Boring bash and crash brigade growing by the day but All Blacks break the mould

Great win by the All Blacks and for the game's sake, let's hope the boys in black go on to win the big show.

For though it is early days and not every side has played a game, there is a nagging fear about where the 15-man game is headed.

Many years ago - about the time Shane Jones was in Labour, or was it National or was it New Zealand First? - the game had forwards and backs.

Forwards ran from breakdown to breakdown. They contested the set piece, recycled the ball and then the backs had a crack and tried to create points.

Turn the forwards round at halftime, former All Black coach Eric Watson quipped once.

Now it seems everyone does everything and it has all become a bit of a mess.

We all get the pod stuff - setting up quick rucks and breakdowns to move opposing players around and commit defenders. Teams recycle the ball quickly and then look to create space and mismatches against opponents.

The issue, though, is it is fast becoming a bore and resembling a game played by too few players.

It is a tad sad when a team like Fiji stands virtually their whole pack in the backline and proceeds to smash the ball up. Phase after phase after phase.

We get you have to take the ball up for a couple of phases. That is clear.

But the issue - which has been around the game for a good number of years now - is too many teams just never get away from the phase play.

It is endless. Some teams go 30-odd phases and make, say, 20m.

They would make just as many metres with accurate kicking of the ball from the first phase. Or just spinning it wide.

This endless crash-and-bash is like watching paint dry. Viewing the entire series of Ellen back-to-back.

Then throw in the fact how well defences are organised.

Two players take the ball into a breakdown. They commit two players from the other team. The next phases sees another two players cart the ball up and they commit two players from the opposition.

Now, we are not all MIT mathematicians but that run of play - which happens a lot - is not creating mismatches or extra space. It is just a bunch of players doing their own little thing. You would rather watch that confusing Indian game of scrag, whatever its name is.

Playing the game is about creating space where players can run into.

The All Blacks appear to be one of the few sides at this tournament with the ability to create space.

They take the ball up a couple of times and then move it around or take the kicking option. The barge-it-up brigade do not do that. This brigade, which is increasing all the time, just bash, bash, bash.

The All Blacks are lucky in that they have the players good enough to play this way.

But unless you try, you will never know.

Defence has dominated world rugby in the past few years and the answer to get round it is not the bashing style of many teams.

For the sake of the tournament, let's hope a side which plays with enterprise and style comes out on top.

And what team might that be?

Question: The best player on the park was Beauden Barrett. So why was he at fullback again?