Faith restored in international rugby?

Monday 30 November 2009
Published By: Ben Welch
International Rugby > New Zealand

The devastating try-scoring performance put in by the All Blacks in Marseille will go some way to restore faith in Test rugby.

That's the suggestion made by Marc Hinton of stuff.co.nz, who argued that the game is still a "beautiful thing to watch" when teams take a positive approach and use their skills.

Over the course of the autumn internationals, the rise in kicking and a lack of flowing, attacking rugby was lamented.

But with New Zealand crossing the line five times against France, Hinton suggested that the entertaining display was "just what the doctor ordered".

And Kiwi legend Mils Muliaina was quoted as saying: "We pride ourselves as New Zealanders in ensuring the rugby is healthy."

Australia, meanwhile, managed to run in four tries against the Welsh, although a grand total of one touchdown was seen elsewhere in the final round of the autumn internationals.

Clearly the miracle cure is yet to be found.