All Blacks: All that's wrong is coaches and players - critics

All Black assistant coach Steve Hansen admitted he got it wrong in trying to convert Adam Thomson into a specialist openside flanker. Photo / Sarah Ivey

The knives are out for the All Blacks management team if the Wallabies win tomorrow's test in Wellington, judging by a growing chorus of commentators, readers and talkback callers dismayed at the national team's performance so far.

A loss would see the team being the only All Black side to suffer three domestic defeats in one season.

The majority of thousands of nzherald.co.nz readers who have voted in a poll on what should happen after such a loss want all three coaching chiefs sacked - Graham Henry and assistants Wayne Smith and Steve Hansen - plus NZRU chief executive Steve Tew.

While some readers writing to our

Your Views pages

feel it's still patriotic to support the All Blacks, there has been a dramatic swing in public sentiment following the Springbok's win over the against the All Blacks last weekend.

Rugby fans, writing in, have become disenchanted with the All Blacks this season, and say a loss tomorrow night should have the NZRU analysing the All Blacks coaching team through to the next Rugby World Cup.

So what are the critics saying?

Andrew Slack (former Wallaby captain):

"You are perceived to be only as good as your last performance and to that end,

the Wallabies are on better footing

than their opponents."

David Campese (Daily Telegraph, Sydney):

"

These are dire straits for the men in black.

So a pushback is no doubt on the cards, and Robbie Deans will know how much motivation the All Blacks get from being under such intense public pressure. Kiwi fightback or not, if Australia can show the same enthusiasm and smarts as they did in Brisbane, I believe they have a real shot at beating the All Blacks in Wellington. Australia have nothing to lose. New Zealand do. Let's make it happen."

Wales and British Lions coach Shaun Edwards (The Guardian):

"Teams with quite a few 30-somethings tend to win World Cups, which would make the All Blacks an even better bet. Yet with the spirit of adventure needed for such a long-term gamble, it could be worth putting a little loose change on Australia."

Fili Tupua (London-based Sportingo.com):

Too many other new or old names have been brought back to the team

it is probably worth waiting until the 'aftermath'

before even commenting on how they'll go. And we can thank Graham Henry's mystified game plans, or his sidekicks for not being honest with themselves. So, seriously, what's the point?"