All Blacks: Lowpoint of the Henry era

The fans want remedies or replacements, not excuses. Photo / Getty Images

There may not be enough time for the All Blacks to fix their dysfunctional lineout, graunching backline and lack of tactical nous before they meet the Wallabies this weekend in Wellington.

In the lowpoint of the Graham Henry era, the All Blacks have won only four of their eight tests this season and, most disturbingly, have shown little improvement since their initial loss to France in June. There are six tests still to negotiate this season if they are to avoid the pain of 1998 when they lost five matches.

Repeat flaws are afflicting the All Blacks. Some key injury defections have hurt but the side which conceded the Tri-Nations to the Boks on Saturday, began the international with 572 caps among them. Inexperience can not be used as an excuse.

Wing Sitiveni Sivivatu injured a groin and will be out of rugby for six weeks, while the Wallabies are sweating on the fitness of hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau and wing Lachie Turner, who both have rib injuries, for this weekend's rematch.

In their eight tests this season, the All Blacks attacking clout has been limited to just 12 tries as their backline and lineout has suffered varying degrees of malfunction under the supervision of Wayne Smith and Steve Hansen.

Henry runs the defensive systems which have been extremely miserly in conceding just 10 touchdowns but he is the team convener ultimately responsible for the selections, style and strategies. Some of the meltdowns in Hamilton were alarming.

In a first half of dross as the All Black lineout disintegrated, the Daniel Carter-Stephen Donald axis looked what it was, a late stop-gap experiment.

It is hard to fathom why Carter, the world's best five-eighths, would be ignored as first receiver in preference to someone who makes kicking look a work in progress, while Donald could be excused for looking uneasy in a midfield role he has not tackled for six years.

It was hard to work out what the selectors expected or wanted Donald to achieve. In time it might work but internationals should not be treated as practice.

Then there was the lineout, the ugliest component in the All Blacks armoury.

Sure, they were up against the world's best but waiting 30 minutes to claim, ironically, their first collect from a Springbok overthrow, was a handbrake on any continuity. The All Blacks lost five of their 12 throws and Andrew Hore was also pinged for a crooked delivery. It improved but too late, the game had gone.