A quote from green and gold rugby can also be found on the NZ herald site:
World rugby critics: 'The All Blacks have lost their mojo'
12:27PM Friday Sep 18, 2009
Video We can bounce back, says McCaw (3:59)
Video All Blacks: Donnelly ready to set-up (2:48)
Video Hansen: All Blacks can't afford to leave Thomson out (3:15)
Video Coach: All Blacks 'not getting the game going' (2:06)
Tri-Nations
All Blacks: Players in charge of build-up to Aussie test
All Blacks: Seven players, one ball, where's the catch, then?
Related links:
All Blacks: Latest date for test match in years
The knives are out for the All Blacks management team if the Wallabies win tomorrow's test in Wellington, judging by a growing chorus of commentators, readers and talkback callers dismayed at the national team's performance so far.
A loss would see the team being the only All Black side to suffer three domestic defeats in one season.
The majority of thousands of nzherald.co.nz readers who have voted in a poll on what should happen after such a loss want all three coaching chiefs sacked - Graham Henry and assistants Wayne Smith and Steve Hansen - plus NZRU chief executive Steve Tew.
While some readers writing to our Your Views pages feel it's still patriotic to support the All Blacks, there has been a dramatic swing in public sentiment following the Springbok's win over the against the All Blacks last weekend.
Rugby fans, writing in, have become disenchanted with the All Blacks this season, and say a loss tomorrow night should have the NZRU analysing the All Blacks coaching team through to the next Rugby World Cup.
So what are the critics saying?
Andrew Slack (former Wallaby captain): "You are perceived to be only as good as your last performance and to that end, the Wallabies are on better footing than their opponents."
David Campese (Daily Telegraph, Sydney): " These are dire straits for the men in black. So a pushback is no doubt on the cards, and Robbie Deans will know how much motivation the All Blacks get from being under such intense public pressure. Kiwi fightback or not, if Australia can show the same enthusiasm and smarts as they did in Brisbane, I believe they have a real shot at beating the All Blacks in Wellington. Australia have nothing to lose. New Zealand do. Let's make it happen."
Wales and British Lions coach Shaun Edwards (The Guardian): "Teams with quite a few 30-somethings tend to win World Cups, which would make the All Blacks an even better bet. Yet with the spirit of adventure needed for such a long-term gamble, it could be worth putting a little loose change on Australia."
Fili Tupua (London-based Sportingo.com): Too many other new or old names have been brought back to the team it is probably worth waiting until the 'aftermath' before even commenting on how they'll go. And we can thank Graham Henry's mystified game plans, or his sidekicks for not being honest with themselves. So, seriously, what's the point?"
Skysport.co.nz: "A loss may not be the end for Graham Henry but only because there doesn't seem to be much accountability within his structure. In any case a win will not disguise the problems."
Lance Free (Greenandgoldblog): "The fans are not used to losing tests at home or in a row. This situation is very rare and hard for them to stomach. I'm expecting blood on the floor if it continues.
Roar (Australian blog): "It's all very well to blame players, but what about team organisation and tactics. Who's in charge of this? The coaches, the captain, and the no.10."
Wales coach Warren Gatland (BBC), saying he would like to coach NZ but not now: "[I'm] glad I'm not doing the job at the moment, that's for real."
Inga Tuigamala: The constant criticism is counter-productive and this feels like a time to back off a bit."
Former All Black captain Sean Fitzpatrick: "(Last week) the first half it was just disgraceful; I don't know what they were doing."
The Australian: "With the World Cup less than two years away, this is as late as the NZRU could possibly afford to leave it to make a coaching change. Most puzzling of all is the manner in which the All Blacks have lost their mojo. The team that never second-guessed itself is wallowing in introspection"
Guardian: "If Smit's South Africa are not the best ever, it might be because the 2009 Tri Nations has not in general been of the highest order. New Zealand have cunningly swapped inter-World Cup supremacy for one of those less sure-footed places known as a period of transition. Better to be slated now than after the semi-final of the big one in two years' time."
Greg Clark (Fox Sports commentator): "After home losses to France and South Africa, Graham Henry's men might be about to hit rock bottom. But they have already wrapped up the Bledisloe Cup for another year, after wins in Auckland and Sydney, so all is not lost over the ditch."
Mark Cashman (Editor, Inside Rugby Australia): Wallabies will win by seven.
Waitakere reader to Your Views: "There are obviously not enough good players in NZ. Perhaps if we merged with Australia, we would have enough players to form a competitive team for the upcoming world cup."
Letter to Dominion Post: "For sale: One rugby coach, suitable for under-fives. Also for sale, 15 rugby players. Suitable for not terribly much."
;D :binkybaby
