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All Blacks defence - Poor, or just the way they play? Is it right for RWC 2015?
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<blockquote data-quote="Isurus" data-source="post: 607233" data-attributes="member: 43792"><p>The way the international calendar is structured I think we rarely see the best of the All Blacks in these autumn internationals. It is at the end of a long season after all. I can't recall a truly outstanding performance from NZ in November for some time. The 47-3 thumping of France in 2006 really sticks in the memory. The 32-6 win at Twickenham in 2008 perhaps. They tend to play pretty well in the Millenium Stadium so Wales often gets a torrid time. But those kind of performances at this time of year are rare. The All Blacks typically start their season slowly and then quickly build to peak performance. Mostly you see them at their best in mid season in the Rugby Championship. Sometimes earlier, as the Lions found out in 2005. It will be very very interesting to see the home series against England next year. If these form patterns go as expected then England could be in for a tough old time.</p><p></p><p>Another thing I want to say here. Not always, but very often opposition teams raise their game significantly when they play us at home. France and England (especially France) have not been consistently strong over the last 12 months yet they both produced a big performance against us. I am expecting Ireland to do the same and this last match is no foregone conclusion by any means. The All Blacks have to maintain a consistently high standard to win a lot of tough matches. I don't like to be too critical of them when they get through some tough games on the right side of the ledger even though they did not really reach the highest levels we know they can.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Isurus, post: 607233, member: 43792"] The way the international calendar is structured I think we rarely see the best of the All Blacks in these autumn internationals. It is at the end of a long season after all. I can't recall a truly outstanding performance from NZ in November for some time. The 47-3 thumping of France in 2006 really sticks in the memory. The 32-6 win at Twickenham in 2008 perhaps. They tend to play pretty well in the Millenium Stadium so Wales often gets a torrid time. But those kind of performances at this time of year are rare. The All Blacks typically start their season slowly and then quickly build to peak performance. Mostly you see them at their best in mid season in the Rugby Championship. Sometimes earlier, as the Lions found out in 2005. It will be very very interesting to see the home series against England next year. If these form patterns go as expected then England could be in for a tough old time. Another thing I want to say here. Not always, but very often opposition teams raise their game significantly when they play us at home. France and England (especially France) have not been consistently strong over the last 12 months yet they both produced a big performance against us. I am expecting Ireland to do the same and this last match is no foregone conclusion by any means. The All Blacks have to maintain a consistently high standard to win a lot of tough matches. I don't like to be too critical of them when they get through some tough games on the right side of the ledger even though they did not really reach the highest levels we know they can. [/QUOTE]
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All Blacks defence - Poor, or just the way they play? Is it right for RWC 2015?
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