TEST MATCH: New Zealand 37 England 20: BUNGEE JUMPING remains popular in New Zealand but no one dives headlong into the abyss more often than England.
Saturday was an important Test in every sense, a chance to cast aside the inconsistency that clung to Brian Ashton's tenure and exploit any hint of self-doubt in the All Blacks camp. Ultimately England not only fell short on both counts but may have catapulted certain players into selectorial oblivion.
The caretaker manager, Rob Andrew, has made plain the selectors' unhappiness at the defensive frailties that helped the All Blacks rattle up 34 points in 25 minutes either side of the interval. Even admirers of Charlie Hodgson's abilities as an attacking distributor will be surprised if the Sale man represents his country again, Ma'a Nonu having brushed past him during the height of the All Black bombardment like a freight train through tissue paper.
"Bits of Test rugby are not optional," said Andrew bluntly. "You get found out in Test rugby, that's why it's called Test rugby. It is brutal and, if you make simple mistakes, you will be punished.
"The challenge at international level is to find players who can handle everything . . . That's why this tour is invaluable."
No one would suggest Hodgson alone should be fingered. Every player misses the odd tackle and only last week one of his former team-mates was still adamant the 27-year-old has "more creative talent in his little finger" than the absent Jonny Wilkinson. In a crisis, though, Hodgson's temperament has proved brittle and, after 31 caps, he risks being pigeon-holed as a consummate club performer who shrinks slightly under the harshest spotlights.
As to why England were not collectively better, it is hard to avoid other painful conclusions. Once again it was apparent there is a distinction between a strong international rugby team and one that merely has strength in depth.
Lee Mears, Steve Borthwick, Luke Narraway, Richard Wigglesworth, David Strettle and Mike Brown are all fine Premiership players but are any of them world-class or destined to become so?
Even Andrew Sheridan and Matt Stevens suffered in comparison with Neemia Tialata and Greg Somerville.
Tough decisions confront Andrew and England's manager-elect, Martin Johnson, who have a 32-man elite player squad to name on July 1st. Half a dozen changes for the second Test on Saturday may make that sifting process trickier and Andrew has never had a reputation for knee-jerk decisions. The forwards coach, John Wells, also suggested he would like changes kept to a minimum.
There seems little alternative, however, but to change both half-backs, the only debate being whether Olly Barkley or Toby Flood should start at number 10. There is a desperate need to inject devil into England's back line and Brown is not yet in danger of being taken for Christian Cullen.
The introduction of Danny Care and either David Paice or Dylan Hartley at hooker would add some bristle, while Mathew Tait, Tom Varndell and Dominic Waldouck should come under consideration. Flood at 10 would allow Barkley to remain in his best position but a reliable forward platform and quicker ball are more vital still.
Ultimately it boils down to whether England regard this defeat as a one-off aberration or choose to re-examine their foundation stones. Talking a good game in defeat should be secondary to playing with clarity, simplicity and balance in the first place.
New Zealand's coaching staff, in that regard, have reacted well to their World Cup disappointment, re-emphasising the value of basic skills and picking complementary talents, not least the midfield triangle of Dan Carter, Nonu and Conrad Smith.
The All Blacks' four tries may have left the England defence coach, Mike Ford, red-faced - "It's pretty embarrassing . . . our set-piece defence was dreadful" - but Smith's intelligent running was a joy to watch for the second successive week. While Topsy Ojo's two debut tries did him credit, one was an interception that effectively saved a certain All Blacks try and the other needed a helpful bounce.
Had England gone down by 30 points, they could have had few complaints.
Match Statistics
NEW ZEALAND: Muliaina (MacDonald, 53); Tuitavake, Smith, Nonu, Sivivatu; Carter (Donald, 69), Ellis (Cowan, 59); Tialata, Hore (Mealamu, 48), Somerville, Thorn (Boric, 53), Williams, So'oialo, McCaw (capt), Kaino (Lauaki, 52).
Tries: Smith, Carter, Muliaina, Sivivatu. Conversions: Carter 4. Penalties: Carter 3.
ENGLAND: Brown; Ojo, Tindall, Barkley, Strettle; Hodgson (Noon, 50), Wigglesworth (Care, 62); Sheridan (Payne, 64), Mears (Paice, 77), Stevens, Palmer (Kay, 54), Borthwick (capt), Haskell (Worsley, 62), Rees, Narraway.
Tries: Ojo 2. Conversions: Barkley 2. Penalties: Barkley 2.
Referee: N Owens(Wales). Att44,000.
Guardian Service
