Why are we so good at the rugby?
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Much to do with the pull of the Black jersey, supersedes money in a way that is not true for other countries. There is also unwavering support and cooperation from coaches and administrators outside of the set up. A focus on skills ,as opposed to size and strength , which cannot be taught in later years. Fitness , not in of itself but an ability to execute at a high level late in games. Finally coaches can treat ABs as more of a club than an all-star team. Not necessarily the best form players but always the best team with the best culture, one which gets the best out of players.
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<p>I think that has a fair bit do to with it, there is all the technical on field reasons with great players and great coaches , you wont get too far if you dont get all that right , </p>
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<p>But I would say beneath all that , the wanting to play for the jersey and not let it down culture , is stronger in NZ than anywhere else </p> -
<p>In answer to the original question, I think NZ current dominance is a relatively recent phenomenon.</p>
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<p>Pre 2011, we might well be asking, why can't NZ win a world cup?</p>
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<p>NZ performance will revert to the mean some time in the next few years, so long as it is post the 2019 RWC final in Japan I am OK with that.<br><br>
So NZ have been no 1 ranked since 2009 I think it is when I last checked to see when this current reign started.</p>
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<p>I think Steve Hansen is hands down the best coach/manager of the "modern era", since say the first world cup in 1987. And he came after/with Ted who after a second throw at the stumps won RWC in 2011, and it seems there is now a very valuable blueprint/template for the management/culture side of the team, which others have alluded to.</p>
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<p>In the last four to six years, notwithstanding the fitness and skills etc, I really think the mental skills part from Gilbert Enoka is a massive part of the success, the players often talk about it when interviewed (Dan Carter), the performance in the last ten minutes or so over the last four years where tight games have been won in the last five or ten minutes when previously they would have been lost, have happened for a good reason. I think this is what has made a good team and good players great.</p>
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<p>Witness this try, the mental application, physical skills and belief to score this try was just unbelievable
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<p>Oh, and Aaron Smith!</p> -
<p>In regard to the RWC drought, I thnk it can be attributed to our legacy as much as our winning...that saying 'the legacy you face is more intimidating than any opposition' works both ways.</p>
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<p>How many greats of our game had played and failed in a RWC, going into an event as favorite, with the cloud of failure hanging over those great ABs that had gone before you must play on your mind; if they couldn't win, how are we supposed to?</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Hooroo" data-cid="593148" data-time="1467321728">
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<p>MAN!!! I was getting nervous watching that and I already kknew the result! That was really incredible! Who didn't touch the ball?</p>
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<p>Ritchie. Pretty sure he was the only one!</p> -
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<p>In regard to the RWC drought, I thnk it can be attributed to our legacy as much as our winning...that saying 'the legacy you face is more intimidating than any opposition' works both ways.</p>
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<p>How many greats of our game had played and failed in a RWC, going into an event as favorite, with the cloud of failure hanging over those great ABs that had gone before you must play on your mind; if they couldn't win, how are we supposed to?</p>
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<p>Agree with this, and I think conquering the mental side of this challenge has helped the ABs perform so well in the last six years.</p>
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<p>If you compare the England football team, and I don't think they are comparable, because they fall down in the skills and many other areas, I think the mental side of things absolutely cripples them.</p> -
I think the World Cup drought taught us a lot of lessons , <br><br>
I think the brains trust addressed the problems front on rather than side stepping around them and we have come out the other side stronger . <br><br>
You almost sense now under Hanson , the bigger the occasion the better off we are when it comes to focus and mind on the job , that couldn't be said during that drought period. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Emerican AB" data-cid="593106" data-time="1467288031">
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<p>I'm guessing many of you have seen this, but I coach (not rugby) for a living so it was great to see all that excellence distilled into 15 points! Maybe it helps answer the question, maybe not. You guys would know better than me. But interesting, nonetheless. </p>
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<p>Cheers for posting that EAB, I've never seen it before.</p>
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<p>It's all good stuff aside from the No Dickheads section as they tend to just make up what that is on the spot.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Hooroo" data-cid="593148" data-time="1467321728">
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<p>MAN!!! I was getting nervous watching that and I already kknew the result! That was really incredible! Who didn't touch the ball?</p>
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<p>fucken true. nonu, smiths, read, franksx2, crotty, cruden, barrett - all brilliant.</p>
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<p>but really, ireland choked terribly there. they outplayed us in that game, and just needed to hold possession for another few seconds and kick it out - and that's down to them, not brilliance or mental strength by us. not to mention the missed kick which would have put it outside one score.</p>
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<p>that happening the way it did certainly increases the chances of a future irish choke in a similar situation though, as that sort of thing lives long in the memory. and i guess that is another factor in our success - that history of not being beaten is intimidating, even at a subconscious level. on the other hand with the period of relative weakness the saffas are going through at the moment and our golden run, there is no game that we go into with any sort of mental 'can it be done' block. </p> -
<p>I dunno, having the right mental attitude and belief that you can still win in the dying minutes was hugely important in that match, whereas if the shoe was on the other foot, hugely unlikely another team could have pulled that off, they would have been resigned to 'yet another close loss'</p>
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<p>Yes the Irish choked, and you'd have to wonder if there weren't a few players probably already thinking to themselves "shit, we are gonna beat these guys"</p> -
<p>Had to watch again!</p>
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<p>24 passes and only one pick and go and the most crucial pass being Coles to Crotty.Magnificent!!!</p>
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<p>Funnily enough to reiterate the points being made above, the deft pass was made by a front rower and the only pick and go was made by a back!</p>