The guys are going through the same things we went through” he said
“The guys are going through the same things we went through,” he said.When the Barbarians, deprived of their one world-class performer, the Fiji wing Rupeni Caucaunibuca, lose on Saturday, Randell will be exempt from criticism. He and his coach John Hart failed to survive New Zealand’s exit from the World Cup in 1999 when France ran all over them in the semi-final at Twickenham. Players like Andrew Mehrtens and Christian Cullen could have offered so much, but they were sent packing.”If Mitchell and his captain, Reuben Thorne, are sent packing, Randell could give them a few tips on life after the All Blacks. He’s now mounting a massive media campaign in New Zealand, which is strange considering the contempt he has shown the press There is a lot of unhappiness and a feeling of waste. “By his approach and the way he treated people, Mitchell alienated the players, the public and the sponsors The All Blacks should be the people’s team. He was tolerated as long as the team went well but he failed at the World Cup. They relied too much on Carlos Spencer and couldn’t give him the ball.”Randell has little sympathy for the coach John Mitchell and would like to see Graham Henry in charge with Steve Hansen as his assistant.
They selected a side that would have done in Super 12 but not in international rugby and the two are very different. They have a great back line but physically their forwards couldn’t compete. When that happens, they take a huge chunk out of the team and it’s very hard to fill It takes time. Australia and New Zealand went through a similar thing.”Randell watched the World Cup on television: “The All Blacks weren’t worth watching and they confirmed my worst fears.
The challenge now is that everybody will be gunning for them even more than before and some of their big names are close to retirement. It’s been a long process for England, the culmination of four years of hard work.”The margin in the final was minute but at international level experience counts for a lot and England have been playing so well for so long I wasn’t surprised they won They have really matured as a group and are at their peak. “It’s good for world rugby that a northern hemisphere country won the World Cup and I think it will rub off on the other home unions. They managed to beat England at Twickenham in 1996, when Carlos Spencer came on in the last 20 minutes to turn the game, but times have changed.”England’s success has already had an impact and will continue to do so,” said Randell, the former All Blacks’ captain, now with Saracens. I’m sure they will want to do everything they can to make my Six Nations’ selections as difficult as possible.”Whether the NZ Barbarians, a party that includes very few household names and are “coached” by the former All Black Bryan Williams, will make life difficult for England is doubtful.