A genuine win for the ages.

I am, I suppose, to some extent, what people call a rugby tragic. I was 8 years old when the All Blacks toured South Africa in 1976 (with a second All Black team in Argentina captained by Graham Mourie) and can still name the All Black squad that toured – and many of the South Africans. I hid radios in my room and wept when the All Blacks lost 11-12 to Western Province with the great Bee Gee Williams nearly charging right across field to save the match winning try. I probably watched every minute of every rugby test while growing up – plus all of the drama of the 1981 tour. My special heroes were Bee Gee, then Bill Osborne and Andrew Donald from my home city. I got to play a Ranfurly Shield game against the All Blacks (disguised as Auckland in 1987).

I had to stop playing in 1988 from a concussion (a very wise doctor) and took to coaching from 1991 through to 2003 with a range of school, provincial age group, Auckland University U21 and Auckland University Premiers. I was privileged to have Royce Willis, John Afoa, Jerome Kaino, Joe Rokocoko, Daniel Braid and 12 other RWC players, from a range of nations, come through my teams. Plus having to coach club games against the likes of Carlos Spencer who could lay waste the best laid plans.

I also have a treasured 40 year friendship with All Black assistance coach and former Ireland coach Joe Schmidt.

From all of those perspectives I have long held that the All Black victory in the second test of the 1996 tour to South Africa to be the greatest. Just the team lists show teams of legends – and Lomu was set to play until 24 hours before the game too. This was the first time NZ had won a test series in South Africa and was off the memory of losing the RWC final there in 1995.

I think the win against Ireland on the weekend was at least the equal of that match. A coaching staff of Ian Foster, Jason Ryan and Joe Schmidt that has, at times been little supported by the media and must have been baffled by the announcement of the next All Black coach well before the RWC. A series of lead up results that have not been perfect – including a pre-RWC loss to South Africa and opening pool match loss to France. Facing an Ireland team that had beaten them at home last year, are world no.1 and had won 17 matches in a row. And – facing the pressure of the consequences of a loss. In NZ we let our MPs and massively paid bureaucrats get away with repeated failure … but woe be tide a losing All Black coach.

The game had many remarkable aspects but they are all summarised in the last segment of the game when this team defended a powerful, skillful, committed and very well coached side. The All Blacks defended 32 phases with great trust in each other, great skill and patterns, incredible discipline and passion that can only come from believing in each other and their coaching staff. It was a great performance. Calling it the best All Black performance – given the circumstances – is clearly subjective but the evidence has weight. The performances of Savea and Cane were just incredible.

Why is that important? Because the shape and direction of a nation can be influenced and propelled by great sporting performances, sensational people in the movie industry (Peter Jackson, Taika Waititi, Jane Campion, Sam Neill), musicians, adventurers (Edmund Hillary and Peter Blake being archetypes), scientists (Earnest Rutherford, William Pickering), etc. They show grit, developed ability, aspiration and a kiwis can-do approach that has major influence. Feeling good, positive, aspirational about ourselves as a people also has loads of potential for improving key area like mental health (as does showing much more respect and understanding on the occasions when our best do come second).

For what it is worth from a rugby tragic – “full credit” to Fozzie’s men for that performance and all the best for the next hurdle.

Alwyn Poole
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