Was the All Black conditioning program a success?

Question

I know they were beaten in quarter finals but was that due to conditioning or did the conditioning give them and edge that still wasn't enough to win? What are your thoughts on this?

Answer 1

I think there is space for improvement: France knew they were playing the match of their life, and they really manage to increase their level far beyond their normal one. It was a bit frustrating to watch the ABs in these conditions because I had the feeling they could also increase their level, and especially vary their strategies a bit more. These are the kind of things that should be more prepared, and this doesn't require more training, ABs were largely stronger than the frenchs, physically. This would just require some more psychological work, especially how to deal with self-confidence and reaction when things go wrong. This requires a real team work, meaning it requires a real team, players with whom you play all the time, with you share success and defeats. France suffered from many humiliations against the ABs this year, especially for the tests in France (worst defeat of the french rugby history...), but they built something out of it.

Answer 2

Talent exposed thanks to the reconditioning program:

Brendan Leonard (played for Chiefs in Kellehers absence)

Stephen Brett (played for Crusaders in Carters absence)

Just two examples of many. The talent that got blooded this year means the All Blacks are looking very good for many years to come. Talent that would barely get a run with the 30 rested playing. It was a winner and not for just keeping players fresh but for what was unearthed

Answer 3

It was a success. Losing was simply because of misjudgement!

Answer 4

All Blacks deserved to win but France got lucky..

Answer 5

Well it is hard to judge if it was a success or not.

The fact is that the ABs lost, so does this mean that it wasn't a success?

Whether it was a success or not is debatable but I think it was the wrong decision. Carter and Collins have both come out and disagreed with the reconditioning program and rotation policy. They would rather of played as much rugby as possible.

Answer 6

I beleive that aspects of the Re-conditioning programme did work, such as leaving the top players out of the Super 14  for the first few rounds.  

I beleive the rotation policy is what did not work. One of the main reasons the All Blacks lost was because of lack on team unity on the field  which came from lack of playing games together. Combinations are such an important thing in rugby and through having different teams playing each weak we suffered

Answer 7

Yes it was as a team the All Blacks looked great.

The thing is the teams that are left in the Quartar finals probably all went through a similar program as well.

Answer 8

Yea it was good alright... maybe even TOO good that the players became cocky.

You know what they should have been training on? They shouldve been training on "How to be NOT useless when under-pressure". They lose their game when anxiety kicks in... like the Sergio Garcias of golf in rugby. (Sergios good... but when hes playing for the big points ... he thinks too much and chokes!)

Answer 9

I believe they were the best team at the world cup .If you look at the match statistics , the A.B's were WELL ahead of the French in every department.Territory,possesion,turnovers...

BUT the only area they were behind was the scoreboard.

We cannot take anything away from France as they showed incredible heart against the odds. The All Blacks lost the game. end of story.