Rugby: No lack of depth worries at 10 for northern rivals

Fourie du Preez. Photo / Sportzpics

The rest of the world would only laugh at the idea of the All Blacks being vulnerable. All they see is the class of Dan Carter, Richie McCaw and a seemingly endless supply of ball-playing, explosive superstars around them.

The All Blacks are never weak; their bad years are still better than most nation's good years, which is why most followers of the game in the Northern Hemisphere assume the All Blacks have a ready-made Dan Carter-in-waiting.

Would anyone really believe that the team that has won 19 of their last 20 tests has just one test quality first five? It seems almost surreal that the All Blacks are so reliant on one player - lose Carter and they just about lose everything.

Those who don't want to believe that need to remember the period in 2009 when Carter was injured - the loss at Carisbrook to France; the woeful performances in South Africa. Or what about last year in Sydney, where Kieran Read, McCaw, Jerome Kaino and the rest of the pack had to play out their skins to salvage the win.

What makes it harder to take in is that this year's Six Nations has had an engaging sub-plot where five of the six teams have had intriguing battles for their key playmaking roles. Far from being bereft of options, England, Ireland, Wales, Scotland and France had choice; they had contrasting players competing to run the show
which paved the way for variation in the tactical approach.

Last weekend, England showed the value of that when they put on Jonny Wilkinson for the last quarter to close out the game. Toby Flood, a better runner and more intuitive player, was given the first 60 minutes to try to open the Scots and run them off their feet. When that ploy failed and the scores were locked at 9-9, on came Wilkinson to play territory, kick the goals and steady the ship.

The Irish and Scots have a similar mix, with Ronan O'Gara and Jonny Sexton, and Dan Parks and Rauridh Jackson respectively. The Welsh have James Hook and Stephen Jones, who are largely similar in style and ability, which means they can withstand injury or loss of form.

The French, always a little different, see their halfback as the key playmaker and used Morgan Parra and Dimitri Yachvilli this campaign.

Australia have an abundance of choice, with Quade Cooper, Matt Giteau and Berrick Barnes all capable of steering the Wallabies around the park.

Only the South Africans share a similar vulnerability around their playmaking. Fourie du Preez is their general and, as was evidenced last year when the Bulls halfback was injured, they are not the same team without him. But they do at least have the emerging Patrick Lambie to back up Morne Steyn at first five, while Francois Hougaard can contribute from halfback if needed.