Inga Tuigamala: Learn the Crusaders' lesson: defence wins

Opinion

The new season is upon us, and I'm excited, although not about glittering rugby.

The rebirth of running rugby? That's the prediction, but we should not crave running rugby at any cost.

We've been fooled - and I'm a prime example - into believing that the Super 14 is all about bringing excitement to the game.

Yet the Crusaders, the most successful side by far, have shown us otherwise, that this competition is not all about expansive rugby.

The Crusaders will tell you they are not the most expansive team, that they run the ball when the time is right.

I've become a bit more reserved in my views on this. We've forgotten important lessons in New Zealand, that champion teams win tough games, win tight games, win away from home - and it doesn't matter how you do it.

The deal is, you stick to a game plan and grind out tough wins, even if it involves winning by a drop goal or penalty. We've got to get back to old-fashioned winning ways. The Blues as much as anyone need to absorb these lessons.

Just because the competition is called Super doesn't mean you've got to run everything that gets kicked down your throat.

Nerves

I'm excited, but a little nervous actually, because this is the year before the World Cup, the year we normally play our best rugby before things go wrong in the big tournament. Maybe we shouldn't play too well this year - I know that will raise a giggle, but there might be a slight truth to it. We haven't timed things right for 20 years. Still, we have to be hitting our straps towards the end of the year. The main reason I'm excited is the way the All Blacks played at times on the Northern Hemisphere tour. We need to keep building on that momentum, keep the adrenalin going.

Rules

Hopefully the new rules will encourage more of what we saw towards the end of the All Black tour, when players ran off each other's shoulders instead of constructing phase after phase. Inter passing was always the All Blacks' strength and once they accelerated and gained momentum, it was hard to defend against. That's what we want from our Super teams. Every team is similar in strength, weight, fitness, so the difference is skill. We need those phenomenal skills, the passes flipped left, right and centre. But how many of the coaches will adapt to the new rules, and see the opportunities?

Zac Guildford

He's my player to watch this year - after all, I was a winger. Zac had limited chances on the All Black end-of-year tour but I liked what I saw. He has something you can't coach - speed. Carl Hayman's predicted return to New Zealand rugby will also be interesting to watch. Just get him in the team - no one cares how the All Blacks win the World Cup, so long as they win it.

The Chiefs

But first, let's talk about the Blues. I haven't had a chance to catch up with Pat Lam yet but I know at the end of last year his major priority was to find a strong combination at halfback and first five-eighths. Whether he has got that, I don't know. Time will tell. I hope Pat's bad Super 14 days are behind him; that the Blues are more settled. The pressure is always on coaches, but these players have to step up and perform. I stood up for them last year and believed in what they were trying to do, but I won't be so bold yet. There were problems within the franchise, destabilising forces, and hopefully they have been sorted out.

I like the Chiefs though. I bagged them last year and was made to eat my words. Mils Muliaina had a terrific All Black tour and I'm looking forward to his return, to see the way he leads from the front, even though he is at the back.

Referees

I'm totally opposed to this new idea of the referees fronting up to the media conferences after matches. Refereeing is tough enough without having a microphone shoved at you straight after a game. People must be accountable, but there are proper ways of doing that - through the captains' reports and assessors. Referees make a lot of instant decisions and now they will be forced into making instant justifications. It confuses matters. This does rugby an injustice.