Can anyone stop the All Black’s from another Slam?
ByAfter easily accounting for Scotland with a mixture of first and second choice players, are any of the home nations capable of preventing the All Blacks from achieving their second Grand Slam in three years?
Up next for the All Blacks are Ireland who have not been having the best year in internationall rugby. Picking up wins against Scotland and Italy in the Six Nations and beating Canada last weekend are the only successes the men in green have had this year.
Their tour down under in June was something of a disaster for the team, losing to New Zealand and Australia in consecutive weeks, neither time really challenging their southern rivals. No, Ireland will not be the team who denies the All Blacks a Grand Slam.
After a midweek fixture against Munster, the next opponent will be Wales and this is where things get interesting for New Zealand. Wales, coached by kiwi Warren Gatland, have been something of a Jekel and Hyde team this year, going unbeaten in the Six Nations, then losing three in a row to South Africa including a 20-15 loss last weekend.
It is well documented that coach Gatland wanted his team together earlier than he got them, so it could be difficult to read much into their loss to the Boks. In fact, after another hit out against Canada, it will be the match with the All Blacks that the Welsh will be targetting for their November test schedule.
Wales have the kind of creative back line that could trouble the All Blacks, particularly with James Hook back at the helm, but it will up front where Wales will need to dominate if they are to deny New Zealand a Grand Slam.
If the All Blacks can over come Wales, the only thing between them and a Grand Slam will be England. At Twickenham England are at their best, able to stifle opponents attack, grind them down with relentless forward pay and beat them with precision goal kicking.
The England side which toured New Zealand back in June will bear little resemblance to the side which will take the field on November 30. Coach Martin Johnson is now firmly in charge, taking over from caretaker Rob Andrew, leading his inexperienced side to a good win over the Pacific Islanders.
Danny Cipriani, filling in for the once again injured Johnny Wilkinson, played especially well, slotting 14 points and directing the backline well.
England will also be match hardened, much like Wales, playing the other two Tri-Nations countries ahead of New Zealand so will be well adapted to the southern style of play, however the tough clashes could backfire as the team need to get themselves ready physically and mentally for three games in three weeks against the three top ranked sides in the world.
The All Blacks will most likely complete their Grand Slam tour unbeaten for their second Slam in three years, but Wales and particularly England will be no push overs. Expect to see full strength line ups take the field in the final two tests as coach Graham Henry looks to end the year on a high note.
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The Can anyone stop the All Black’s from another Slam? by Hamish McBrearty, unless otherwise expressly stated, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
