Setting The Benchmark

FRANCE 12-39 NEW ZEALAND NOVEMBER 28, 2009 // STADE VELODROME, MARSEILLE

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2009 hadn’t been a good year for the All Blacks. At one stage they were sitting on a record of played eight, won four, lost four. Of those four losses, three had come against South Africa where their deficiencies under the higher ball were exposed.

The game had gone all kick and chase and the All Blacks weren’t equipped. Their lineout was also broken and they were struggling to win the ball at set piece as their scrum was creaking, too.