All things considering of course.
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen and his back room team will be not only analysing areas where they believe their troops could improve, but the cards are now clearly on the table, the Springboks have the arsenal to match the number one ranked team in the world in what appear to be all facets.
Is there a problem?
While a loss might, if the coaching cliché manual is to be believed, might teach a team more, it also ignites that unwanted emotion that often comes alongside that losing feeling.
Are we good enough?
The All Blacks had all but come back and
won the Test at Ellis Park, something that Hansen essentially admitted would have
been unfair considering the concert that the
hosts put on.
A narrowed eye analysis reveals that the
New Zealand had a slight edge over the
Springboks, lacking of course in the most
important ledger of all (the scoreboard), but
a cursory examination is simple – the title
holders may have never come across such
a lively attacking South African side.
They will be awake to that threat next time
around
Yet it is quite obvious that one loss does not
erase this All Blacks team's record - one that has been almost impervious to defeat
despite some close margins.
South AfricaV.New Zealand
Attack
ATTACK
Tries
South Africa 3 New Zealand 3
Metres
South Africa 420 New Zealand 516
Carries
South Africa 123 New Zealand 127
Defenders beaten
South Africa 19 New Zealand 23
Clean Breaks
South Africa 10 New Zealand 15
Passes
South Africa 140 New Zealand 187
Offloads
South Africa 10 New Zealand 11
Turnovers conceded
South Africa 13 New Zealand 19
Depth is strong but what of the first XV?
The system is humming to such a degree that will have the All Blacks coaching team resting easy despite the reverse against South Africa, players can come in and out of the starting side without any apparent drop in overall metrics.
Yet if every single player was available, who gets in to the team?
In a World Cup knockout match, does Dan Carter, Aaron Cruden or Beauden Barrett get the nod, or will one of the brilliant young first five-eighths around the country make such a statement over 2015 Investec Super Rugby that they spill the apple cart?
And that is just looking at ten, while a similar dilemma exists one position out.
Malakai Fekitoa could add a layer of silk that the All Blacks haven’t had at 12 for a while, but how does one ignore a fully fit Ma’a Nonu, who has developed into one of the game’s immense midfielders, not to mention the X-Factor of a man called Sonny.
Tactical shift or stick with type?
New Zealand kicked the ball just 18 times against the Springboks (thank you Opta Stats), a discernible shift from recent tactics where the world champions have become one of the most prolific teams in the world when it comes to the boot.
Any why not when Israel Dagg’s thunderous strike lurks at the back, Nonu’s portfolio includes the grubber, while Aaron Smith can box kick as effectively as he can flick the possession wide.
When a team runs at the All Blacks, they often lick their lips and back their own ball carrying abilities to come out on top, but Ellis Park corroborated that the South Africans have the ability to play with fireworks equally well.
Plenty of food for thought when examining the strategic plans leading into the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
Read and Smith, Retallick and Savea, and who and who?
Last year Kieran Read and Ben Smith were two of the finest players on the planet, and while the two haven’t dropped off the radar, they haven’t reached such lofty heights in 2014.
However Brodie Retallick and Julian Savea have continued their personal developments to be rated as debatably the best lock and wing in the game this season.
If Smith, who will take a short break during the third Bledisloe, and Read, who ended last season as the most scrutinised player in the world, rediscover their world beating form, that adds to New Zealand’s ‘current World XV class’ players.
Between here and the World Champions first Test of the 2015 Rugby World Cup, who will be the next major influence for the All Blacks?
Some would suggest Sonny Bill Williams, but don't underestimate the recent inclusion of influential Steelers halfback Augustine Pulu...
No rest for the wicked
Australia, the United States, England, Scotland and Wales constitute the run home for the All Blacks in 2014.
All matches present their unique challenges, the Wallabies are wounded and due to the past this hints of danger, while the Americans will play the game of their lives in what will be an emotional juncture in rugby’s collective history in Chicago.
And then the World Cup hosts sit waiting at that wonderful stadium that is Twickenham, an almost completely unknown Scotland is next, coached by former Counties number eight Vern Cotter, and Warren Gatland’s Red Dragons wrap it up.
The All Blacks will be wary.
But so will the Wallabies and the Eagles, as will Europe, who have won just four Tests against the invading men in black in 48 internationals this millennium.
