Luke's blunder sign of the times

BY DUNCAN JOHNSTONE

OPINION: The desperate edge that surrounds the fragile All Blacks at present was summed up by Luke McAlister.

Rushed back into the team he rushed a pass that pretty much gift-wrapped a famous win for France in New Zealand.

To blame this loss at the hands of McAlister would be too simple.

In effect, the game was lost in a lacklustre first half that was inexcusable.

The All Blacks may have lacked experience in certain areas but they should never have lacked energy and enthusiasm.

Sadly even some of the older hands were guilty of having these qualities glaringly absent.

They allowed the French to rip into them and their confidence grew as they scored two early tries to lead 17-3.

That forced the All Blacks into a game of catchup that almost looked possible at one stage until McAlister's blunder.

It's hard to escape the feeling that McAlister was rushed back into the national team with indecent haste.

They bent the rules to get him back involved in the system after his lucrative English sojourn and then whipped him straight back into the squad when Richard Kahui added to their injury nightmare last week.

Two years out of test rugby and the better part of three months out of rugby altogether with injury meant this was always going to be a massive match for him.

They came back to haunt him in a flash as his attempted quick flick to Mils Muliaina was picked off by fullback Maxime Medard for the 60m dash to the posts.

This wasn't the English Premiership, it was an international where blunders are punished heavily and the end result was just the fourth French test win in New Zealand.

Because of the rash of injuries some critics were labeling this All Blacks side the worst of the professional era. I preferred to label it one of the weakest, feeling it fairer to at least judge their performance first.

On their effort at Carisbrook they are indeed weak and certainly right down there among the worst.

Rusty first-up efforts are nothing new but ones that result in defeat are rare.

Home losses are a no-no, particularly outside of the Tri-Nations and this was a poor season-opener from the All Blacks.

Sadly the All Blacks were out-hustled and out-bustled by a French team that seemed to have plenty of energy despite all the talk being about their fears of fatigue given this is the end of their long season.

The All Blacks, with their new back row, couldn't win the collision areas. They were guilty of far too many turnovers and their missed tackles were glaring at times.

There is no doubt about the promise of the young loosies but they were guilty of doing a couple of things wrong for every moment of brilliance.

Liam Messam summed that up with missed tackles in both of  France's early tries and then turning up to score the All Blacks' touchdown on halftime.

But the forwards struggled to handle the tight play of the French who mauled enthusiastically and profitably.

Where do the All Blacks go in a week as they look to reverse this result in Wellington next Saturday?

There's a chance that senior lock Ali Williams and dashing halfback Brendon Leonard will be available and their experience and qualities will certainly help.

But two players won't turn this around. Attitude and endeavour will.

They will look to the third quarter of their Dunedin effort for some sort of blueprint on how to do things.

It was then that they managed to get on top, putting together some phases to place some heat on the French and have the tourists' on the back foot. They couldn't keep it going though.

The young All Blacks have been dealt a harsh lesson. Let's hope they can learn from it.

They say there is no more dangerous beast than a wounded All Blacks team.

These All Blacks were wounded even before they took the field such was the state of their casualty ward.

Now we wait to see their response after the French added insult to injury.

- © Fairfax NZ News