New Zealand Rugby

New Zealand’s World Cup squad carries a huge amount of experience into the defence of the trophy they won in 2011.

The likes of Richie McCaw, Dan Carter, Ma’a Nonu, Conrad Smith and Kieran Read have all tasted World Cup glory before, and many of these players are still the outstanding names in their positions in world rugby.

Any one of those men could prove the decisive element to a second consecutive Webb Ellis Cup for the world’s No. 1 team.

But we are searching for the X-factor here, and by its very definition, we must look beyond the household All Black names if we are to find, as the online Merriam Webster dictionary would call it, “a circumstance, quality, or person that has a strong but unpredictable influence.”

In the case of the All Blacks' 31-man party for the 2015 Rugby World Cup, this brings us to Nehe Milner-Skudder.

From uncapped prospect to World Cup bolter, the Hurricanes utility back scooped two tries on his debut—a defeat to Australia—and followed that performance up by creating anther two in the All Blacks' win over their neighbours a week later.

That second display had Greg Stutchbury of Reuters crowing: "He showed not only his jinking side-step, acceleration and ability to keep defenders guessing for the first try but showed the positional play and astute tactical appreciation to seize on space and defensive mismatches for the second."

In two Tests, the 24-year old had catapulted himself into the final squad, reaffirming Steve Hansen's assessment of his qualities, per Reuters: "He can rip teams apart. He's electric, he's vibrant and every time he gets the ball he creates something."

Milner-Skudder doesn’t come with the size and stature of a Julian Savea, but he showed he does possess the power required to cut it at the top level with the nature of his second score against the Wallabies on debut. 

New Zealand Herald’s Gregor Paul highlighted: "A man his size had no business getting over the line and yet he was able to quicken his steps as he crashed into three defenders, retain the ball in the initial collision and then find the raw strength to bounce over and fight to get the ball down."

Milner-Skudder is joined in the squad by another novice wing at Test level, Waisake Naholo. The pair will duel for the right-wing spot, with Savea being the hands-down favourite for the No. 11 jersey and Ben Smith in pole position for Milner–Skudder’s preferred full-back slot.

But as far as the No. 14 jersey goes, Milner-Skudder starts with a clear advantage, as Naholo recovers from a broken leg that is expected to keep him out until the third round of pool matches.

By that time, the man no one outside New Zealand had heard of until his surprise call up could have put the rugby world on notice.

Waisake Naholo has attributed his rapid recovery from a broken leg to traditional Fijian medicine.

The New Zealand winger cracked a fibula during his All Black's debut against Argentina last month and was expected to be sidelined for three months, ruling him out of the Rugby World Cup.

However, Naholo returned to Fiji to receive treatment from an uncle who specialises in traditional medicine and claims to have since recovered sufficiently to resume light training.

"Growing up here in the village, this was nothing new. I have seen it happen to people and even rugby players who came here and were healed," Naholo told Maciu Malo of the Fiji Times. The 24-year-old's uncle, Isei Naiova, explained how he healed the injury:

When I first touched his leg I could feel his bones were damaged. I later applied traditional leaves which were removed after four days and as we took the leaves off, I noticed the injury was gone. ... This healing has been performed by our forefathers and has been passed down from generation to generation. It is a gift from God.

[Fiji Times; h/t Sky Sports]

Northern hemisphere fans look away now.

It may be rugby heresy to admit it, but deep down, most neutrals would have opted for a clash between New Zealand and South Africa to provide the denouement to the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

The draw will not permit it should they both, as expected, win their pools and make it through their quarter-finals to meet in the last four.

But recent evidence suggests, had they been kept apart until the final, it would be our best chance of not being bored to tears.

World Cup finals have not often provided much bang for the buck when it comes to entertainment.

1987 was a thoroughly one-sided affair, as the New Zealanders swept France aside.

1991 was tight and tense but low on quality, as England tried to outrun Australia and failed. One try was scored, a short-range effort by Wallaby prop Tony Daley.

In 1995, South Africa strangled the influence of Jonah Lomu and a tryless game was pinched in extra time via Joel Stransky’s boot.

And in 1999, the Australians ruled the roost for the second time with a clinical dismantling of France, who were a spent force, having played their final a week earlier with that astonishing comeback against the All Blacks.

2003 had its last-minute drama and exploded once or twice when England found room to run, but both teams otherwise struggled to break free from the fear of defeat.

Ditto four years later; no tries were scored and there was only one real moment of theatre, when the TMO dithered over whether Mark Cueto’s toenail had scraped the touchline paint.

2011 at least produced two tries, but that was it—an 8-7 win for the All Blacks, who just about held their nerve to take the contest against France.

World Cup finals can understandably do this to the best teams.

It takes years of planning, weeks of pre-tournament training and a heavy programme of pool play and knockouts to reach the point they have been dreaming of; defeat after all the blood, sweat and tears shed to get to the final is too unthinkable a prospect to take any risks, and the match is usually dire as a result.

In recent years, however, we have seen that sides can provide value for money when silverware is on the line.

This year’s Six Nations was the perfect example of that, with last-day drama everywhere you looked as sides scrambled for the points they needed to finish on top of the pile.

Those circumstances cannot be replicated in the cauldron of a one-off, winner-takes-all World Cup final, though.

It is a tough task to fathom how we can guarantee a barn burner of a World Cup final, but our best chance may have been if the two sides taking the field were New Zealand and South Africa.

Exhibit A

The recent contest between the sides in Johannesburg would frankly trump any of the seven World Cup finals in the books. We saw a Bok outfit ready to run—if faltering slightly in much of their execution of that plan—rabid back-rowers piling into tackles, outside backs attacking space and players ready to back themselves on the counter-attack.

And neither side could be said to have been at its best, with just one game under their belts and a raft of injuries in South Africa’s case.

Exhibit B

Go back another year and we saw an even better version of this contest. The youthful Handre Pollard twice sliced through New Zealand as though he was playing a schoolboy match.

The Boks looked for all the world like they had won it until Dane Coles' 69th-minute try gave New Zealand a one-point lead. But they came back again with a howitzer of a last-minute penalty from Pat Lambie to steal the match. It was a modern classic.

Exhibit C

2013 was the year New Zealand went unbeaten, and a thrilling game between them and the Springboks in Johannesburg decided the destination of that year’s Rugby Championship. A rip-roaring opening saw each side swap kitchen sinks in a breathless, bare-knuckle scrap.

The lead changed hands four times in the first half alone. Beauden Barrett’s 60th-minute try saw the All Blacks eventually land the telling blow. The sides shared nine tries in that game, five more than the last three World Cup finals put together.

There have been less than a handful of Tests over that three-year period that could hold a candle to the quality and entertainment provided by those three clashes between the world’s two best sides.

Ireland’s near miss against the Blacks in 2013 probably tops the list.

Even if New Zealand and South Africa do meet on 31 October, the risk remains that the size of the prize will change their mindsets, but they have provided the strongest possible evidence to date they could buck the World Cup final trend.

Whether you support them or not, you have to begrudgingly admit a clash along the lines of their last three meetings in South Africa would have been the best advert for the sport.

The All Blacks mount the defence of their Rugby Championship title next weekend when they host Argentina.

The world champions will start as overwhelming favourites against the Pumas, who will offer a convenient warm-up before Steve Hansen’s men move to the next level against South Africa and Australia.

This year’s championship, comprising only one contest between each side as they make space in the schedule for World Cup preparations, will be over in the blink of an eye.

And that is often all it takes for New Zealand’s first-choice No. 9 to do terminal damage to the opposition.

Aaron Smith is, as Steve Hepburn of the Otago Daily Times via the New Zealand Herald put it, in the “form of his life.”

Indeed, Hepburn, writing as Smith’s Super Rugby Franchise the Highlanders progressed to the 2015 title, proclaimed:

If Smith maintains this form for the next three or four years, he will clearly be the best halfback this country has produced. At the moment, he shares the top table with the likes of Sid Going, Chris Laidlaw, David Loveridge and Justin Marshall.

So what is it about the 26-year-old that makes him so special to the All Blacks?

Speed

Put simply, Smith has bags of pace. Furthermore, he seems to be able to max out his speedometer from a standing start in a time frame the fastest sports cars would baulk at.

Witness his key moment (1:07 into the video) in the Highlanders’ playoff game against the Chiefs. Smith was up and gone from the base of a scrum before the opposition back row could react, and set off to create a two on one with right wing Waisake Naholo for a crucial score.

His pace also plays another vital role in his game. He arrives before the majority of the loose forwards to the breakdown. The New Zealand Herald’s Wynne Gray picked up on this observation by his colleague and former All Blacks No. 9 Justin Marshall, which was reproduced by the Otago Daily Times:

‘The players who are receiving the ball from the next phase aren't waiting for him. They can see him and they're on the move the whole time, instead of going from a standing start…  Because he's so quick to the breakdown, defenders aren't getting into a good position to deal with him when he decides to run. So now we're seeing his running game becoming a real threat in the All Blacks' attacking arsenal.’

Passing

Smith isn’t just about blistering speed. His service is bordering on perfect, another trait Wynne Gray highlights with the help of another New Zealand half-back, Chris Laidlaw: “’His passing with both hands is immaculate and he knows when to fire and when to give a softer delivery.’”

Decision-making

Smith’s experience has only served to sharpen the tools at his disposal, because he knows innately, it seems, when to pass, kick or run. Again, Wynne Gray calls on former All Blacks scrum–half Dave Loveridge to explain:

‘The key is when to execute those skills and Smith's understanding is like a good five eighths summing up situations. He is also a great communicator and as time has gone by, his confidence to act with authority, has grown.’

And this all-round ability has prompted some to tip him as a potential captain when Richie McCaw finally hangs up his boots. Already, he has tied with Kieran Read in a New Zealand Herald poll as the most irreplaceable All Black.

One of the greats

If you go back down the list of World Cup-winning sides, a commanding No. 9 has been a regular feature of those teams, a player who can act as general, as well as hurt teams in a heartbeat with swift deeds. George Gregan, Joost van der Westhuizen, Matt Dawson; they could all do it. So could Justin Marshall. He just never got the medal to go with his talents.

The feeling, certainly in New Zealand, is that Smith belongs in the company of the great ones but, more than that, has the potential to surpass them, as Gray sums up.

There is accord from the former greats that, by some margin, Smith is the current best in black, probably the best half-back in the modern world and well in the frame for best in All Black history.

No other side in the competition can award such billing to a single one of their players.

They won and that is the main thing, but it was a far from convincing display the All Blacks put on to beat Samoa 25-16 in the first-ever meeting of the two teams in Apia.

It was no surprise that the Samoans brought bundles of energy and passion. They tore into the breakdowns and threw themselves into tackles, putting the All Blacks under pressure and depriving them of good balls to work with.

The intensity from the All Blacks though, was very much lacking. While they got the better of the scrums, eventually, the New Zealand forward pack did not bring the speed or accuracy to negate their physical opponents.

Of course it was only the first hit out of the season and often the All Blacks do look rusty in these, but it dangerous to put it all down to this.

Whether the mobility of the tight five is still at the standard required is questionable. Granted they have not seen game time for a few weeks, but you do not see Tony Woodcock or Keven Mealamu getting around the field at anywhere near the speed they used to.

When you are struggling for protection at the breakdown, you really need your tight five to step up and start getting to more rucks at a faster rate. But you really have to question whether those two are still capable of doing that, and if they cannot, whether they are still the best men to have in the squad, even as back-ups.

The All Blacks were not committing huge numbers to the breakdown, often having only one or two players over the ball to withstand the barrage of pressure coming from the Samoan cleaners. It was eerily similar to the tactics that proved to be the downfall for an ageing Springboks pack at the last World Cup.

Are these men being clung on to for too long? 

Of the other tight forwards, Owen Franks got around the field well, but seems to have gotten into a habit of getting up offside and giving away penalties. Luke Romano battled with an eye swollen shut, although he was hardly a stand out, while Sam Whitelock and Brodie Retallick were both solid.

In the loose there was a bit of inconsistency, with good moments mixed in with some pretty average ones. Richie McCaw in particular led well from the front, attacking the breakdown strongly and getting around the park in typically impressive fashion.

The platform the forwards set was a shaky one and while they applied pressure to ensure they played the game at the right end of the park, it was not one the backs could be at their best from.

One try was all they could manage, as Dan Carter exploited the space created by the Samoan rushed defence, kicking the ball in behind and connecting with George Moala, who ran all the way to the line.

That was the beginning of the second half and at 19-3 it looked like the All Blacks were set to pull away.

But the Samoans had other ideas, bringing huge intensity over the next 30 minutes, forcing their way into position to kick two penalties and then score a try through rampaging flanker Alafoti Faosiliva.

In that time the All Blacks had managed just three points and with the score at 22-16, it was well and truly game on.

Yet aside from one other occasion where Samoa scrambled brilliantly, the All Blacks never looked like crossing the line. There were too many dropped balls and too many poor passes, making the job of a strong Samoan defence that much easier.

No doubt the lack of dominance up front did not help that. The Samoans were rarely on the back foot and always seemed to have time to organise their defensive line, or at least recover when they had too.

Come World Cup time, you know everyone is going to bring their best for the All Blacks when it comes to intensity.

It is all very well saying that this is a Samoan team playing in arguably the match of their lives, but that is what you are coming up against in a knockout match at the World Cup. Teams know they have to be at their best to beat the All Blacks and they get up for the game, just like we have seen from the French on multiple occasions.

Of course there are players to come back before then. Aaron Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Conrad Smith, Julian Savea and Ben Smith are all certainties to be first-choice backs, while Dane Coles will return to the front row. None of these men were available, having played in the Super Rugby final in the weekend.

There were plenty of youngsters out there too, with George Moala, Nepo Laulala, Brad Weber and Charlie Ngatai all making their first appearances in the black jersey.

But that should not be an excuse, particularly as the majority of the forward pack will remain intact. 

Put it down to rust if you will. It is a starting point though. The errors need to be cut down, the speed needs to be increased and the physicality needs to be improved.

They are more than capable of doing all of that, as they are a class outfit. But it does show that they are not invincible and what can happen when you put this team under pressure.

None of that should take away from the huge effort Samoa put in though. As much as the All Blacks were poor, sometimes you can only play as well as the opposition lets you. On this day, the Samoans proved to everyone that they are worthy opponents and the NZRU will not be able to continue to ignore them as a legitimate opponent.

They could be a threat at the World Cup too. If they can play like this on a consistent basis, they are more than capable of knocking off some of the big contenders.

It's a good year for rugby when a collision between the southern hemisphere's top four teams isn't even considered the biggest spectacle on hand, but New Zealand nevertheless have attention fixed on another Rugby Championship.

After claiming top spot in the last three successive tournaments, the All Blacks are in a prime position to add a fourth in 2015, and what better way to warm up for a World Cup than with silverware already in hand?

The Rugby Championship schedule has been reduced to just one round of fixtures this year—so as to not clash with the World Cup in England—and New Zealand have been handed the misfortune of two away games.

However, following Steven Hansen's squad announcement on Sunday, we're once again bearing witness to the rare strength in depth the All Blacks boast, the kind of resources that win major tournaments. ESPN Scrum's Brett McKay seemed inclined to agree:

And that pool of resources is of course founded upon the success of New Zealand's Super Rugby representatives, who have in kind enjoyed a year of imperious form throughout 2015.

The Hurricanes were runaway champions of the regular campaign, while the Highlanders would have claimed second place were it not for the conference system.

Were we to also examine the table on points accumulated, the Crusaders would have beaten the Stormers into the playoffs, meaning four of the top six most successful teams technically hail from New Zealand.

The Daily Telegraph's Jamie Pandaram touched on the role "culture" plays in their evolution, and one would be inclined to agree given the rotation cycle of success enjoyed among New Zealand's franchises:

Many of those present in this latest All Blacks incarnation were a part of last year's title-winning team, who clinched the 2014 Rugby Championship before losing at Ellis Park in Week 6.

However, another year brings about another new batch of toys for Hansen to play with; the class of 2015 has seen superstars Nehe Milner-Skudder (Hurricanes) and Waisake Naholo (Highlanders) named as potential debutants, with Rugby World's Paul Williams among those excited for the former in particular:

The idea of opening against Argentina in Christchurch is an appealing one for Hansen and his side. The July 17 date is a superb opportunity for the team to get settled into the competition, both old faces and new alike.

From there, matters are abundantly tougher as the All Blacks make trips to Johannesburg and Sydney in Weeks 2 and 3, respectively, but triumphing in foreign territory is nothing new to this setup.

The Springboks' 27-25 victory at Ellis Park last year was undoubtedly influenced by the fact New Zealand had already sealed the 2014 trophy, while the Wallabies haven't beaten the All Blacks in their past 10 meetings, although two of those have been draws.

Veteran fly-half Dan Carter has been present for a raft of those victories and will take part in what's likely to be his last Rugby Championship this year. He's seemingly as excited now as he was upon claiming his first cap 12 years ago:

It's that kind of effervescent approach to the All Blacks institution that helps fund their ongoing candidacy as the world's greatest team.

This year's Rugby Championship may be seen by some as little more than a warm-up for the more serious business of the World Cup to come, but for New Zealand, it's another opportunity to make their mark on the world stage.

Australia coach Michael Cheika and South Africa counterpart Heyneke Meyer have been playing catch-up in the southern hemisphere for some years now, while Argentina remain a way off the Rugby Championship pace.

The foundation has been put in place for the All Blacks to enjoy another calendar of dominance in 2015, and the Rugby Championship could mark the beginning of their most glittering year yet.

Five new names were read out when the All Blacks picked their first squad of 2015, as reported by the New Zealand Herald. 

Lima Sopoaga, Codie Taylor, Waisake Naholo, Nehe Milner-Skudder and James Broadhurst have all found their way into an otherwise predictable 41-man squad which will be refined to 31 for the Rugby World Cup.

Codie Taylor was perhaps the biggest surprise of those five. The lack of depth at hooker was always going to mean a new face was going to have to be chosen, and after months of speculation, it is the athletic Crusaders player the selectors went with.

He joins the in-form Hika Elliot, who has been recalled after a stellar season with the Chiefs, as well as veteran Keven Mealamu and current first-choice No. 2 Dane Coles.

The other newcomers were more predictable.

Lima Sopoaga has gone to another level with the Highlanders, sparking the backs from fly-half, while also providing a reliable boot. He will most likely fit in as the fourth No. 10, although given the injury rate in the position for the All Blacks in recent years, it would not be surprising if he rises from that ranking.

Should they all be fit, though, it will almost certainly be Dan Carter, Beauden Barrett and Colin Slade that go to the World Cup.

Waisake Naholo has been so good on the wing for the Highlanders that he was a must-have, while Nehe Milner-Skudder's potential is plain to see. There is a logjam in the outside backs, but with both men in form, especially the electric Naholo, it would not be a surprise if one of them bolted all the way to the World Cup.

Ben Smith and Julian Savea are the only two locks in those positions, although with the likelihood of a fly-half being used as a utility, there may only be four outside-back spots available. That will see Israel Dagg, Cory Jane and Charles Piutau compete with the newcomers for the final two spots. Based on form it would be hard to argue that any have the edge over Naholo, although it would not be a surprise to see the selectors go with the tried and trusted.

The other newcomer, James Broadhurst, comes into the squad after an impressive season with the high-flying Hurricanes. A hard-working lock, Broadhurst will compete with fellow Hurricane Jeremy Thrush and Crusader Luke Romano for two locking spots, as Sam Whitelock and Brodie Retallick are both certainties.

Richie McCaw will captain the team from open-side flanker, with Sam Cane and Matt Todd both being named as back-ups for the No. 7 jersey. Other loose forwards include Kieran Read, Jerome Kaino, Victor Vito and Liam Messam. 

Injured scrum-half Tawera Kerr-Barlow was named as the highly-debated third No. 9, joining last year's duo of Aaron Smith and TJ Perenara.

There were no surprises at prop with both Franks brothers, Owen and Ben, Tony Woodcock, Wyatt Crockett, Charlie Faumuina and Joe Moody all being named. The midfield was similarly predictable with Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Malakai Fekitoa, Sonny Bill Williams and Ryan Crotty all being selected.

The team will play their first game on July 8 against Samoa in Apia, although no players competing in the Super Rugby Final will be considered for this outing.

All Black Squad: Ben Smith, Israel Dagg, Charles Piutau, Nehe Milner-Skudder, Waisake Naholo, Cory Jane, Julian Savea, Conrad Smith, Malakai Fekitoa, Ma'a Nonu, Sonny Bill Williams, Ryan Crotty, Dan Carter, Beauden Barrett, Colin Slade, Lima Sopoaga, Aaron Smith, TJ Perenara, Tawera Kerr-Barlow; Kieran Read, Jerome Kaino, Victor Vito, Richie McCaw (c), Sam Cane, Matt Todd, Liam Messam, Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Jeremy Thrush, James Broadhurst, Luke Romano, Wyatt Crockett, Tony Woodcock, Owen Franks, Ben Franks, Joe Moody, Charlie Faumuina, Dane Coles, Keven Mealamu, Hikawera Elliot, Codie Taylor.