All Blacks: The good, the bad & the ugly

The All Blacks are short on hookers of Keven Mealamu’s quality. Photo / Getty Images

The Super 14 has thrown up plenty for the All Black coaches to worry about and plenty for them to build on.

THE BAD

* Hookers

When Keven Mealamu damaged his arm in August last year, it brought home the alarming fact there are only two test-quality hookers in New Zealand - Andrew Hore and Mealamu. Corey Flynn isn't too far behind but he's had an appalling run with injuries and can't sustain any form as a consequence.

Now that Hore has dislocated his shoulder, the selectors have once again been forced to stare at an empty cupboard. Aled de Malmanche was tried last year but the lack of confidence in him was obvious. He was barely used in those tests where he was on the bench and then the All Blacks chose to tour with two hookers rather than take de Malmanche to Europe.

Hika Elliot hasn't pushed on since his All Black call-up in 2008 and no one else even gets close to fitting the bill of test class. That has to be fixed. Flynn's sprained ankle should recover in time for him to be involved in the June tests but Hore might need surgery and be ruled out for the Tri Nations.

Given the injury history of Flynn, the selectors desperately need to build depth at hooker.

* Decision making and leadership

This area has long been targeted by Graham Henry. He's been aware of the lack of leaders in New Zealand rugby since 2004. As much work as he and others have done in helping players to make better decisions under pressure, there is still much to do.

At the start of the season, many of New Zealand's best loose forwards were slow to adapt to the new law interpretations and made some poor calls around the tackled ball area. When the Blues needed to front up and beat the Cheetahs, they mentally disintegrated; as did the Hurricanes against the Waratahs.

Of most concern in Sydney was the continued decision to scrimmage early in the second half. With the clock ticking and the Hurricanes down 32-9, they kept choosing to scrum when they were awarded a series of penalties close to the Waratahs line. It didn't make any sense when each scrum was having to be re-set at least three times and the Hurricanes had no dominance. Why not tap and go? Was anyone paying attention to how many scrums were collapsing?

* Goal kicking

Occasionally, elite goal-kickers have bad days. Some can have bad seasons. But for every kicker in New Zealand to have a really bad season is unusual in the extreme. It suggests the loss of specialist coach Mick Byrne has been hard felt.

Even Dan Carter has struggled this year with his goal kicking. The statistics show just how bad it has been. The overall success ratio of South African teams has been 74.5 per cent, the Australians have managed 73.5 per cent and New Zealand a disappointing 68.4.

If it's broken down into teams, the Crusaders are seventh on 70.7, the Hurricanes 10th with 69.3, the Blues 11th on 68.4, the Highlanders 12th on 68.1 and the Chiefs 13th on 67.5.

Just to labour the point, the individual stats are: Matt Giteau (Brumbies) 83.6, Daniel Halangahu (Waratahs) 81.3, Peter Grant (Stormers) 80.8, Ruan Pienaar (Sharks) 78.7, Morne Steyn (Bulls) 76.3, James O'Conner (Force) 75.6, Israel Dagg (Highlanders) 75.6, Joe Pietersen (Stormers) 75.0, Piri Weepu (Hurricanes) 73.7, Willie Ripia (Hurricanes) 72.4, Dan Carter (Crusaders) 71.2, Stephen Donald (Chiefs) 71.2, Stephen Brett (Blues) 68.4, Aaron Cruden (Hurricanes) 57.1.

* Lineouts

First the bad news: New Zealand's lineouts across the franchises have been poor. Well, the delivery has been poor in comparison with the other two countries. While New Zealand teams threw the ball in crooked 41 times, Australia did so 30 times and South Africa only 13.

That stat says it all. This is a critical and basic skill. The South Africans are getting it right and New Zealanders aren't.

Everyone marvels at the efficiency of the Springbok lineout, but really, what they do is perform the basics well. They throw well, they jump well, they lift well, they catch well. Get those parts right through repetition and it's easy enough. Are New Zealand teams spending the same amount of time as the basic lineout skills as the South Africans? Are they as committed to a quality outcome?

Still, no one should worry at an All Black level ... Steve Hansen is back in charge of the lineouts.

* First five

What is there to worry about at first five? There is no one better than Carter and even though some misguided folk worried about his lack of form, he'll deliver. The problem is - what happens if Carter breaks his leg? That question remains unanswered as it has for a long time now. In fact, it's even less clear now than it was when it wasn't particularly clear this time last year when Carter's leg (Achilles) was broken.

At least then Stephen Donald had some form on the board. He doesn't now and is supposedly viewed more as a second five anyway. Mike Delany is injured and Luke McAlister, who had a go last year, has started just three games and surely did enough, or rather so little, in his one outing against Italy to guarantee he won't ever play at first five again.

Stephen Brett is arguably the most deserving of a call-up on form but is he really an All Black or just the best of a very ordinary bunch? Aaron Cruden is the player with the greatest potential and, at 21, he may be worth investing now. But he's light, his kicking game lacks length and, as mentioned, he's been goal kicking at 57.1 per cent.

All roads lead back to Donald as the safest option - either that or Henry could write a really nice letter to all opposing loose forwards asking if they could tread carefully around Carter.

THE GOOD

* Counter-attacking

Not only is counter-attacking a revived option, it is apparent the skill has not suffered from being made redundant last year.

The opportunity to catch and run is now legitimate as a result of the offside line being better policed and the knowledge that being caught in possession is no longer lethal. That suits New Zealand teams who have copious numbers of wings and fullbacks who can canter into space and take the ball forward.

It also means the tempo of tests can increase and fatigue can be brought into the final 20 minutes of the contest - something that benefits the seemingly better conditioned New Zealanders.

Some of the work from deep has been exceptional. Joe Rokocoko combined beautifully with Isaia Toeava at the Blues on several occasions. Cory Jane and Hosea Gear were sharp for the Hurricanes and Israel Dagg has run strongly.

All Black teams under Henry have scored plenty of tries from counter-attack possession and it has been a means for confidence and belief to drip through the whole team. When they weren't able to catch and run last year, the All Blacks really lost their way.

* Rest time

Only one New Zealand team Making the play offs is no bad thing as far as the All Black coaches are concerned. On one level the panel would have liked to see more players involved in a knockout contest so as they could sample an intensity close to test-match standard.

But a bigger part is content that instead of being bashed to bits, the bulk of the likely squad are enjoying some rest and recovery time. In recent years the All Blacks have had no gap between the Super 14 and tests, which has meant limited preparation time and players arriving in camp the day after the final.

This year most of the squad will be refreshed, rested and full of energy. Most will be determined to make amends for disappointing campaigns and there will be the luxury of time to settle on game plans.

* Franks brothers

There is little doubt the Australians have improved, almost en masse, their scrummaging. They will be a much tougher side to shunt around. But the All Blacks still might manage it as in Ben and Owen Franks, they have found the Brothers Grim.

These two have developed into a mean pair of props. They have the potential to give the All Black scrum that missing aggressive edge.

Owen, especially, is a dynamic, hungry force that hammers into the set-piece and flies around in the loose. Ben is not far behind and on form, has been more compelling than Tony Woodcock.

The importance of which should not be dismissed. Without a dominant scrum - as was the case last year - the All Blacks looked to launch most, nearly all, of their attacks from the lineout. Problem being, of course, they struggled to win the ball.

* Ball carriers

The scrap for the tackled ball has almost disappeared which has forced everyone to ask how this affects the roles of the loose forwards. Well, in short, it means there is more opportunity to carry the ball. Actually, it means it is now vital there are ball carriers to cross the gain line and build momentum. It also means with so much recycling that players can often carry twice in the same phase.

The explosive, aerobic athlete is now in position to have a massive impact, which is perfect for the All Blacks. Towards the middle of Super 14, we saw both Adam Thomson and Victor Vito play as midfield backs - using their pace, physique and ball skills to damage opponents further out from the break down. The game is now set up so as versatile ball-playing flankers can operate in space. Even Richie McCaw looked to have upped his punch with ball in hand and Kieran Read was also showing signs of being more comfortable.

* Form guide

There was some consternation midway through Super 14 that a number of senior All Blacks were in the midst of highly forgettable campaigns. That worry eased in the following weeks, when the influence of some key players became more pronounced. Carter came to life against the Bulls in Pretoria to show how quickly he can go from flat to spectacular. McCaw became more influential each week, also playing his best against the Bulls.

Ma'a Nonu, before his injury, was in sparkling form and Kieran Read, having been out of sorts in the early weeks, was rampaging everywhere against the Brumbies.

It's not possible for players to start work in February in peak form and sustain it through to the end of November. All that can be hoped for is that players build each week and reach this stage of this season playing better rugby than they were in February. The good news for the All Blacks is that the bulk of the key players appear to be peaking at just the right time.