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The All Blacks don't deserve to be let off the hook with 'underdog' status

18 Feb 2023

(Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)

It’s a cute narrative.

The All Blacks have no pressure on them in 2023, apparently. Yes, they can “ambush’’ the proper sides and maybe fluke their way to the Rugby World Cup title without anyone noticing.

Wow. Since when were we Wales, Argentina or Samoa?

But don’t take my word for it. It’s All Blacks great Justin Marshall who’s saying New Zealand’s now a world cup smokey.

How far have we fallen? How low are our expectations? Since when did we start getting our excuses in early?

Welcome to the world of the All Blacks as rank underdogs.

I don’t know about you, but I think our national team ought to be under untold pressure.

We have sacrificed everything for this world cup campaign and I would’ve thought the relevance of rugby in New Zealand was at stake here.

I mean, if the All Blacks don’t fire a shot at this tournament, then what is the point of the team?

Why do we pay players huge wages, grant sabbaticals and preach faith with a floundering coach if it’s not to become world champions?

Club rugby is rooted, the provincial game an irrelevance and Super Rugby just a series of tune-up games for part-time players.

I would have thought that all the eggs were in one basket here. That the All Blacks simply have to win the world cup to justify the rogering of the rest of the game.

I’d say there’s an awful lot of pressure on here.

Pressure on coach Ian Foster, pressure on the New Zealand Rugby board and staff and pressure on the players to actually deliver.

I’d argue there hasn’t been enough pressure put on these people.

We’ve allowed them to spin yarns about challenging circumstances, while running the game and the All Blacks’ brand into the ground.

We’ve tolerated mediocrity to the point where even a man such as Marshall – widely regarded as one of the best competitors and sorest losers of the modern era – says it’s largely okay for us to make up the numbers at the world cup.

I’m sorry, but I think we’re entitled to a bit more than that.

If the rest of rugby were in rude health and being played in front of tens of thousands of rapt fans and we had stellar participation numbers, then maybe I wouldn’t mind so much.

But it’s not, because we’ve pumped every available resource into the All Blacks.

The future of rugby in New Zealand is at stake during this year’s Rugby World Cup.

I would’ve thought that brought with it quite a lot of pressure indeed.

Comments

13 Comments

GH 788 days ago

We are entitled to have low expectations. Don't deny me of that right.

Jaap 790 days ago

How low does Hamish Bidwell believe our expectations of rugby journalism to be, that he constantly churns out this kind of gutter-level crap?

CG 818 days ago

Fozzie has been setting records ever since he started as coach of the ABs.

First time to be dumped out at the group stage perchance?

Go Fozzie bear!

Wiremu 818 days ago

Nice one and spot on bro! 👏

Ash 818 days ago

is it you from southen lions

rugby club

Poe 819 days ago

What a winge fest. Actually I'm bored with rugby being all about world cups. I prefer great games and great players. Look at the fern's winning by keeping 'a song in our hearts'. All the pre cup comparisons are a bit futile. It comes down to three games and the favourites just don't always win

Not excuses - observed reality.

Another 791 days ago

It’s not all about World Cups! The last few years have shown that the All Blacks can underperform between World Cups too. 👍

Steve 818 days ago

I thought the Ferns were in a World Cup. Coulda been wrong.

Rugby 101 - Ed Pye 819 days ago

Why cover the game if you hate it so much Hamish? Maybe get a new hobby, something that makes you happy?

Steve 818 days ago

So nobody is allowed an opinion any more? Fair enough, I suppose, in certain societies.

Andrew 819 days ago

Amen.

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Comments on RugbyPass

Cantab 5 days ago

Teenager Braxton Sorensen-McGee reflects on dream Black Ferns debut

Although NZ won comfortably enough they weren’t always convincing and a better opposition may well have found them out. If our gun 7s players can translate their skills to the 15s game the team would have the ability to beat anyone. Need to be given the chance though.

4 Go to comments

James 5 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

And how do you see the Wallabies loosehead / Lion’s tighthead battle Nick?

37 Go to comments

dw 5 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Also interested in your thoughts on A Bell. Haven't noticed many scrum issues recently. He also seems to play 60 or so mins every game. A bit of a fan (even though he’s a tah..) but wondered if the Lions would target his scrummaging

37 Go to comments

dw 5 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

True. And you look at how the European coaches have got so much out of skelton and how much the local fans love him…and then some Oz fans will still say “he played poorly for the tahs I'm 2015!”

37 Go to comments

dw 5 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Thanks Nick but your headline has just jinxed us and reminded me of that night in 2013!

I love any analysis of the scrums such as the above. Cheers.

Allalatoa seems to be in good form and Nongorr appears to be able to hold his own? I think they will pick Tupou regardless of form. After Friday night I am concerned he could be sent off in the first five mins of the test though! He got too pumped up and hit a player high and was carded

37 Go to comments

RedWarriors 5 days ago

'Most complacent selection decision you will ever see': Barrett benching slammed as Leinster knocked out

I watched the mainstream NZ pundits eg Mils Muliaina and they DID back NZ to win almost to a man.

Ireland will talk their team up as anyone would with the caveats we are playing the ABs and match was de facto 50:50, That is not the same as dismissing the opposition. EG After the quarter John Kirwan said he was sorry France didn’t win versus SA becuase a ‘France-NZ final would be perfect. (The semis had not even been played yet, England and Argentina completely dismissed! He didn’t even realize his own arrogance) NZ are not even aware of the arrogance they exude. Has no Kiwi politely asked the national team to take down the ‘Superstars and Humble Heroes’ boasting on the AB site? Its cringeworthy stuff. Do NZ really see themselves like this?

Note all this BS about Irish arrogance started just after NZs defeat in the 2022 series. Not a coincidence.

Also: this is Irish national TV. We will talk our team up as everyone does. We care too much about judgemental and thin skinned Kiwis getting offended.

91 Go to comments

JM 5 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Aussie rugby fans are obsessed with players they hate, for whatever reason.

Michael Hooper is another one, and the hatred only increased whenever he won John Eales medals or the two times he was nominated world player of the year.

I reckon it is because our forwards are technically and mentally weak they put it all on one player who they think should make way for the messiah.

Same for the general team performance and the hate put on players like White, Lolesio, and Foley who should be pulling rabbits out of the hat every play.

I reckon, if we had of had 5 players with Hooper’s desire and drive spread across the team (and especiallythe forwards), we wouldn’t have woken up in the bottom of the ditch.

37 Go to comments

RedWarriors 5 days ago

'What he’s given to this club is nothing short of incredible'

He shouldn’t have been picked. Not physically able for the most intense matches notably in Twickenham last year. Giving him the captaincy was also a very short sighted decision then after RWC 2023. Ireland have a tendency to be a little too loyal, which can mean the team ages and the rebuild is bigger than should be.

Plenty of lads out there to fill that squad.

4 Go to comments

OJohn 5 days ago

Geoff Parling returns to Leicester as head coach

Hooray

0 Go to comments

Carlos 5 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

He was also a YC magnet.

37 Go to comments

Carlos 5 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Windsor-Faulkner-Price. 😊

37 Go to comments

Solenn Bonnet 5 days ago

Leinster cleanse palette with record URC scoreline against Zebre

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0 Go to comments

Mzilikazi 5 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Ah, the Pooler front row ! Most legendary in the history of the , I would think. Max Boyce helped…”Here we. here we, here we go, with the Pontypool front row.”

37 Go to comments

Mzilikazi 5 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Would not go as far as whole house in our family, but for me, yes, W1. Loved playing in the scrum, love watching now😀

37 Go to comments

Mzilikazi 5 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Yes, I see that article here on RP, Nick. That is good news that Schmidt is going to look at the o’seas players.

Yes, I would think you are right that LAR will qualify. On the same points as MP, but surely they are too good not to win this crunch game….could be tEnse for ROG in the stands though.

37 Go to comments

BC 5 days ago

Who would make it into a Women's British and Irish Lions starting XV?

I would pick Oifa Wafer at 6, put Aldcroft in the second row with Ward. I think Wafer is one of the few non-England players mentioned that would contend for a Red Rose shirt, the others being King and possibly Neve Jones. Conversely there are two English players mentioned, Sing and Venner, that probably won’t even make the Red Rose WC squad, let alone a Lions Tour. Still a lot can change in two years, watch out for Millie David.

1 Go to comments

Otagoman II 5 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Great article NB, thanks. I would like to know what is the reasoning why so many things are penalties in the scrum. Is it to do with safety or something else?

37 Go to comments

NB 5 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

👍