One could trace this back directly to Graham Henry’s coaching policies. Nearly four years ago, he showed his hand with a constant rotation of his top players. This was shown emphatically on the All Blacks triumphant Grand Slam tour, where the entire XV was changed in the Ireland and Wales games. This was then enforced as official New Zealand policy. There was a need to cultivate 30 men who could execute at the highest level.

This was shown to reap considerable reward – but was shown eventually on the paddock to cause inconsistency in the World Cup, and confusion amongst the New Zealand management team as to who their elite team was. But detractors of such policies bemoaned another aspect – the depreciation of the single greatest aspect of the New Zealand game: The All Black jersey.

More men have worn the cherished symbol in the last four years than any other period in history (with the exception of the cavalier controversy in the late 1980’s).

'The NZRU has been in "talks" to remedy this issue. It has so far come up with two serious solutions to the problem'


But the real damage was apparent last year, when New Zealand witnessed the single greatest player drain they have ever suffered in their proud history. This was confirmed brutally by the European clubs, who haughtily stated that they only wanted the best that money could buy – All Blacks.

Conventionally, players who were close to retirement or unable to break into the sacred international team left to ply their trade overseas.  But players in their playing prime joined the dread exodus – including Carl Hayman and Luke McAlister.

Clearly the money was one of the greatest lures – but then one player commented his own feelings and in essence lost his status as a potential great. Dan Carter, heralded as the greatest fly-half currently in the modern game, stated that the pressure to perform and of being recognised was, in a sense, too much.

The same Dan Carter who shortly after the World Cup was in Europe signing lucrative sponsorship deals and exploiting his status; foremost as an underwear model. This was status that never would have been realised or achieved without wearing the one thing he was bemoaning – the Black jumper.

This is the same player who is on the verge of becoming the highest-paid rugby union player on the planet, with Toulouse courting the playmaker with an estimated one million Euro contract. But he finds it unseemly to share his thoughts with his employer – the NZRU – or his supporters, the New Zealand public and the appreciators of semi-clad athletes.

So far this year, more players are following this irrepressible flood. As well as Carter, Nick Evans, the second-ranked fly-half in New Zealand rugby is looking offshore. Evans has so far priced himself out of the market, with Welsh clubs baulking at his 750,000 Euro price tag. Worse still, Jerry Collins, arguably New Zealand’s most influential forward outside of Richie McCaw, has signalled his interest, and no doubt the treasuries of Europe will gape for the imposing back rower.

New Zealand know this is an issue, not only with the above facts – but with considerable focus to this topic in the recent testimony published regarding the All Blacks' 2007 World Cup campaign. It stresses this as a realistic problem. In Europe, they have only one coach, one season, a considerable off season, no public pressure, and, of course, nearly double the salary.

The NZRU has been in “talks” to remedy this issue. It has so far come up with two serious solutions to the problem. But I believe these decrees are obtuse and counter-productive; and a definitive sum-up of the errors committed by the ruling body which is lurching possibly the strongest rugby nation in history from one crisis to another.

First, they recommend allowing sabbatical periods for the top players, giving them 12 to 24 months to ply their trade in Europe and then come back to New Zealand. The only benefit of this is that these players could conceivably come back stronger for playing a northern game.  The weakness of this is that it further cheapens the All Black jersey. What happens to the players who “temporarily” hold these players' positions while the cream are in Europe? If they turn their back on the New Zealand game, should they be welcomed back with open arms?

The finest hour of these unwise men comes with the announcement that they may allow international selection of players in Europe. And with that, destroy the greatest asset of keeping players in the country – the allure, the mystique, the pride of wearing the Black. What incentive would a player of reasonable quality have to stay in New Zealand if they knew than any player of Kiwi heritage anywhere in the world could be selected for the All Blacks?

They cannot match the money – but wearing the Black, performing the Haka, and representing your country, are the holy grails of New Zealand rugby and must be protected, not pillaged because overrated whiners like Carter want to earn millions in Europe.