Last chance to redeem themselves

By WYNNE GRAY at the World Cup

In the strange old world of international rugby, the All Blacks will carry the title "team of the year" into their World Cup playoff match against France tonight in Sydney.

It may serve as a reminder to the NZRFU when they consider team coaching positions next month.

The anomaly was not lost on All Black captain Reuben Thorne yesterday as he contemplated his side's 14th test of the season, a game which has an edge of personal and team vindication after the semifinal loss to the Wallabies.

"Until last Saturday we had performed pretty well and had achieved significant progress as a team," he said.

"As a team we have come together really well. The sort of unity within the side has been fantastic, the methods we have used have evolved and the discipline within the side, on and off the field, has been great.

"Ultimately, we did not get our end goal, but along the way we have made progress. We achieved some significant wins during the Tri-Nations and Bledisloe, in particular."

The team-of-the-year vote by the professionals from other top sides was made before the All Blacks' semifinal defeat. It was an endorsement of the New Zealand style, although its effectiveness could be questioned.

Thorne himself was feeling the pinch at the end of a demanding season, but tonight is a chance for some redemption, the opportunity to head for a holiday in better spirits than last weekend.

He is still carrying the pain of the 22-10 semifinal defeat to Australia, a disappointment which matches the defeat he also endured in 1999.

The All Blacks were in no mental state to contest that tournament playoff, but tonight's side are intent on making amends.

It is the All Blacks' last test for more than six months and Thorne knows a lot can happen before then, so it is impossible to know if he will add to his 21 caps as a skipper.

Thorne's retention in the All Blacks and his leadership will dominate debate as he is inextricably linked to coach John Mitchell, with both wanting to retain their jobs next year.

Mitchell has been unswerving in his choice of Thorne as skipper, citing his work ethic, guidance and loyalty from his team as crucial components for the All Blacks.

However, as a blindside flanker he does not offer great zing on attack, while the defensive side of his game has let him down in the sudden-death portion of the World Cup.

He is an earnest worker, a toiler, but, like Todd Blackadder, there have to be questions about his class in top international company.

Jerry Collins could switch All Black positions to the job he does for the Hurricanes, but that would leave a search for a No 8 and captain.

Obviously, the selectors have not been swayed sufficiently by the work of Rodney So'oialo at No 8 because they have investigated the merits of shifting Richie McCaw.

If Mitchell retains his job, Thorne's impact will come under even greater scrutiny in next year's Super 12.

As this tournament has unfolded, Thorne has seemed more at ease in public, and yesterday he was forceful about his future.

"It has been difficult at times, but overall it is something I love doing. Being an All Black ... the captaincy has come on as part of that," he said.

"I would like to [lead the All Blacks next year], but with being a player it is a year-by-year prospect. You don't have any choice in the matter."

Then Thorne opened a small window about pressure in the All Black fishbowl.

"One of the hardest things about being an All Black - and not just captain but as a player in general - is that nothing you ever do seems good enough," he said.

"People always want more, no matter what you achieve. Whether you win or not, they want you to win better, win by more points, perform better, so that is the hardest thing about being an All Black, trying to live up to it."

He accepted that New Zealand rugby players were not often exposed to the driving, grinding forward play which had been at the core of England's success.

The Super 12 series generates attack and entertainment. The All Blacks are still committed to that approach, but they have to be far more precise than they were in the semifinal.

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