There’s a story I love about the All Blacks.

They have a system known as sweeping the sheds where even the superstars pick up after themselves when they clear out of a change room. It speaks to their humility, a non-negotiable for New Zealand’s elite players.

“We don’t have a lot of rules,” says coach Steve Hansen. “But we have a lot of expectations.”

While we’re busy agonising about the state of the Springboks and Australia endure a spiral towards mediocrity, the All Blacks are doing what we didn’t think possible: getting better.

Meanwhile, the inevitable can’t be staved off much longer. The Springboks soon head to Christchurch for a clash against the All Blacks. There is nothing to suggest that it won’t be a case of as you were. Hansen had built statistically the most successful sporting team in history, having won 54 of his 59 Tests for a 91.5 percent winning record. He isn’t in the habit of losing, having done so just three times.

What’s also remarkable is how the All Blacks seamlessly absorbed the loss of titans Dan Carter and Richie McCaw. There was no panic, no hysteria. New players were brought in and team renewal, so endemic to their success, was assured.

Beauden Barrett inherited Carter’s jersey, but he had already played almost 40 Tests. Hansen had prepared smartly for the day Carter went in search of bagfuls of Euros. He knew it would happen and made a plan because there is no comfort zone in New Zealand rugby. Complacency isn’t tolerated.

It helps that in New Zealand the best players are owned by the province, franchise and All Blacks. The player is thus central to every move, every decision taken. The happy corollary is that there is no squabbling and no power struggles.

It also links to the All Blacks’ “no dickheads policy”. Yes, it exists. Inflated egos are shown the door.

Officials can be precious at times and New Zealand can seemingly do little wrong in the eyes of World Rugby, but their regard for tradition, their deep respect for their jersey and their relentless quest for excellence can only be marvelled at.

So too their pursuit of innovation. In 1905 the All Black “Originals” swept through the United Kingdom, winning 34 of 35 matches. They shocked the hosts by playing a brand of rugby they were unused to, injecting backs and forwards into a flexible attacking line, moving the ball quickly and creating space for support runners. It was the first example of innovation that the All Blacks were to become famous for.

And still they innovate. Look how razor-sharp they are at the breakdown, which is why their number seven jersey is so revered. Where others slow down as they attack rucks and mauls, the All Blacks accelerate. If you’re loose, they hurt you. And then you lose.

The All Blacks have also been brave in their policy of picking only home-based players. Their depth gives them that luxury, but the power of the black jersey is also a strong attraction. It still matters.

More than any other team, the All Blacks have developed a total reliance on each other’s different strengths, which is why their support play and speed of thought is so superior.

Difference is celebrated, not stifled. They make it work.

They have an obsessive eye for improvement. Every detail is torn apart and analysed. Are they beatable? Only if the opposition is intelligent, clinical and able to hurt them. It took blood and thunder for the Boks to beat them at Ellis Park two years ago, and an ice-veined Pat Lambie kick at the death.

It’s naïve to believe that the current Boks have the game or the players to master them in a battle of tactics.
Far better to drag them down with the old blood-and-guts approach. It may be medieval in nature, but it’s SA rugby’s default position and apparently the one thing the players can deliver.

We will occasionally catch the buggers on an off day – once, say, every 10 matches – but for SA to power on, root and branch reform is essential.

Until then, the past, present and future is indeed All Black. – © Sunday Tribune