Two items after Saturday’s tour de force.
First, there’s been tons of analysis/discussion/chatter about the All Blacks’ Rugby World Cup win… after months of Northern Hemisphere jibes of choking and cheating – all now conveniently forgotten.
But coaching legend Brian Ashton, in The Independent, strips it down to basics – less is more – and says this is what the All Blacks do:
- Win the ball.
- Win the space in front of them (i.e., go forward).
- Win the battle for continuity.
- Win the fight to set the tempo.
- Score tries.
Second, a generous gesture from the staff of Ritz Carlton-owned Bulgari Hotel in London where I have been during the finals, a full size rugby ball made of chocolate saying “Congratulations to New Zealand!”
