D'Arcy Waldegrave: Win ugly, win pretty, just win

The All Sport Breakfast

Tonight's test match, the opening salvo in Scott Robertsons attack on world rugby, has so many intriguing threads that it’s almost impossible to determine the most significant aspect of the most keenly anticipated home game of recent times.

But regardless of a plethora of talking points, I suppose it all boils down to one thing.

It’s not discipline, but that is of the utmost importance. The card era of recent times must cease.

It’s not the ref, those people are beyond control and reason, but the team can play in a manner that reduces possible influence from the guy with the whistle.

It’s not the leadership of new skip Scott Barrett, but his ability to remain calm under the blow torch will carry immense weight.

It’s not the ability of the underdone team to hit the ground running, to shed rust and to put to one side the super rugby law interpretations whilst climbing back into the more rigid international applications.

It’s a combination of all of the above that will culminate in the only real measure of the new era’s dawn.

Victory.

Win ugly, win pretty. Win controversially. Just win.

As impressive as Foster’s AB run to the world cup final was, they stumbled when it counted. A series of unfortunate events consigned the side to a heartbreaking loss. This essentially summed up Foster’s time in charge. Close, but not quite close enough. Podium, but not the top step. Tasty, but not delicious.

The clumsy AF power transfer between coaches has been another cloudy passage for NZR. Handled with the delicacy of Edward Scissorhands, now is the time for the shredded mess to heal. This match marks the start of a process of redemption.

Like it or not, fair or not, the previous regime was not wholly supported by the public, with constant debates around the strength of the coach and the captain.

The stench of a few barely digestible losses of recent times still hangs thick in the air.

Nothing short of a win tonight will be satisfactory.

Nothing.

That'll do.

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