Buck Shelford - Comments on All Blacks:
"I think they've got the ability and they've shown that they're fit enough to last the 80 minutes. They haven't been tested at all so I think from next week onwards the game has got to be played upstairs. They're physically capable and they have the skills, they just have to manage the mental side of things. That's the same thing for any top sportsperson. It comes down to the athlete or player managing the pressure of the situation"
- source: http://nz.blogs.yahoo.com/buckshelford/94/time-to-spark-things-up-a-bit
Everybody knows its a mind game...or do they? And I think Buck hit the nail on the head with his view and the thing is it does not only apply to the ABs but to all 8 teams. Ability can only take you so far you mind has to kick in and take over. Two perfect examples of this are the '87 winner the ABs and the '95 winners the Springboks. These were two sides playing for divided countries at the time and they pulled through due to strength of mind.
Buck mentions the ability to be fit enough to last 80 minutes and I think that is crucial. yes all the sides can play an 80 minute game but at what level of intensity? The sides that struggle to keep up will be the sides the fade in the dying moments of a tight game unless the mind overcomes the matter. Perfect case was seen in the first round when the minnows (as they have been referred to) have battled well for 20, 30 even the whole first half but fade in the last 30 minutes of the game. Sure it is easy to think that the remaining teams are on the same level but I beg to differ.....to be continued in the Crunch Time Preview.
No comments:
Post a Comment