Editorial: Superb All Blacks need one last building block

Opinion

The All Blacks are imbued with the notion that they can run in tries from anywhere on the rugby field.

Occasionally, this has a spectacular outcome. Too often, it is counterproductive. One small error and the team find themselves saddled with unnecessary pressure. This Northern Hemisphere tour has shown both sides of the All Blacks' risk-taking.

Against England, inferior opponents were presented with opportunities because of the All Blacks' obsession with trying things from within metres of their own line, whether by heaving the ball across field to run it out or attempting dinky kicks that seem, inevitably, to backfire.

By the game last week against Ireland, the maddest risks had been set aside and the attack from further upfield was freewheeling.

Even cool heads such as Daniel Carter and Mils Muliaina succumb at times to the madheadedness. In the cauldron of next year's World Cup, risk minimisation will be the priority.

It would be nice to imagine the All Blacks will be able to play freely anywhere on the field. That will not be the case, however, particularly in the knockout phases.

Pressure will be the name of the game. Rehearsing speculative tactics on this tour seems misplaced. On their own goal line, in front of their posts, the passes and kicks the team refer to as 50/50s are more often 20/80s or worse.

Is this the last remaining building block for this very good team? They need the maturity to eliminate gifts to their opponents and keep the pressure where it always should be, down the other end of the field.