personal responsibility for the downward trend and, beyond this, make some real changes and bed these in for the future."

Numerous writers say the All Blacks have struggled to come to terms with the rules of modern rugby combined with a lack of hunger, shown in the lacklustre first half against the Springboks.

A South African fan gave this advice: "The Springboks understand that it is winning Rugby that counts. Whilst the ABs are running around try to play pretty rugby, the Springboks are playing to win. They have adapted to the new rules."

While most readers acknowledge the Boks were the better team on the night, there is a divergence of opinion about how good the South Africans are.

A New Plymouth reader thought the South Africans were not playing dazzling rugby this year, but rugby that was solid and intelligent led by several players who can make the right tactical decisions.

The type of game now being played is leading to some to get bored with rugby.

This is summed up by a Christchurch reader who writes: "The biggest problem with NZ Rugby these days is, that they are not a team anymore, they are a brand for the NZRU to make money out of.

"After watching thes game, I have come up with the following definition of rugby today: Rugby Union, a mixture of Australian Rules Football, kick and mark, kick and mark, then kick between posts for points, Soccer, kick kick kick, a bit of league, run now and again, and a lot of WWF in the mauls. All in all a very boring game.

"I watched half the game and can see why the crowd were quiet. They were bored to tears. "

- NZ HERALD STAFF