Rugby: Not all black for All Blacks

Robbie Robinson storms in. Photo / Getty Images

It has only been a week since part II of the All Blacks' savagely reviewed South African mini-series, so we appreciate you may not be ready for this. But bookending the macabre scenes from Durban was a little rugby to shine light on the soul.

Here's five reasons to keep your chin up.

1. Robbie Robinson

For all those that wondered if Robbie Robinson's best work was behind him once The Last Waltz signalled the end of The Band, the answer is no.

Robinson, now a blond-headed utility back, lit up the recent under-20 world championships with his speed and flair and was the best player on the park in Southland's victory against Waikato in the opening round of the Air NZ Cup.

There's a touch of the young, unaffected Jeff Wilson in the way he goes about his business.

The utility tag is probably unfair too, as it implies jack-of-all-trades, master-of-none and Robinson looks as if he has the class to wear any number of jerseys between 10 and 15.

2. It's not 2011

1998 excepted, things usually go this badly tits-up for the All Blacks only in World Cup year, so those desperately clinging to hope might view this as a brave new tactic.

Lull the rest of the rugby world into a false sense of security and then hit them with your secret weapon in 2011.

If that's the case, this panel is doing a terrific job of convincing the rest of the world the All Blacks 'brand' is in irreversible decline.

The South African sojourn stands as a masterwork of selling yourselves short. You just have to hope the secret weapon isn't Isaia Toeava.

3. Dan Carter's back

Those with memories that stretch back further than Friday night drinks at the Fox and Firkin would have shuddered at the sight of Carter, wearing l'orange of Perpignan, sprawled on the Stade Francais turf, his Achilles tendon torn.

John Kirwan and Justin Marshall suffered similar gruesome afflictions and both, while returning with some success to top-line rugby, had forever lost a bit of acceleration.

Whether the Canterbury fly-half's burst of pace off the mark has been compromised, we will have to wait and see but we can tell you this for free: Dan Carter at 80 per cent of his previous capabilities will do the All Blacks quite nicely at the moment, thank you.

4. Jayden Hayward

The hot-stepping Taranaki inside back looks a damn sight more penetrative than the game's supposed No-1 linebreaker, Ma'a Nonu, right now, though we hasten to add it is a lot easier to stand up Robbie Malneek than it is Jean de Villiers and Jaques Fourie.

He's been good for more than a year now, though we ask you to excuse his and his mates' bumbling performance against Northland at neutral Albany on Thursday.

Hayward's form, along with Lelia Masaga and any number of twinkle-toed Air NZ Cup backs, gives reason to hope that this will be a winter of discontent at international level only.

5. Carl Hayman wants back in

Neemia Tialata remains a work in progress. Unfortunately it is slow, torturous progress given that he has now played 36 tests with little to suggest he is ever going to command the sort of presence necessary to become a truly effective international tighthead prop.

Re-enter Hayman, the grizzled veteran who has been grinding away in the north-east of England while the pillars have been crumbling back here.

His return will have a trilogy of benefits: he is an upgrade on any other tighthead in the country; he makes those around him - think the strangely ineffective Andrew Hore and Tony Woodcock - better; and the lineout should improve significantly with his lifting.