There is a saying somewhere that I am about to butcher, about if you keep doing the same old thing all the time, but keep expecting a different result, than you are an idiot.

The reason I say this, is an obvious one, the All Black lineout.  We keep getting the same results - mayhem, and it looks like we are constantly doing the same thing.  Meaning, perhaps, that the All Black lineout is run by idiots?

Same old same old right.  Full lineout, get it stolen, full lineout, get it stolen, full lineout, get it stolen.  So, time to change perhaps guys?

When was the last time you can recall seeing a genuine short lineout from the All Blacks?  Three men, or even two?  A four man, or  five man version?  Yes, I can't remember either.

The reason I bring this up though, is this is the first time that we can directly correlate an All Black loss to a lineout, probably since that Eales penalty at Wellington during the Blackadder era!  Yes, that lineout on the All Black line which was not won, five yard Boer scrum, Boer try, game lost.  Simple as that.

Sure our line outs have been dodgy for years, but we have been managing to still win more than we lose, but, first, imagine by how much more we would have been winning, and in some cases, imagine us winning instead of suffering losses.

We really do need to sort this out though, and perhaps the first place to look, is at the coaching.  And the person who we assume is in charge of the lineouts, Steve Hansen.  We have questioned exactly what he does in the All Black coaching set up in the past, and have never been able to come up with the correct answer.  The best answer I have seen is that he makes a really good cup of tea.

We have Wayne Smith taking the backline, and Henry is the defence man.  Mike Cron takes control of the scrum, and Hansen takes control of the rest of the forwards duties which would be rucks and mauls etc, and lineouts.

So Hansen has not improved the lineout in the what, five seasons he has been there.  Doing the same old thing, getting the same old results.  Time to think outside the square.  In the English premiership, the lineout formation that has the highest success rate is the five man.  So memo to Steve Hansen - change something you plonker.

OK, that is off my back.  The test match against the Boers at the house of pain.  A loss, and fair enough too, we did enough to win, but didn't, thanks to that lineout above, and to a piece of individual brilliance from the Bokke number nine.

So no complaints. Could have won, but didn't.  Just ran out of experience as much as anything I reckon.  We should in fact be thankful that the Boers decided to bash the All Blacks into submission in the first test match, instead of playing rugby in that one - as they showed, when they decide to play code, they are a far better team - as any side is.  Even with Williams, Thorn and Somerville playing in that first match, had the Biltong Boys pulled their heads in, they should have won that first test match.

The Dunedin match though, a few thoughts on the All Blacks.  I think these is the core of a good side here.  Some of these new boys look like they will be set for long term All Black-dom.  When you mix back in the broken down and banned brigade's experience with the enthusiasm of youth of the newbies, then good things can be expected - especially in the forward pack.

The pack did not lose any playing ability by starting John Afoa over new Zealand's most capped prop Greg Somerville.  Might have lost a calming voice at stoppages in play, but about the field and in the set pieces, lost nothing.  Gained in fact in the ball skills department, Afoa one of the better ball carriers around of the low digit brigade.

Anthony Boric and Kevin O'Neil who locked down the All Black scrum for 60 minutes of this test were adequate.  In fact I think O'Neil shaded the North Harbour boy.  Once Williams went off the field, Boric lost his way a bit, and O'Neil, with plenty to prove, got stuck in and went well.  Personally I would feel far happier with Eaton there though, but I am sure that will pass.

Loose forwards, New Zealand has for as long as I can remember, have played an openside and blindside flanker.  Fine to try a new idea with the left and right flankers so far this season, but I think once you have tried something, and it has not worked, shelve it, and go back to doing what you do best.  So that will mean Dan Braid starting at seven against Australia in a fortnight, which leaves Thomson or Kaino to be relegated to the bench or off the match day 22 all together.  Time'll tell, So'oialo at 8 better than 6 perhaps, which would give Thomson the start.

Now the worst part of the All Blacks, and New Zealand rugby right now, halfback.  Ellis is plain horrible.  He lacks the kicking skills to play halfback at even provincial level, let alone All Black level.  His pass is not the sharpest , and then his decision making, or non decision making, at rucks and mauls is terrible too.  But, is he the best that we have at the moment with Leonard injured, and Kelleher chasing the mademoiselles?  What exactly did Piri Weepu do is the question, apart from eat too much...

So while we are lacking in an international class halfback right here and right now (sure Ellis might develop into a good halfback, he might also develop diabetes and acne too, but here and now, he is an average halfback, and diabetes and acne free), and we are also lacking any sort of danger from our wing men.  Sivivatu is so out of form you would drop him - if you had someone to replace him with that is.  On the other wing, you have the new and improved Caleb Ralph (I loved that on the forum), Rudi Wulf.  Safe and sound, but about as threatening to opposing defences as a eunuchs is to a maidens virginity.  Bring on Tuitavake, and bring back Rokocoko, and then perhaps there will be more danger out wide.

Quite ironic, the only combination that looks settled, dangerous and solid in the All Black backline is the midfield!  First five and fullback filled well too, with Carter, Panadol and Mils all World Class.

So a test loss for a team that would rival the Baby Blacks of '86 for a lack of caps in the forward pack (the finishing pack that is), to a world champion Boer outfit.  Not too bad a result really, and it could well have been two losses had the Bokke played their cards right

But it still hurts, and I still expect the All Blacks to win, every game!