New Zealand have dominated the rugby landscape for a long time. The All Blacks have intimidated teams for years, but after their maiden World Cup triumph in 1987, they dominated the rankings without adding another title. The New Zealand team were branded as chokers, before they crept over the line in Eden Park four years ago.
Sir Graham Henry is the head coach credited with changing the fortunes of the Kiwis in World Cups around, but Leinster legend Isa Nacewa believes its someone completely different.
The person to credit, according to Nacewa, is New Zealand mental skills coach Gilbert Enoka.
Nacewa points to the mental strength that New Zealand had to be able to recover from a 14-point swing in the 2015 final against Australia, and thinks that the main reason why New Zealand were able to do that, and to shoulder the pressure in 2011 is because of Enoka:
Talk to former All Blacks like Ali Williams and Brad Thorn about who had the biggest influence on them winning in 2011 and they say Gilbert.
I don’t know the inner secrets. I tried to on many occasions and even had some quite influential people saying they would get me some time with him, but I understand where he’s coming from. The All Blacks need a point of difference from the other franchises in New Zealand and that’s him.
To be the key reason why one of the most successful teams of all time and for not many people to know who you are is incredible.
[Sunday Times]
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Picture credit: Cody Glenn / SPORTSFILE
