All Blacks: Kirwan's formula is older and wiser heads

John Kirwan offers two simple guidelines for New Zealand and next year's Rugby World Cup.

"Don't be afraid of picking older players but whoever it is, let all of them just go out and play."

It is a mantra that Kirwan, now the coach of Japan, insists can be crucial in securing the long-awaited prize of a second Rugby World Cup crown for the All Blacks. One of this country's greatest wings, with 63 caps, Kirwan played at the top for a decade between 1984 and 1994.

He insists that lightening the load of expectation on the players is key.

"I always think there's too much emphasis put on the World Cup for us. I think we've got to remain the best in the world and the only reason I say that is because we need to take the pressure off our players. Forget trying to win it, just play. Because when they run out there, there's too much pressure on them and that's having an adverse effect on us. I think South Africa's better at this stage and I'm really pleased about that.

"New Zealand won too much between World Cups ... in past years ... and I think that losing against South Africa last year has been the making of us.

"I hope we lose again this year because we're going to go to the World Cup and we're going to understand how to win. You can't win everything all the time because otherwise you don't know how to win when it hits the fan, as they say."

Kirwan firmly espouses the philosophy of bringing several former All Blacks into the squad as the World Cup looms. Indeed, he sees the return home of players such as Chris Jack, Aaron Mauger and, in all probability, Carl Hayman, as vital come World Cup time. Nor is there any doubt in his mind why they are coming home.

"I think for those guys, it's unfinished business. This will be my fifth World Cup [as a player and coach] and there's two things everyone makes mistakes doing. They try and prepare for it, but you can't. You need to go there and see what's going to happen.

"I think England did that best in the last World Cup. They got there, had a plan, threw the plan out of the window and just played the best football they could to win and they made the final.

"For me, you need a combination of youthful exuberance and cool heads. I think we lost the last World Cup because Doug Howlett and Chris Jack were sitting in the stand.

"You need those guys out there because a team like France who you've beaten by 60 points come out the next time and they put you under pressure. And that might be Japan, or whoever, next time.

"So you need those heads. And if guys like Carl go home, they've got unfinished business and they'll want to get in the All Black team to finish what they set out to do."

Hayman is an obvious choice once he returns. But what of the others? Would Kirwan rule out Chris Jack because he is too old? I'd never rule someone out as too old because when you come to the real Cup, you need old heads," he said.

"He'll have to perform, but I think - or at least hope - what Graham Henry will do, because they're probably the most intelligent coaching trio in the world, is to have realised the mistakes they made at the last World Cup."

Peter Bills is a rugby writer for Independent News & Media in London.