The All Blacks: Time for the Surge

With the 2011 Rugby World Cup just around the corner, the complete focus of the legions of Kiwi rugby fans is concentrated on the national rugby team, the All Blacks. Nothing but total dominance and bringing home the Webb-Ellis trophy will be good enough. New Zealanders have the best rugby team on the planet, as testified by the current International Rugby Board world rankings; in fact daylight is in second place, not South Africa. But the last couple of World Cups have been dismal by All Black standards and winning at home is the only way to sweeten the bitter taste that still lingers in Kiwi mouths.

The All Blacks have been labeled by some as chokers on the world's biggest stage, most often from rivals trying to play the psychological game. I wonder if this is a result of being the favourites for every single tournament they play in. Too much expectation can lead to playing in a straightjacket, not with joyful freedom to express. That said, they simply should have done better in Australia and France, but, did not. However, the All Blacks have been clearly the best side for the last decade, their record is envious. They have won so many more games than the next best team it is laughable… or wonderful if you bleed black.

All that remains now is for the current crop of players to stamp themselves on the rugby psyche of their opponents like the great All Blacks sides of yesteryear. Richie McCaw must make his team feared, absolutely feared, every time they take the field, like those teams led by Colin Meads and Wilson Whineray. As Irishman Edmund Burke said a long time ago, "No passion so effectually robs the mind of all its powers of acting and reasoning as fear." When a team can combine their own strength and self-belief with fear in opposing ranks, the power to win is borne.

The All Blacks have a great chance to up-the-ante by going through the Tri-Nations undefeated in 2010; a feat only thus far accomplished by another All Black team in 2003. They only have Australia to beat, a team that is very much under the gun but coming off a morale boosting victory over South Africa. The Wallabies might have their backs to the wall, but an enraged and wounded animal has a fearsome bite. Victory on 9/11 in Sydney will set the foundation for bringing home the cup next year. Kia Kaha, Kia Toa. Black Magic!