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PARIS - New Zealand need to change their whole approach to rugby in order to win the World Cup in the future, according to former captain Tana Umaga.
Umaga believes the All Blacks must abandon their natural instincts to run the ball and adopt a more conservative game built around the forwards.
"The style of play the All Blacks are used to playing is very effective but there is room for errors," Umaga said.
"On this side of the world (Europe) they play a different style which is mostly error-free and very simple but it gets you where you need to be."
New Zealand won the inaugural World Cup in 1987 but have not won the title since despite starting most of the subsequent tournaments as favourites.
They went into this World Cup ranked the world's number one team and cruised through their pool games before crashing out in the quarterfinals to hosts France.
Umaga retired two years ago after leading the All Blacks to a 3-0 series win over the British and Irish Lions and a grand slam of victories over England, Ireland, Wales and Scotland.
He still believes New Zealand are the best team in the world but their World Cup approach needs altering.
"It's the points you score not the style of play that matters at the end of the day," said Umaga. "That is what we need to take out of this tournament.
"When you get to the opposition quarter you've got to take it any way you can. You just can't keep waiting for tries.
"It's about being able to adapt to those situations. I reckon you've got to. If you don't you're just burying your head in the sand and not seeing what's happening in this tournament."
Umaga said England's success in reaching the World Cup final was proof their more conservative style of play was the most effective way to play high-pressure games.
"Everyone says we put too much emphasis on the World Cup but look at what the English have done," he said. "No one expected them to do anything but I think they knew what they were doing and they've gone out there and performed a simple game plan.
"They're committed to it and been committed to each other and I think that's the main thing you've seen. In the tough moments they still do the right thing because they know what they're doing."
- REUTERS
