Review: All Blacks v Canada
What a great game that was. Seriously. An awesome game. And not because of the All Blacks, who (rightly) were less than impressed with themselves. But because Canada showed just how good a team that does the basics well can play, no matter the opposition.
Canada were always going to be behind when it came to fitness, strength, and overall skill level. The only areas where they could (and did) match the All Blacks were in enthusiasm, heart, determination, and what seemed to be a genuine love for playing the game. What a refreshing change it was to see a side that wasn't concerned with how the media would see them; with whether their coach was under pressure; with saving their own spots. This was a team that were enjoying playing rugby in New Zealand, before a crowd who appreciated them, against one of the top sides in the world.
Imagine being in the New Zealand Ice Hockey team and playing the Canadian national team in Montreal. Or The All Whites taking on Brazil at home. It's a wonderful honour, but it's also a chance to learn, to test yourself against the best. The Canadians certainly weren't star-struck by the men in black, and threw themselves into the game with gusto. They wouldn't have been happy with the scoreline, but you certainly couldn't find too much fault with their game overall.
And the All Blacks? Like most pundits I wasn't impressed with the first half, and while the second half was better it seemed like most of them were playing with one eye on next week in Durban. Nothing really went wrong, but against a top team like the Springboks everything has to go right, especially in The Republic where their record of late hasn't been wonderful.
Hopefully the conditioning program will give them enough of an edge this Saturday, together with what should be a full squad (locks aside) to choose from.
Canada were always going to be behind when it came to fitness, strength, and overall skill level. The only areas where they could (and did) match the All Blacks were in enthusiasm, heart, determination, and what seemed to be a genuine love for playing the game. What a refreshing change it was to see a side that wasn't concerned with how the media would see them; with whether their coach was under pressure; with saving their own spots. This was a team that were enjoying playing rugby in New Zealand, before a crowd who appreciated them, against one of the top sides in the world.
Imagine being in the New Zealand Ice Hockey team and playing the Canadian national team in Montreal. Or The All Whites taking on Brazil at home. It's a wonderful honour, but it's also a chance to learn, to test yourself against the best. The Canadians certainly weren't star-struck by the men in black, and threw themselves into the game with gusto. They wouldn't have been happy with the scoreline, but you certainly couldn't find too much fault with their game overall.
And the All Blacks? Like most pundits I wasn't impressed with the first half, and while the second half was better it seemed like most of them were playing with one eye on next week in Durban. Nothing really went wrong, but against a top team like the Springboks everything has to go right, especially in The Republic where their record of late hasn't been wonderful.
Hopefully the conditioning program will give them enough of an edge this Saturday, together with what should be a full squad (locks aside) to choose from.
No comments:
Post a Comment