In fact one of the problems with the Nix in the first two seasons was probably being naively attacking. Herbert has always been a pretty pragmatic coach, but never overly-defensive. We can dispute how much of the tactics really were Herbert's but the 2010 All Whites were built to win games with the squad's limitations in mind, by Heraf's own admission he never considered winning against Japan.
In fact one of the problems with the Nix in the first two seasons was probably being naively attacking. Herbert has always been a pretty pragmatic coach, but never overly-defensive. We can dispute how much of the tactics really were Herbert's but the 2010 All Whites were built to win games but with the squad's limitations in mind, by Heraf's own admission he never considered winning against Japan.