Despite a tentative start, the AB’s final test before the World Cup proved two things:

1. The old guard still have it

2. When they get their mind-set right, they are in a class of their own

Although we at SIP have long talked about mind-set being the difference, it is often difficult to gauge the difference a better mind-set can deliver. Saturday’s test at Eden Park against the Wallabies was a perfect illustration of how much better a team can be when they are in the right frame of mind, for it was only a week ago they were overwhelmed by more or less the same opposition.

The look of relief on the faces of the All Blacks after the game was understandable given they have performed below par in recent games however, what is more interesting is the fact they know it’s a mental thing as evidenced by post-match comments and the article Patrick McKendry wrote about Dan Carter in this morning’s Herald.

Although identifying the issue as mental is helpful, what is more important is having a means to fix it. For example, the word ‘attitude’ has been touted as the difference in this series when in fact it isn’t an attitude per se as a person’s attitude is but a consequence of their mind-set i.e. attitude isn’t a controllable substance that exists in its own right. It is a by-product of our state hence it appears so difficult to manage.

If it was as simple as attitude, the All Blacks could be criticised for a lack of professionalism for not ‘bringing’ the right attitude to their two previous games. As history has shown, however, it isn’t a lack of effort or commitment – nor professionalism for that matter – that inhibits an athlete's ability to execute their role, it is their inability to create the state they need to experience the confidence to perform as we know they can.

As I mentioned last week, the AB’s loss to the Wallabies in Sydney had the potential to either be an unwelcome disruptor to the team’s confidence or just what they needed to look more closely at themselves; and look more closely they did.

More than retaining the Bledisloe Cup however, the All Blacks 43-13 win over the Wallabies was a fitting tribute to not only one of the best Rugby players the world has ever seen (and several others), but to one of our greatest ever sportspeople – our much respected and admired Richie McCaw.

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