All Blacks: Style clash set for RWC says Smith

Wayne Smith is delighted with the emphasis on attack is world rugby but expects a strategic rethink at the World Cup. Photo / Getty Images

With the World Cup less than a year away, All Blacks assistant coach Wayne Smith has attempted to temper expectations of a free flowing spectacle throughout by predicting conservatism could yet again triumph over creativity.

Although the All Blacks have implemented an expansive game plan this season after adapting to new law interpretations engineered to make the game more entertaining, Smith expects panache to be replaced by pragmatism once the tournament reaches the knockout stages.

During this Grand Slam tour - which ends against Wales at the Millennium Stadium on Sunday (0615 NZT) - the All Blacks have been pleasantly surprised at their opponents' willingness to dispense with a traditional kick-centric, set piece-to-set piece approach and attempt to match New Zealand at their own game - an up-tempo style using plenty of width.

When the All Blacks beat Scotland 49-3 at Murrayfield, New Zealand's hookers Hika Elliot and Andrew Hore delivered to only seven lineouts - an indication the Scots were reluctant to kick possession away, or the punts were so shallows quick throws could be taken.

The ploy did not work for a Scottish side returning from a five-month lay-off, though the Irish reaped more rewards from their enterprise, scoring two tries despite going down 18-38 last weekend.

And England, usually the world leaders in percentage rugby, are also reinventing their game.

Dylan Hartley's try against the All Blacks came via an enterprising break from Chris Ashton which his predecessors would probably have hoofed into the stands at Twickenham.

The wing then scored one of November's most scintillating tries when England counterattacked from their own line against the Wallabies - a sight to behold, and hard to believe - as Ashton surged 95 metres to glory.

England manager Martin Johnson and Irish head coach Declan Kidney both spoke of a need to loosen the shackles under the new laws before playing the All Blacks. However, the duo will could yet field a bona fide tactical kicker at first five-eighth in New Zealand.

This year's Tri-Nations illustrated how playing with width rather than adhering to a kick-chase formula was being rewarded - the All Blacks, Springboks and Wallabies produced 52 tries in the nine-match tournament compared to just 27 in 2009.

Smith was delighted with the emphasis on attack but expected there would be a strategic rethink at the World Cup once the quarterfinalists were known.

"Things will tighten up, knockout rugby tends to be like that," he said.

"I can remember when the Crusaders first played in finals in Super 12. We played some brilliant rugby all the way through and then there's something about finals that tends to tighten you up a wee bit.

"The challenge will be to keep making use of the laws that exist, and play as expansively as you can within the confines in the pressure of the tournament."

The history of the Webb Ellis trophy reinforces the notion that precise kicking and defence are of paramount importance particularly in the finals - as the All Blacks discovered at Cardiff in 2007 when they lost 18-20 in the quarters to France after being reluctant to take a dropped goal.

Other than the All Blacks 29-9 victory over France to claim the inaugural tournament in 1987 - and the Wallabies 23-point drubbing of France in the 1999 decider - the winning margins have been paper thin and tries were at a premium.

The Wallabies won 12-6 against England in 1991; Joel Stransky was South Africa's dropped goal hero in extra time at Johannesburg five years later while a Jonny Wilkinson dropped goal - also in extra time at Sydney - ensured England were the first northern hemisphere nation to wear the crown in 2003.

Unfortunately the 2007 showpiece in Paris has not lingered long in the memory after South Africa outlasted England 15-6 in a drab finale.

The entertainment quotient of test rugby has increased since then but as Smith, his players and New Zealand's rugby following population realise: 3-0 to the All Blacks at Eden Park next October 23 will finally ease the pain after five previous World Cup campaigns ended up pointless exercises.

- NZPA