Are the All Blacks winning more than ever?, 9th June 2007

“In the 20 years since the first World Cup in 1987 the ABs have played 193 tests and won 154 of them. That’s an 80% win record while playing more games than were played in the previous 80 years.”

Dark Days, 13th October 2007

“It all started about 25 minutes into the second half last Sunday morning, when Daniel Carter went off injured and the TV pictures showed the look of absolute fear in his eyes. I sunk back into my chair. From then on in it all seemed to have an air of inevitability about it. Four more years, boys!”

“The problem is our expectations are just not based on reality. And, in the heat of battle they surely weigh a bloke down, no? I can’t help but think the complete lack of composure and loss of structure the All Blacks suffered in the final 20 minutes wasn’t in some way all of our fault.”

(see also: Whatever makes you nervous, 11th June 2007)

Re-invigorating the All Blacks, 24th December 2007

“Enough, I say!  Here are two simple lessons that seem to have evaded rugby administrators…