One Kiwi's opinion on the state of Aus and NZ in union.
Australia needs a new blood transfusion
By Stu Wilson
Saturday, March 15, 2003 There are 40 players who could comfortably line up for the All Blacks this year. The Wallabies, who have been less adventurous in planning for the World Cup, have nowhere near that number of applicants equal to the challenge. Australian Rugby Union chief John O'Neill has said this year was not about the Super 12, it was all about the World Cup. Essentially, I agree, and he's probably exactly right from a chief executive's perspective, but in reality you just cannot pick up a team before the cup and go on and win it. You need all the ingredients to come together nicely, need your players to be feeling positive and confident, and need the right mix of talent and experience. The key to this for Australia, New Zealand and South Africa is the Super 12, and nowadays you'd have to say Australia is looking close to third best in that group.<br clear=all> New Zealand is obviously on top, the South Africans looks like they've improved in key areas, such as fitness, while Australia, with the Waratahs' obvious success in their past two matches aside, looks stale. In New Zealand, there's been plenty of talk about the comparison between the way our sides have started the competition and the way Australia's have. Our strongest teams, the Crusaders, Blues and Highlanders, all look fresh, while traditionally strong teams such as the Brumbies and Reds have struggled. The main reason New Zealand look stronger is the brave move by All Black coach John Mitchell before last year's end-of-season tour to select an entirely new squad. Who cares if you lose a couple of matches on a European tour if you are building towards the World Cup? Australia, by comparison, virtually selected their strongest side, only blooding a couple of new players: Adam Freier and Matt Giteau. Mitchell is already reaping the dividends of his decision. Four halfbacks - Justin Marshall, Byron Kelleher, Danny Lee and Steve Devine - played for New Zealand last season and I would be more than happy with any one of those players at the cup. Reasonable cover exists in all positions and the possibility of injuries to key players is nowhere near as daunting as it might have been in the past. Players who are next in line have already experienced the top level and will adapt to the pressures of international rugby much more easily. This also means the competition for each place is tough - and that's reflected on the field. The best thing to happen in New Zealand rugby for a while was the Blues taking the Crusaders apart last week. The Crusaders had seemed a little complacent in their first two wins and if the loss to the Blues doesn't shake them out of it, nothing will.
