I've been a Bok supporter for the past 2yrs and I must say I kinda enjoy being one at the moment. Used to be an AB supporter. My old man unfortunately won't change. He said something true earlier in the year when the AB were playing badly, can't remember against who (yeah there's so many times).

He barked (in Afrikaans) when he saw Isaac Ross and I hope it doesn't get lost in translation. Basically, 'How's the opposition suppose to fear a baby-face like that'. Which is true, nothing wrong Isaac Ross though. He's selected as a loose lock and is full-filling that role and playing very well. But where's the guy(s) in this current AB forward pack who drives fear into the opposition and causes them sleepless nights? There used to be Jerry Collins, Chris Jack, Hayman in recent times. There's plenty in the Springbok pack. They need to find that guy soon.

Why isn't Kevin Mealamu starting? Why are they further robbing a team of experience and leadership that is so desperately needed? I take my hat off to him for staying in NZ considering the treatment he's gotten in the Henry era. He still has his power and explosiveness and can take a pack forward. Pity about his injury though. Henry's not getting the balancing act right at the moment in terms of selections. I don't buy the "player drain" and injuries line anymore. There were enough form players in the S14 to select a competitive side who could have done much better. Instead Henry is holding on to some players who's star is fading. In my opinion, Henry's star as a coach is fading rapidly. The key is which experienced players to hang on to and who to let go. At international level, that is the fine line between success and failure as a coach.

Poor ol Henry, I bet he is spending the week teaching players the rugby rules,or how to catch a ball,or maybe even the impossible of how to beat a team that is better than you. Maybe the team and the coaches would restore confidence in themselves if we stopped rubbishing them and give them a pat on the back, win or loose.

Toby, Glad to see in print what a few of us non-resident All Blacks (AB) followers are thinking. AB selection has been based on current performance and I think that should extend to AB coaches as well. My simple observation is that what happens on the field is a result of coaching and selection decisions. Players are performing to whatever instructions that the coaches hand out. If the players are performing badly, then look to the coaches and the game plan. As in a business corporation, staff will behave as instructed by managers or mimic management behaviour. On the playing field, the AB players are doing as they have been coached. If the incorrect field options have been taken, chances are that they have been told to take those options. If the game is not won, then there is something serious lacking in the options as in the last 5 AB matches of 2009.

If denial is what is facing the AB coaching staff then the results of future games will not be too different when the AB scome up against a commendable opposition.

My suggestions are (as many others have already noted): Be prepared to change the game plan if the opponents have scored more points than you as nothing must be sacred. Otherwise the situation will not change before the end of the match; Add a kicking skill to 12; Beef up support for McCaw - he is overworked; Work on the lineout & breakdown; Work on the lineout & breakdown; Work on the lineout & breakdown; And last of all, score more points than the opposition!

Teacherman - you have it figured mate...Bravo! Great comment.

Steve Hansen.... doesn't want to call in an expert for the lineout? What arrogance. Smith - maybe you should try your whole flat backline thing again if you're looking for new ideas. Henry - leaving NZ's highest try scorer in the stand for a quarter final, along with the experienced Aaron Mauger sitting out sums up you. Nothing has changed since then and even if we happen to fluke a 2011 world cup win, it will have a bitter taste to it and will never make up for the crap we as fans have put up with.

gee the NPC is looking good, actually prefer watching that to tri nations. I'm sick of the bs that surrounds Henry and his coaching staff. Bad luck that they lost to a much better team but the margin and way they lost begs the question. Its complex - it's not just a couple of tweeks here and there. I'm looking at some of the players running around in the NPC and thinking why the hell are they not playing for the ABs!! Go the mighty Magpies.

Let's put it more simply: the constantly flat backline is a stupid notion and an utter failure, especially when the forwards aren't keeping their play tight. It's not innovation if it doesn't work.

The problem with Graham Henry is that his demeanour and modus operandi is "old school" sort of how many sheep in your backyard approach . It is important that Henry and his ilk move on from this sort of paternalistic selection process that position themselves as being omnipotent. Henry is from the DJ Graham school of gruff single mindedness, trying to mould players to be robotons and become eternally grateful for this sort of guidance. It is time for him to go, hopefully to revive the game before 2011. His continued tenure will ensure half full stands. Isn't it time for him to rest at home listen to his Peter Paul and Mary albums and wonder why Viyella shirts went out of fashion? Fergus

We can win this thing but a few things need to happen first:Some of these are pretty radical so seatbelts on: 1)Get rid of Henry and his other arrogant, innane side kicks. They have managed to coach the form out of most of their charges and ruined many careers not to mention cheapened the jersey. Fall on your swords fellas! please! Hire Warren Gatland (Head Coach) with input from Grant Fox (Backs) and Robin Brooke (Lineouts). My brother thinks Hansen is getting fatter every time he sees him on TV lol. 2)Get rid of Tew and his other arrogant, innane side kicks.Clean out the NZRFU before the WRC please! 3)Get Evans and Hayman back pronto! 4)Select on form. 5)Let them play, i.e. pick someone and stick with them to build combinations. With all great teams over history it has been harder to get out of them than into them, previous Aussie league and cricket teams come to mind. 6)Harden them up, there are too many soft centered kids in the team who have little life experience or coping skills. Practise performing under pressure!Unlike MOST current kiwi teams! or kiwi sports teams from the last 10 years. A hangover from Labour Gov and the PC "its all good to participate" theory. 7)Starting Backs lineup:Paul Williams, Lelia Masaga, Richard Kahui (when fit), Hosea Gear, Maa Nonu (KUB), Nick Evans, Brendon Leonard (when fit). 8)Starting Forwards lineup: Hayman (KUB), De Malmanche, Woodcock (KUB), Thorn, Eaton (KUB), Read, McCaw, Soialo 9)Reserves: Muliiana (KUB), Shoemark/Cruden (once developed), Carter, halfback?God knows?, Thomas Waldrom, Ross (KUB), MacIntosh, Paulo (when fit) KUB = Kick up Bum! Anyone else need not apply! 10) Ali Williams, Conrad, Joe, Cory, Siti, Luke, Donald, Weepu, Moa, Ellis, Cowan, Afoa, Kaino, Bryn, Hore, Wulf, Tialata, Franks x2, Whitelock, etc etc etc and all other one jersey wonders (I hope they have framed them!) will not win us the world cup! They do not understand how to perform like professionals consistently 11) This is a start, honestly you could write a book on the current chaos and periods of of NZ rugby basically since 1988. Enjoy!

I live in the U.S. I've watched rugby since '01. I used to love watching the All Blacks because of the beauty and fluidity of their game.

What the heck has happened? It's a chopped up mess out there. I think they need to run hands drills until they *know* where the next player is going to be. That's what they've lost. They don't instinctively know where their support players are, they can't count on them being there, so you see all of these fumbles and botched passes. Doesn't matter whether it is the big men or the wingers, you see way too many lone heroics, with support not coming in automatically, and horrible disorganization. Having unified support seems to be the exception not the rule.

When McCaw and Carter played together (and I'm not for rushing DC back) they already knew where the other one was going to be, McCaw ran the front, Carter the back, field generals coordinating with each other. I'm not always for playing pairs from the same Super14 team, but McCaw can't do it on his own, no one else in the back is able to make that same mental connection with him, so that everyone is playing on the same page.

This is why the NPC games were far better to watch this past week than the Tri-Nations! They were playing as teams, not random collections of individuals thrown out on the field.

I don't think it is an age issue, although I do think Rokococo needs to go. It's a mental/bonding issue. They don't trust each other to be there and depend on each other. Heck, if Howlett came back to NZ, "old man" that he is, they'd be better, because Howelett instinctively understands the flow of the game, like Richie and Carter.

Oh yeah, and NZ currently sucks at a rolling maul. The Springboks make it look like a thing of beauty. I remember when I first started watching rugby NZ could put most other rolling mauls to shame. I realize the ELVs messed things up, but aren't rolling mauls supposed to be part of the fundamentals?!