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Why the All Black brand of winning is dead...
Former England captain Will Carling has joined the ranks of those who believe that fashion and media hype have taken over in New Zealand from what rugby union should be all about.
by Greg Smith on 01 June 2008
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Canterbury, sponsors of the Springboks, have a wonderful ad campaign. It shows a Bok bashing into an Adidas All Black with the pay-off line that "All Black is so last season". And former England captain Will Carling is leading the damning of the fashion show and media hype that has become a feature of New Zealand's rugby union.
Carling has tongue-whipped the team from the Land of the Long White Cloud and blasted 'light' through the mists that have shrouded the All Blacks in mystical invincibility.
His scathing words are true. The McBlacks (the McDonald's of rugby union) have become commoditised, the All Black jersey is no longer a shroud of pure team dedication and ruthless intent to win. It has been cheapened – it’s been made to look pretty.
Who would have thought, 20 years back, that you could dream of the words ATTRACTIVE and ALL BLACK in the same sentence? As the lads from KEO point out, 'the game is not about attractiveness, it is about scoring more points than the opposition over two 40-minute periods. That’s the rugby I know, that’s the rugby on which my admiration for the All Blacks is based. And yet I am left questioning why New Zealand, who once personified the ultimate winning machine is now the temperamental, hard-to-drive Italian sports car.'
Carling bemoans: ''The shine of that pitch-black shirt is for sale and I for one am disappointed and frustrated at the leaders of the game that the ongoing erosion of one of the great states continues, without abatement.''
Coach Graham Henry cannot be lumped with all the blame and the NZRU needs to share culpability for this 'be pretty and don't win' style and focus of out-of-fashion New Zealand rugby. The NZRU has managed Kiwi rugby like a McDonald's franchise and has professionally packaged their goose that lays the golden egg (the AB's) into a 'happy meal' box to maximise their brand returns.
International rugby union does not tolerate this type of prostitution and New Zealanders need to be reminded of their past and how 'we won by winning on the scoreboard and not by the television coverage.'
The All Black brand of winning the game is dead, you may as well tune into the WWF.
All eyes focus on South Africa and the Six Nations champions.
Comments (7)
by nesian rugby on June 02, 2008
Nice to see your bokke insecurity back to its incredulous heights Greg. Funny how you speak of African rugby dominance yet the World Cup is the only thing you constantly brag and bring NZ down with. Our poxy teeny weeny country at the edge of the earth with 141,726 rugby players and only 29,089 being adults STILL manages to dominate and supply every possible avenue of rugby union - Touch rugby to sevens rugby to age-grade rugby to womens rugby to super 14 rugby to head coaches of rugby to wheelchair rugby to rugby staff the world over in the historic pages of Rugby Magazines and Rugby Almanacs and on the walls of Rugby museums and rugby clubrooms to the daily newspaper rugby sections - it is NZ rugby that creates the collective sighs and oohs and aahs which you so desperately long for. Not by denouncing our competition like you have crusaded to do but by winning on the field consistently and winning in a style which showcases everything rugby should be about. To us, we strive to produce the complete rugby package whatever the rugby avenue. To you, its just about a World Cup. So While you continue to bask in last years glory - you can learn about ours in every rugby book, corridor and conversation the world over... You are the precise reason we strive to continue dominating EVERYTHING rugby! Good luck to you bro ;)
by Loser on June 02, 2008
NZ have won more Tri Nations and Super 14s and test matches that South Africa will even hope to win in the next century of rugby. Yet one historical upset loss (WC 07 V France) where the All Blacks had complete statistical domination and one sided idiots like you think that your country of losers can dominate after barely beating a woeful England. Loser.
by Horrible article on June 02, 2008
You cannot even begin to admit the tremendous rivalry and competition that the All Blacks have brought to the African rugby world - you are so one eyed it makes me look forward to another bashing in the upcoming tri nations. How did you guys fare in the Super 14 (and don't be a loser and quote "but we are the champions" because we all know one tournament does not define you)
by Lemon Squeezer on June 02, 2008
G.s. South Africa have not won one game on New Zealand soil in TEN YEARS whilst being beaten 14 times by AB's during same period. Beaten by the touring Lions in 97', shamed by the English in the NH, utterly humiliated 49 points to nil by the aussies just last year and with only one Super Rugby title compared to NZ's ten, you definitely are the greatest rugby nation in history!! What lofty heights you aspired the fearsome Bokke to, after your glorious win in France last year.Only to see them thumped a few weeks later by the Baa Baas! Boks win 2 World Cups in Twelve years! Big deal, we won the very first one, and will win more in the future.
by Johan on June 03, 2008
Rugby aside south africa is a feral country filled with morons like greg who have no clue about anything, i feel sorry for greg he writes his petty articles always feeling the need to mouth off about south africa because he knows deep down its the arsehole of the world. Actually ive got to go to the toilet feel a african coming on!!
the yarpies won what was said to be the worst world cup ever and if the All Blacks are the Maccas of rugby what does that make the yarpies Chinese takeaway... CHEAP AND NASTY!
by Chris McKinley on June 11, 2008
Dude, you are so inept. I seriously can not believe you write sports articles! and i'm not just saying that as the typical angry email guy i'm sure you guys deal. I'm actually surprised you got a job!!! How did you do that??? Did you con your employer??? You did eh? Can't believe you're just setting out with an agenda to knock the ALL BLACKS...like the article i just read and responed to about the 'huge chasm' between SA and NZ through 2007...you know the article, the one where you say the ALL BLACKS suffered a massive form slump in 2007 and a massive chasm opened up between SA and NZ when in actual fact NZ were ranked one all through 2007, a season where they only lost twice in 15 games and remained unbeaten at home, continueing the unbeaten run since 2003!!!! So the facts (you know what a fact is eh???) are that NZ were ranked one all through 2007 until SA got ahead only after wining world cup...anyway that's another article. But now in this one you're knocking the power of the ALL BLACKS jersey, and what's even funnier than that is you're talking about England (hahahha) in that context, the mighty England - yes they who have won the grand totla of 2 test matches in NZ since the first paid a visit 45 years ago...dude you've seriously gotta start reading and properly following the game! You're boss is gonna get wise to your way below par journalism and total lack of knowledge and fire you! I'm still sure you must be filling in for someone...when do you go back to the weather dept??? Still pretty glad i stumbled upon your stuff...you're hilarious. I'll give ya another few weeks before the boss realises you're rubbish and you end up at McDonalds...hopefully you'll serve one of the McBLACKS and then at least you'll have met and from then on can recognise a real man! anyway i'm being mean, but not without a reason...mate you or your boss has seriously gotta check out some rugby facts and read things and watch games....you are massively uninformed. Good luck at McDonalds. And Boss, just do 5 minutes research and you'll see how extraordinarily below average your rugby writer...is seriously, just check!
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