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Dear All Blacks,

I am writing to you regarding the Rugby World Cup.

I understand the company line is that you are not thinking about it, but that’s about as believable as the BP NZ employee at Magnetix trying to convince The Tabernackle that his company is doing all it can to stop the oil spill.

You are a little more than a year out, so long term plans should be well entrenched and it should be about pulling it all together.

I hope you have learnt from mistakes of the past and I hope the hurt is still there. Watching the English Soccer fail again put a smile on my face, but it also put fear in my heart that my/our All Blacks could fall into the same trappings.

Their failures included:

  • Underestimating their opposition.
  • Overestimating their talent.
  • Lack of Plan B, C or D.
  • Thinking about the final before they got there.
  • Tactical anomolies.
  • Playing top players out of position.
  • Cash before country.

I hate to dwell on one particular Achilles heel, but players out of position.

The last three World Cups we had Fullbacks at centre…. I’m just saying….

My religion tells me not to worship false Gods. Heed this warning.

I’m not talking about the holy coaching trilogy, but your eggs in one basket God Sonny-Bill. I’m not doubting his natural ability, but ever-green Brad Thorn took a few seasons to find his feet.

I speak on behalf of New Zealand when I say we don’t care about Tri-Nations, Bledisloe Cups or end of season tour successes. It should all be about building towards the end game. Lose them all if it means winning the World Cup. Use this year as an opportunity to settle on a on a top squad so you can roll into a top 22 for the WHOLE of next season. Sort out little bits and pieces with the combos and some backups that will fill out the 30 for the cup, but no wholesale changes or rotation!

You would (should) have a pretty solid idea of the squad for next year already. If you are going to remove players to put them conditioning program and then don’t pick them (Piri Wepu, Issac Ross). How is that helping them? We can’t have things like that happening – it doesn’t promote confidence (P.S. what did they do wrong again?).

The pool of talent looks good. A few new, exciting players as well as experience in the right positions. Give the new guys a good chance to develop their game at that level.

New Zealand needs this as much as the team does. It is pressure. You are aware of expectations. There is nothing wrong with that. Australia’s cricket team, Canada’s Hockey team and many others embrace it. You should too. It is a professional game, but that shouldn’t matter when it comes to the ultimate prize. It is about the individuals desire for the jersey, the country as well as themselves and their mates. You will spend your winnings and it will be gone, but a win stays with you forever. Does SBW get that?

I for one hope it is time for the All Blacks to regain their title.

It’s funny that since 1995, we have always ‘lost’ the World Cup. How can you lose something you haven’t had? Interesting mind set isn’t it?!

Victor Vito will lead us out of the dark times.

All the best,

inhisownwrite, concerned citizen.

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