Opinion: Still plenty of question marks over this All Black team
Opinion – It is still telling that the All Blacks can come off a 34-point test win and have all the plaudits handed to their opposition. Last weekend Fiji showed up a much tougher prospect than pretty much anyone anticipated, including the All Blacks, so what are the chances of them repeating that feat?
Fiji dominated periods of the Dunedin test, particularly the contest at the breakdown
Photo: Photosport
The surprise factor is gone, for a start. So is arguably their best player from Dunedin’s test, Levani Botia. The skipper is going to leave a big hole in the midfield as he’s out with injury, but considering the Fijians took a very direct approach with their forward pack, it is a change that they can work around at least.
The All Blacks never really make the same mistake twice against the same opponent. The best illustration of that was against the Irish in 2012 when they turned around a 21-19 result to a 60-0 one a week later. The same thing happened when the Irish dared beat them in 2016 and 2018, the next matches between the two sides were brutally efficient wins. But no one wants to see that happen with these Fijians, who have proven themselves to be popular visitors and an intriguing case study in what might happen when the Drua enter Super Rugby next year.
What we do want to see is at least some sort of picture forming around what exactly is the top All Black side heading into a very long test campaign. The 15th test for the season was confirmed this week, making it the most intensive in the professional era (although nothing can be taken for granted in the current global situation), but question marks still linger over Ian Foster’s All Blacks.
