Black magic

IRB COACH of the year Declan Kidney may be the man holding his head aloft following an unbeaten Grand Slam year with Ireland, but New Zealand are still setting the standards on the international stage.

The All Blacks emerge the dominant force in world rugby once more, brushing aside the French at the Stade Vélodrome in Saturday’s 39-12 try-fest.

Stripped of their Tri-Nations title by World Champions South Africa this summer, the annual autumn assessment has concluded however that New Zealand are in better shape than some would’ve imagined.

Captain Crusader Richie McCaw was named player of the year despite Brian O’Driscoll being tipped for the award. The Irish talisman has led the green of the Irish and the blue of Leinster to the forefront of European rugby this year but McCaw is still considered the most influential rugby player on the planet.

Failing to impress at Twickenham but still able to find the resources to carve out a win, the All Blacks showed resilience as well as bluster in the antipodeans’ arsenal.

The game in Marseilles was proof McCaw’s men can still put on a show and with players such as Carl Hayman and Chris Jack set to return to the fray next season, New Zealand are well poised to steal the show again at their own dinner party in two years time.

New Zealand, hosting the 2011 world cup, have failed to emulate their tournament victory over France in '87. On present form, nevertheless, it seems the search for the holy grail of world rugby is back on track after the recent demolition of Les Bleus.

Zero tries in over six hours of rugby for an All Blacks opponent relays a lack of attacking prowess in the northern hemisphere.

England brought New Zealand down to their level at Twickenham with a boyish display, and a potent Welsh running game was eclipsed by the All Blacks with a counter-attack unstoppable on its day.

Ireland punted their way to a 15-10 victory over the Springboks – Leinster fly half Johnny Sexton with five penalty kicks to give the north something to shout about.

But, where the difference lies between the two hemispheres is in a ruthless clinical edge.

A change in laws at the breakdown favouring defending sides may be something the IRB will have to address, but if teams below the equator have adapted and are still producing tries, there must then be a board looking at the causes for our defensive and attacking frailties in the north.

Think of the many times we have heard Johnson and Gatland express their horror as their teams fail to execute whatever few chances come their way.

Ireland and Italy were the only sides to put tries past the big three in full internationals. Scottish and Irish wins over the Wallabies and the Boks, however, were all won with the boot.

Rob Andrew has said England have “progressed” over the past twelve months; a reflection based purely on score lines. But, you can debate this is not in place of a cold, reserved game plan. A lack of ambition has been introduced simply to make a painful reality that much more palatable.

More on breakdown dispute from Sky News: http://www.xfm.co.uk/uknews/sports/RFU-Rule-Change-Request-Denied