Attacking All Blacks reinvent rugby's landscape

There are teams in world rugby today who would be lucky to score 40 points in a season, yet here we have the 2005 All Blacks averaging almost 40 points a game. But while the Northern Hemisphere, in particular, looks on jealously, this current vintage of All Blacks cannot claim to be the most prolific side in history.

They don't even get close - with four All Black sides in the last 20 years able to boast a better points average in a season.

In 1987, 1997 and 2000 the All Blacks averaged 47 points in a calendar year. The World Cup-winning team of 1987 scored 328 points in seven undefeated games, while Sean Fitzpatrick's all-conquering side of 1997 averaged 47 points a game in a season where they won 11 tests and drew with England.

That average was equalled by the 2000 side, although they lost three of their 10 games that year.

John Mitchell coached his 2003 team to 12 wins from 14 games in 2003 for an average of 43 points a game.

It's probable, rather than possible, that this weekend the 2005 All Blacks will push their points average a little higher at Murrayfield. They may end the season as the fourth most prolific side in the last 20 years.

The raw statistics don't tell the full story, though. The 2005 All Blacks have amassed their points tally against the world's best.

With the exception of Fiji, who were woeful at Albany in June, the 2005 All Blacks haven't had any cannon fodder to blow away.

They averaged 38 points in the Lions series. While the Lions were a major disappointment, they were made to look a lot more ordinary than they really were. Predictably, the scoring cooled off in the Tri Nations, although the All Blacks still averaged 28 points a game for their three wins and a loss. And, prior to this morning's game at Twickenham, they had averaged 43 points so far on their end-of-season tour.

That is what is staggering about their achievement - they are scoring freely against the world's best teams.

The 1987 side had two games against Italy and Fiji to ramp up their average. The 1997 team had Samoa, a very weak Argentina and Italy to bolster their figures while in 2000, Tonga, a Scotland team on the start of their decline and Italy yielded big totals.

The 2005 All Blacks have had arguably the toughest fixture list in the last 20 years.

They are averaging 40 points a game in an era where defensive screens are more sophisticated than ever.

There is truth in that statement when the scoring record of the other major countries this season is analysed. Wales are averaging 33 points a game, while Australia average 30. The Welsh figure is distorted by games against Canada and the US, while the Wallabies romped to huge wins against Samoa and Italy earlier in the year.

The Boks are averaging 25 points a game but, like the All Blacks, they have had no easy games.

What we can deduce from all these statistics is that the 2005 All Blacks are changing the face of test football. It is no longer about who holds possession, it is about what you do with possession.

It is probably fair to believe that the current All Blacks can't be beaten by a set-piece side that plays for territory and tries to grind opponents. That won't be enough to subdue their scoring power. To beat the All Blacks now, it seems you have to be able to score at least 20 points.

It's a challenge the Boks, Wallabies and France will fancy they can achieve. Wales, too, are heading in the right direction.

The style shift implemented by the All Blacks has to be good for world rugby.

The last four World Cups have been won by sides whose greatest asset was defence. That's unlikely to be the case in 2007.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY