All Black Forwards Diagnosed By The Doc
Sydney Morning Herald
Thursday July 2, 1992
"The problem with the All Blacks," said Dr Mark Loane by phone from his Brisbane ophthalmology practice yesterday, "is that generally, their forwards have lost their ability to advance the ball in the simple forward rushes that used to be so devastating, and specifically that their back row is simply not able to deliver what is needed for them to be able to play the game they want to play."
On the lack of forward rushes, Loane-who led the charge in such rushes for Australia in more than 28 admired Tests-is unequivocal.
"Sometime in the last years the Auckland team caught the northern hemisphere disease of the rolling maul and they went on to infect the All Blacks with it," he said.
"It always seemed to me the rolling maul was a terrific way to attack the sidelines-because that's the direction it invariably seems to head-but not a good way to attack the try-line. The rolling maul is a particularly dangerous option to pursue under the new rules, and from what I've seen so far they've yet to adapt to the new needs."
And the back row?
"Traditionally with the All Blacks there have been three basic corridors of action from which their real attacks are launched," Loane said.
"From the back row at the base of the scrum, from the inside-centre stepping back inside to link up with his back row, and from two big wingers doing likewise-linking up after stepping inside to join their back-rowers.
"Of course, with all three corridors of action you need a very effective back row to do it, and I just don't think they've been able to put one together that's up to it for a few years now.
"The best I came up against was the one that included Graham Mourie and Murray Mexted, and I think that was probably the best ever. Since the time of Buck Shelford I don't think they've come close, though Michael Jones is obviously a magnificent player.
"But without a back row up to scratch, I just wonder if they can sustain the attack."
As for Australia, Loane sees no such problem.
"Though I was sorry to see Tim Gavin is unable to play, I'm particularly glad to see Sam Scott-Young is included on the side of the scrum," he said.
"I still remember the game he played for Australia in the third Test against the All Blacks in 1990 for that magnificent win, and would name it as possibly the finest exposition of back-row play I have ever seen.
(Take a bow Sammy - if no less than Mark Loane says this, maybe you were right about you all along.)
"So long as Scott-Young can keep his cool, while still tackling as hard as ever, I think he'll be a tremendous asset."
As would second-rower John Eales, said Loane, all else being equal.
"It will all depend on how the referee interprets the new rules. If he insists the All Blacks keep their one-metre distance from him, then Eales should be unimpeded and win a lot of ball," he said.
"But if the referee lets the All Blacks come across en masse, as they have always done, then it could be a lot more troublesome. Whatever, so long as we get at least 50 per cent of the ball, then we should win easily."
Why?
"Because," Loane said, "we've got good forwards, the greatest halves combination in the world, and genuinely creative backs outside them.
"Their forwards are fair and their backs are good, but they remain basically separate entities, unable to be linked by the back row."
© 1992 Sydney Morning Herald
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