Work To Rule
NZ Rugby World|Issue 199, April - May, 2019

This Year’s World Cup Is Expected To Be One Of The Most Open In Years And It Could Come Down To Which Team Best Manages The Workload Of Their Players Leading Into The Tournament.

Gregor Paul
Work To Rule

By November last year, the All Blacks couldn’t hide the fact most of their players were about dead on their feet.

Head coach Steve Hansen didn’t want to say anything publicly about the state of his team, but he didn’t have to.

Everyone could see for themselves that Sam Whitelock was dragging himself around best he could.

There was no real zip in Aaron Smith. Liam Squire was running on empty and Codie Taylor, so sharp and energetic throughout June and the Rugby Championship was fraying at the edges.

Squire was a particularly interesting study as he was not only badly fatigued, he was just about broken, too.

A few days after the brutal test against England, Squire was left literally hauling himself up the stairs at the All Blacks hotel in Dublin. It was painful seeing him cling to the hand rail, dragging himself one leg at a time, wincing with every step and seeing him like that four days prior to the All Blacks’ biggest test of the year against Ireland, it looked certain he wouldn’t be named in the team.

And yet he was. He somehow found a way to get through training and persuade the coaching staff he was good to go, but he wasn’t the best version of himself and he got close to admitting as much in February this year ahead of Super Rugby.

“The body took a hiding last year,” he said. “The way I like to play it’s the risk I take. I spent the off-season trying to get the body ready to take those hits and play the style I want to.”

The All Blacks gave everything they had in Dublin, but the truth, whether Ireland find this dismissive of their brave and deserved victory or not, is that they didn’t face the real New Zealand that day.

They played an All Blacks side that had one too many players blunted by a long season. There were one too many players not able to access all of themselves.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM NZ RUGBY WORLDView all
The 20 Most Memorable Rugby Acts Of 2020
NZ Rugby World

The 20 Most Memorable Rugby Acts Of 2020

2020- Most Amazing Rugby Acts

time-read
10+ mins  |
Issue 208, December - January 2021
RUGBY ROYALTY
NZ Rugby World

RUGBY ROYALTY

FRANS STEYN’S IMPACT AT LAST YEAR’S WORLD CUP ADDED MORE PRESTIGE TO A DECORATED CAREER THAT ISN’T OVER YET. CRAIG LEWIS FROM SA RUGBY MAGAZINE REPORTS.

time-read
10+ mins  |
Issue 208, December - January 2021
NZ Rugby World

WINGING IT FOR LONGER

TYPICALLY POWER WINGS DON'T LAST LONG IN THE ALL BLACKS. BUT CALEB CLARKE AND RIEKO IOANE ARE HOPING TO BUCK THE TREND.

time-read
10 mins  |
Issue 208, December - January 2021
TOUGHEST JOB IN THE WORLD
NZ Rugby World

TOUGHEST JOB IN THE WORLD

NZ RUGBY WORLD EDITOR GREGOR PAUL HAS A NEW BOOK OUT CALLED THE CAPTAIN'S RUN. IN IT HE EXPLORES WHAT IT TAKES TO LEAD THE WORLD'S BEST RUGBY TEAM, HOW THE JOB HAS CHANGED AND HOW THE VARIOUS LEADERS HAVE DEALT WITH PRESSURE, FAILURE AND SUCCESS.

time-read
10+ mins  |
Issue 208, December - January 2021
NZ Rugby World

WOW FACTOR

SCOTT ROBERTSON IS UNORTHODOX BUT HE'S ALSO BRILLIANT AND WANTS A JOB WITH THE BRITISH & IRISH LIONS.

time-read
10+ mins  |
Issue 208, December - January 2021
RUGBY REBORN
NZ Rugby World

RUGBY REBORN

COVID BROUGHT ECONOMIC CARNAGE IN 2020 BUT RATHER THAN BEING SEEN AS A WRECKER OF FORTUNES, THE PANDEMIC WAS ACTUALLY A GIANT BLESSING.

time-read
10 mins  |
Issue 208, December - January 2021
NZ Rugby World

BATTLE FOR THE BLEDISLOE

THE UNPRECEDENTED CONDITIONS OF 2020 SAW THE INTERNATIONAL CALENDAR HASTILY REDRAWN AND IN A UNIQUE TWIST FOR THE PROFESSIONAL AGE, THE ALL BLACKS PLAYED FOUR CONSECUTIVE TESTS AGAINST AUSTRALIA.

time-read
7 mins  |
Issue 208, December - January 2021
PACIFIC POWER HOUSE
NZ Rugby World

PACIFIC POWER HOUSE

FIJI HAVE NEVER QUITE BEEN ABLE TO FULFIL THEIR ENORMOUS POTENTIAL. BUT THEY MIGHT NOW FOLLOWING THE APPOINTMENT OF VERN COTTER AS HEAD COACH.

time-read
9 mins  |
Issue 207, October - November 2020
THE PEOPLE'S CHAMPION
NZ Rugby World

THE PEOPLE'S CHAMPION

ON AND OFF THE FIELD, SPRINGBOKS WING CHESLIN KOLBE CONTINUES TO MAKE AN INSPIRATIONAL IMPACT.

time-read
10+ mins  |
Issue 207, October - November 2020
DEFENCE FORCE ONE
NZ Rugby World

DEFENCE FORCE ONE

THE BLUES WERE A RADICALLY DIFFERENT TEAM IN 2020 AND MUCH OF THAT WAS DUE TO THEIR VASTLY IMPROVED WORK ON DEFENCE.

time-read
9 mins  |
Issue 207, October - November 2020