Did it hit a nerve?

Steve Hansen, All Blacks forward coach, has come out swinging at the critics about the dismal display at the lineouts.

Hansen said "So my job is not about listening to those people, my job is about making sure we stay on task and do the job well, so there is no point in me getting concerned." Umm, do the job well...I wonder when that will be?

I think Hansen should be pleased that there are people out there talking about the lineouts. I would be very concerned as a coach if no one cared about our national game. People are pastionate about the game, more so than the players and coaches it seems at the moment. Yes, that may be harsh but as the viewing public, this is what we see and what comes across. At the end of the day, they still get paid - win or lose. But what the rugby public want to see is good hard, tough and accurate rugby that we excell at. The team I have seen so far this year is far from it.

It is also disturbing to think that we only have one lineout forward capable of winning lineouts - Ali Williams. Issac Ross was a very good replacement and has worked very well so dropping him was a strange move. Mentally strained? If that's the case, more games are needed for him to be mentally stronger not sitting on the sidelines.

This lack of form may be a good thing though. No, I haven't gone crazy. Think about it. The All Blacks usually peak well before the rugby world cup. South Africa are currently on top and are the best team in the world (gulp!). We have work to do to get back up there but if winning the rugby world cup is the aim, let's hope we get it right then rather than now.

As I heard on the news one day, that the All Blacks are a brand name now and not a rugby team. This is very true and very disappointing. Rather than playing for the jersey and the country, it all comes back to how much the NZRFU will receive as a payback for marketing the All Blacks brand. Look what the NZRFU are trying to do with the Air New Zealand Cup. Why keep changing the best provincial tournament, it seems, every year. It's the same with the IRB and changing the rules and sanitising the game of rugby.

The All Blacks play Australia on Saturday in Wellington. Go the All Blacks.