All Blacks: Trouble at halfback

Jimmy Cowan has rugged qualities but has his limitations. Photo / Brett Phibbs

The more this Rugby World Cup progresses, the more apparent it is likely to become that the All Blacks are lacking a commanding halfback.

Of all the various concerns accumulated after an opening performance that contained flashes of brilliance offset by an unusually high error rate and lack of precision, the indecision and lack of punch from both number nines will sit somewhere near the top of the list.

Jimmy Cowan is admirably rugged and his snarling competitiveness endears him to a nation forever sold on those with passion and undying commitment. He's limited, though, and his kicking game has gone way off beam.

The danger further down the track is that the All Blacks have signalled they have just the one playmaker in Dan Carter. As brilliant and resourceful as he is, not even Carter can operate in the face of a defensive tsunami. If there was a lesson for serious opponents to learn at Eden Park, it was: shut down Carter, shut down the All Blacks.

The perceptive will have noted that New Zealand have this insatiable desire to get the ball into Carter's hands at every occasion.

When Piri Weepu came on, there wasn't a lift in the tactical contribution coming from No 9. He has a wide skill set and a good eye for openings but he has become fixated with standing over the ball at the back of the ruck. When he works the channels around the fringes he can be innovative with his short and delayed passes that create little holes for the big units to make a few extra metres.

He wasn't a direct threat, however, when he entered the fray. He does not have the express pace nor lethal acceleration to break free. Tonga defended strongly yet they were able to get a head start in that they knew the point of attack was going to be in the midfield or further out.

A Will Genia type or more poignantly, a Kahn Fotuali'i, would be a welcome addition to take some of the burden off Carter. Perhaps it's a little unfair to fret unduly as the All Blacks would have been out of sight and considerably more cohesive had their basic skills not been lacking.

The accuracy was missing and much of that was due to the occasion.

Bunkered into their city centre hotel, the players watched from their bedroom windows as Auckland slowly went crazy during the day. The noise and atmosphere in the city centre was unprecedented and the All Blacks boarded their team bus with more than 1000 fans waiting to cheer them on.

"It was pretty crazy," said Carter. "We don't normally get that sort of support so that just shows how special this tournament is and the guys are really excited about that. We sensed it all week. It had been a huge build-up."

Coach Graham Henry felt his side had been affected by the tension. He rated the overall performance a five or maybe a six out of 10 and while he said there was plenty to work on, he also felt things will settle now that the tournament is under way.

Most of the players shared that view with Carter and others talking of an element of relief to have the boat out of the harbour and on the open seas, as it were.

The key improvement the All Blacks will be looking for in Hamilton is to be more ruthless and consistent. Having built a handy half-time lead against Tonga, the All Blacks stuttered badly in the second half.

They created a few opportunities but looked a touch over-eager in the red zone. Patience is a virtue they can't afford to be without and one they will want to find against Japan so they can enter the critical contest against France the following week in a good mental place.