All Blacks the All-time Winningest Rugby Team in the World

The New Zealand All Blacks completed their autumn tour of Great Britain and Ireland today, by beating a gallant Wales 37-25, and rolled decisively to their third grand slam over all the home unions in the last five years. The All Blacks outscored the Welsh by five tries to one and in the process set two major world records. The world's best first five-eighth, Daniel Carter, broke Jonny Wilkinson's world record total of 1,178 points with his second kick of the match. The biggest difference between the two champion flyhalves is that Carter accumulated his total from a lot less games, and did so by scoring 4 times as many touchdowns as his English counterpart.

In defeating the Welsh, the All Blacks also raised their all-time, all-comer, winning record to over 75% of their games. This is a phenomenal feat, one that is almost unheard of in any football code. This is especially so when you consider that New Zealand has been playing international rugby for well over 100 years. Even more astonishing is the fact that New Zealand has such a small population, currently estimated at just under 4.4 million persons. Closest rivals Australia has 22 million, South Africa has 50 million, while England has 51 million and France has a whopping 65 million citizens. Not too shabby for such a little nation, New Zealand is currently ranked No. 1 of all the top rugby playing nations and has been at that position for most of the time that the International Rugby Board has ranked international teams. By comparison, the team with the greatest winning percentage in the National Football League in the United States is the Dallas Cowboys with 58%. In truth the All Blacks define international rugby and what it means to win.

Pedigree Counts For Everything

New Zealand beat Australia for the Rugby Sevens gold medal at the 2010 Commonwealth Games. This was the Kiwi team's fourth successive gold in this competition, a dynasty in the building. The final score was 24-17, not a great margin, and one that hid the Houdini-like escape that New Zealand had to perform to come from behind . Australia led 17-7 in the second half and it was only three quick blitzkrieg-like tries that allowed the team in black to respond with the win.

Although the path to the final for both teams was aided by the absence of twice-silver medalist Fiji, the final was closely fought, to the bitter end. The Fijians were not allowed to compete in the Games as they were expelled from the Commonwealth over the military coup that brought the current regime into power. It is sad for sport that the hugely popular Fijians were not on the field, where they so much belong. Instead, the Indian public were treated to their first taste of the trans-Tasman rivalry in rugby that rocks the oval-ball world.

South Africa won the bronze medal with a 17-14 victory over England. The three southern hemisphere championship teams finishing in a nice tight trifecta. Once again the Tri-Nations teams dominate over their northern cousins. After the gold medal winning performance, New Zealand coaching wizard Gordon Teitjens hinted broadly that he would stay on to see his charges fight for gold again, this time in the 2016 Olympic Games. Why not, Tietjens is the master tactician in charge of a team undefeated in sevens since 1988.

The Size of the Dog in the Fight

I really enjoyed watching the Houston Texans putting the Indianapolis Colts to the sword last Sunday. The played with grit and determination and stuck to their game plan. The punched hard against a much more fancied, and at least on paper, more skilled side led by Peyton Manning. It reminded me of little New Zealand battling away in the 2010 FIFA World Cup fought in South Africa a couple of months back.

The one standout facet from the World Cup that rose above all others is best stated in the ago old adage, "It's not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog!" Let me illustrate. On one hand there were perennial powerhouses in England, France and Italy, exiting early, some not even making the second round. An examination of why is crucial here.

Italy simply took the opposition far too lightly. They relied on the same old troops in battle, the same tired old plays. They had no imagination. They expended about as much effort as a family of Koala's in a lush Eucalyptus forest (Koala's sleep up to 23 hours a day!). Italy did just about enough in each game, and no more. The French were like a loosely-tied raft in a turbulent sea. The coach had no idea, the players seemed lost, the plan was that there was no plan; in fact there was no team at all. It was sad and sorry to watch these groups implode and head home like whipped dogs.

By contrast New Zealand, ranked 78th in the world, didn't give a hoot about what other teams thought of them. They were there to do a job, to play to the very depths of their abilities, as players and as comrades. They didn't care about reputations and they certainly didn't worry that some of the world's most expensive players were arrayed against them. They simply played for each other, for their country, for their families and thoroughly enjoyed themselves doing it. You could positively see the joy on the faces coupled with a steely determination to get the job done.

It's amazing to see teamwork in action, pride at work and willingness to do what it takes. Mental toughness accounts for more victories in sport than any other factor. Sport is not just a test of skill but one of temperament and character. New Zealand and the Texans had it in spades.

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!