Inga Tuigamala: All Blacks' chance to get over Bloemfontein

Opinion

Forget the altitude thing.

Playing at sea level this weekend gives the All Blacks no advantage over the Springboks at all.

The reality is that players in the modern age are so fit and professionally drilled that the decades-old belief that playing at altitude gave the Boks an advantage - and thus the visitors an edge on the return to sea level - is a myth.

Nonetheless, the All Blacks will be delighted to put Bloemfontein behind them. Last week's result would have been a massive disappointment, especially as the team played very well for much of the game.

Obviously there are areas to work on - the Springbok's lineout and their mauling were very impressive - but I saw enough to be optimistic about Sunday morning's match. If we can front up in the lineouts and the forward exchanges, so much the better - but the winning of this game can still come from our talented ball players. On the break and with men in support, these All Blacks are still the best in the game.

There was a lot of heat on Joe Rokocoko going into that first Springbok test. In the event, he was shown up quite badly as the Boks got their first try. But I thought Joe did enough under the high ball and his defensive work improved as the game went on. There were few opportunities for the All Black wingers, but Rokocoko and Stivini Sivivatu handled possession and claimed a few yards where possible.

Back on home shores, the latest incarnation of our national competition is wheeled out this weekend.

Many of my greatest rugby memories came in the blue and white jersey of Auckland. I was lucky enough to play alongside some of the game's greatest players and every time we took to the field we felt we were going into action to defend the honour of our province. The colours truly mattered and the games were of the highest standard.

So how did it come to this? How did the NZRU allow our domestic competition in our national game to become so muddled?

You should know where you stand with rugby. You should know that if you win, you stay up; if you lose you go down. Rugby is about what happens on the field - it's as simple as that.

Instead the NZRU is allowing finances, stadium sizes and other non-rugby factors to determine who stays up and who goes down.

Four teams will be relegated from the top flight at the end of this season. Four out of 14 seems a heck of a lot - and they might not even be the bottom teams. For too much of this season, the looming axe will be in everyone's mind.

New Zealand's hard-nosed attitude to rugby was forged by our desire to win; to play the great game the greatest way. What does the NZRU's new policy do to the incentives for players in the Air New Zealand Cup? A heap of them will stay up, no matter how shoddily they play; while a bunch of other guys will go down, regardless of how well they perform. But, despite the shambles the NZRU seem to be determined to make of things, this competition remains the best place to hone your talents - as a player or a coach.

Not many ex-players seem to be drawn into coaching these days. Some guys, like Pat Lam, are naturals and slot straight into coaching. In my case I was actually really glad to get away from the game for a bit and make my way in a new profession.

This season Craig Dowd and Jeff Wilson are trying their hand as coaches with the North Harbour side. It will be fascinating to watch and I send them my best wishes. The game will benefit from their wise heads and passion for the sport.

Inga Tuigamala played 19 tests for the All Blacks