<i>Helpful hints to ending the World Cup nightmare</i>
14:43, Jan 31 2009
Reuters
HOLY GRAIL: The World Cup has become an increasingly elusive prize for New Zealand rugby. It might be time to take a more simple approach.
There are four years until the next World Cup and that should be plenty of time to right some recurring wrongs. So here are a few things that the All Blacks can start thinking about now to help their chances of success on home soil.
Pick the best team at the start of 2011 and keep playing them.
In fact, make sure the best team is playing most, if not all, of 2010 as well.
Ensure there is a world class centre in place well before the tournament.
Be prepared to forsake a bit of style in the name of victory.
Start some dropgoal practice now.
Forget about any sort of mid-tournament break - don't even go to Mission Bay for a swim.
Leave the Wags out of the frame altogether.
Put some passion into the national anthem.
Go back to the white alternate jersey.
Drop the fancy hotels and consider billeting the boys out at some stage.
Don't carry any injured players into the tournament or on to the playing field.
Drop the hi-tech fitness regime and get a simple approach from the Gordon Tietjens school of training.
Leave "mental skills coach" Gilbert Enoka out of the management equation.
How about a speech or two from any of the following: Buck Shelford, Sean Fitzpatrick, Zinzan Brooke, Joe Stanley, or David Kirk? All are World Cup winners and all are mental giants.
Play like your blood really is mixed with the soil of our great grounds.
Be your own masters, not products of your sponsors.
Hope like heck that the NZRU ensures the tournament is actually played in New Zealand and doesn't stuff up the home advantage.
Sort out a sensible player agent curfew.
Don't even mention the name Webb Ellis until the start of the tournament year.