Sam Whitelock during warm up. Photo / Photosport.co.nz
Sam Whitelock during warm up. Photo / Photosport.co.nz
OPINION:
Spread the rugby word and count the cash – it's not difficult to understand why the All Blacks are playing the United States on Sunday.
But it doesn't make the build-up to the occasion any more compelling - probably because it's a test match in the loosest sense inthat two nations will take the FedEx Field pitch in Washington DC for a rugby match, albeit with only one holding expectations of a victory.
Incidentally, this is perhaps the greatest flaw in international rugby and why it probably won't ever reach the worldwide popularity of football.
Its greatest strength as a game – the contest of two teams for possession and the exploitation of such via the use of space, physicality and skill – is also perhaps its greatest weakness because, one, as the old saying goes, a good big player will always beat a good small player, and two, the laws are becoming increasingly complicated for both players and viewers.
It means upsets in test rugby are relatively rare compared with those in international football. Think of it in terms of respective World Cups; England, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Italy, the Netherlands, France, Argentina, Brazil and to a lesser extent Poland, Croatia, Uruguay and Belgium will enter a tournament with expectations of success. In the rugby version, only a handful would, including New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, England and France (and, after nine tournaments, the latter has yet to win it once).
The All Blacks will have had tougher opposed training runs compared with what they will face against the USA, who have failed to qualify for the 2023 World Cup.
01 November 2014: A general view of Soldier Field in action during a friendly test match between the USA Men's Eagles and the New Zealand All Blacks at Soldier Field. Photo / Getty Images.
The vast majority of New Zealanders, this one included, may be mildly intrigued by the performances of the returning Sam Whitelock, Sam Cane and Dane Coles. Other players will get a rare turn in the spotlight and will relish the experience, and many of us locked down Aucklanders will take our entertainment where we can get it.
But, without wanting to disrespect the USA players, the occasion – the third time the All Blacks have played a test in America within the last seven years – is, in a rugby sense, a frivolous appetiser before the far more potentially fulfilling fare on offer in Europe over the next few weeks, and particularly in Dublin and Paris.
Do the All Blacks have a responsibility to play the USA and therefore potentially improve that nation's rugby outlook and potential, particularly at World Cups? Yes, as they do for all "minor" rugby nations. But I would argue the same applies to those nations who have received far fewer visits from the All Blacks and who have contributed far more to the New Zealand game than the USA have – I'm talking the Pacific Islands, of course.
The test, naturally, is a chance for New Zealand Rugby to shop the All Blacks to new audiences – read revenue streams – understandable in this financial climate and in fact probably crucial given they have had two tests against the Springboks and two against Argentina cancelled this year alone due to Covid.
Ardie Savea of the All Blacks celebrates scoring a try with Beauden Barrett and Codie Taylor of the All Blacks during The Rugby Championship. Photo / Photosport.co.nz
It may or may not be a sign of things to come if and when the private equity deal with Silver Lake is signed off. Either way, once the financial future of the game is assured with a massive injection of capital, more tests in the islands must be a priority for New Zealand's rugby administrators.
It's not enough to welcome our South Pacific cousins into Super Rugby via Moana Pasifika and the Drua, or host tests against weakened Tonga or Fiji teams as and when it is convenient for New Zealand Rugby.
Far more meaningful connections are necessary, and frankly overdue. Six years ago, Samoa as a nation stopped when the All Blacks visited for what turned out to be a hard-fought test in sweat-sapping conditions in Apia before the World Cup. It was a true test in every sense.
Those who were fortunate enough to be there will never forget it but it's doubtful the same will apply in Maryland on Sunday. Besides which, another All Black visit to the US is probably just around the corner anyway.
