After the Namibia match coach New Zealand Steve Hansen commented that “you have to be mentally right to perform at the level you want to perform.”
Will this be a problem in the remaining Rugby World Cup matches for the All Blacks?
On the one hand, the final result was as most people anticipated – the All Blacks winning 71-9. So, yes, granted, it could be expected that some complacency would creep in.
Hansen added “With opposition you know you should beat, players, coaches and management can get a little lost in the mental preparation, for want of a better word.”
On the other hand, the All Blacks are a team of hardened, seasoned, experienced professionals who have collectively played thousands of matches at the highest levels. Should ‘attitude’ still be a problem?
Was attitude a problem against Australia in Perth earlier this year when the Wallabies – clearly with the right attitude – sent shock waves through the All Blacks and put the Kiwis at home watching in a state of unrest bordering on panic?
We have seen a number of times when the All Blacks have ‘started slow’. But is starting slow in fact a reflection of the players’ attitude coming into the match – an attitude that is juxtaposed with the opposition’s attitude? Think of the various losses to Ireland, Australia and South Africa in the past couple of years – and how those teams’ attitude influenced the way the games were played for 80 minutes.
Is it unreasonable then to expect the All Blacks to always show up with the right attitude?
(Phil Walter/Getty Images)
The fact that they didn’t show up with the right attitude against Namibia should be a concern. The first thirty minutes of the match was all about Namibia as they took the game to the All Blacks, who at times, looks flustered and gave away penalties.
Admittedly the All Blacks were trying new combinations with several key players being rested (e.g., Beauden Barrett, Richie Mo’unga, Kieran Reid and Sonny Bill Williams), but wouldn’t that be all the more reason to front up with the right attitude and get settled?
The All Blacks led by just 10-9 at the 30-minute mark and then Nepo Laulala was yellow-carded. It didn’t seem to impact the team, only perhaps to focus their play more, which turned into two converted tries to finish the half.
The point is, attitude counts. And the right attitude will have to be there at the start of the remaining games if the All Blacks are to be Rugby World Cup champions for the third consecutive time.
The first half could have easily seen Namibia ahead, or the slim All Blacks 10-9 lead remain.
Coach Hansen noted that “The first half was not the right attitude and we allowed Namibia to partake a lot more than they should have, and that’s not being disrespectful. We came out in the second half with a lot more understanding of what we wanted to do. … It was making sure we got heads in the right space. Carry hard and hold on to the ball.”
TJ Perenara added, “regardless of the situation, we need to go out and be better than we were the week before, so the conversations at half-time were really good.” Player of the match Anton Lienert Brown said “Full credit to Namibia, they really showed up, it probably took a kick up the arse at half-time for us to switch our mindset and get fully going. They were running through us and we were passive. We knew they were going to turn up, but we weren’t there early on.”
And Brodie Retallick, who made a welcome and successful return to the playing field for the first 30 minutes before coming off as planned, further reinforced everyone’s reflections, “For Italy we want to come out firing and probably with a lot more intensity.”
Yes indeed. So true.
And in the quarter-final even more so.
From here on in the top teams will not allow the All Blacks to get back into the match. As skilful as the All Blacks are, don’t expect the likes of Ireland, Japan, England, Wales, Australia and South Africa to come into a match with the All Blacks with the wrong attitude.
The lesson for New Zealand from the Namibia match is that attitude counts. It’s an obvious lesson though – and somewhat worrisome if you think the All Blacks still have to learn it.
As for the positives from the match, there were a few.
Brodie Retallick is back in town.
He said afterwards: “It was good to get out there, I felt pretty nervous leading into it, but felt confident at the end. I didn’t want to come off in the end. I knew I was playing 30 to 40 minutes. … Nah, didn’t feel it [the injury] once, good to get a few tackles and carries, would have liked to have done more in attack but overall pretty pleased.
Anton Lienert Brown played an awesome match – he is one of the in-form All Blacks right now, and his first try where he broke through three tackles showed the quality and determination in his play.
Jordie Barrett played a fine game, his first ever as a No.10, amassing 21 points from eight conversions and a try. As Hansen commented after the match, “He drove the team around the park, and he was very good. His goalkicking after the first two misses was immaculate.”
Brad Weber, who came on for Aaron Smith after 50 minutes, again looked impressive with his pace around the field and the speed of his pass.
No serious injuries for the All Blacks.
It was a significantly better and more clinical All Black performance in the second half.
Aaron Smith scores a try (Photo by Renee McKay/Getty Images)
A final word, however, for Namibia.
They looked really good for many parts of the match and their first half performance showed some chinks in the All Black’s armour.
All Black prop Angus Ta’avao said it well, “They put us on the back foot, therefore we couldn’t slow them down. They kept getting quick ball, they showed they could play, ran some great lines. They showed a lot of skill and got in behind us, then put us under pressure when we had the ball.”
TJ Perenara meanwhile, added “Namibia played really well. Ball in hand, they were sharp. They defended really well, attacked the breakdown, slowed the ball down, forced a few penalties. They created quick ball, so credit to them, they played really well.”
Phil Davies, the Namibia coach, commented that he was “very proud of the effort we put in. Particularly our ball retention and line breaks in the first half. We knew we were playing against the best team in the competition, the current champions, but we gave it all we could. I couldn’t ask any more of our players. We’re very proud of them. The scoreboard looks a bit painful but there was lots to take out of the match.”
Lots, too, for the All Blacks.
And plenty of positives too if you are a potential opponent for the All Blacks over the next few weeks.
Whichever team has its attitude consistently in the right place in the first 30 minutes of the knockout matches will win the World Cup.
RugbyLover
Roar Rookie
But it was out of the ruck so didn't matter if he went off his feet. You can kneel anywhere on the field at your pleasure, it is only an offence in the ruck.
Piri
Guest
Agree there totally!! ..that first infringement for going off feet right over ruck and not being called is beyond me and clearly indicates what the refs mind set was!!
Kiwi From Kesh
Roar Rookie
I think the article makes a good point in questioning where there is an attitude issue with the All Blacks. I think this has been an incorrect use of the word or an incorrect way of assessing the situation. I think a more accurate phrase would be "under estimating the prowess and enthusiasm of the opposition", or "the approach was incorrect". I would think any team of the calibre of the All Blacks with a high win ratio of matches must have the right attitude towards the game and opposition in every game. I think Hansen used the wrong words and what i think coaches and player ought to say is their judgement of which approach to use against the opposition was not as accurate as it should be. You can have the right and positive attitude playing Namibia, but can easily misjudge how good they are at disruption your approach to go wide with the ball early on. Another issue that other writers fail to understand as they criticise the performance of the All Blacks. Wrongly or rightly, the All Blacks play the full 80 minutes that means it may not matter what happens in the first 20 or 30 minutes (of course you would like to be accurate right from the start (but that idea ignores the great effort of the opposition - in this case Namibia), so i think with all rugby teams the key thing is their overall 80 minute performance, because in the finals one does not really matter if you played poorly the first 20 minutes its what you do in the remainder of the game and whether you win the game or not. I think expecting the All Blacks to thrash a team the full 80 minutes is unrealistic as even the so-called minnow teams have improved over the years. Many fans and journalists talk about how you want closer games - well Namibia gave the All Blacks a close game in the first 30 minutes, You don't actually need to criticise the All Blacks, by doing that we ignore the great performance of Namibia, sometimes the All Blacks can only play as well as they are allowed to.
Bill Shut
Roar Rookie
If you are an underdog team, you have no issue of any complacency whatsoever. The AB's are a team that is always "the hunted" and usually considered to be the favourite. Of course it is natural that a player may experience less "nervousness" ahead of a match against Namibia than say SA. And it would seem that if you are slightly off in the top two inches, that will affect everything else. When Hansen says he has only associated with one player that did not suffer from any form of complacency, then who am I to demand that such a thing never should happen?? You can role out the "they are professionals" slogans but these guys are human. It was a long way into the game before Jordie kicked for possession and he rarely did so. So surely a bit of everything - complacency, new combo's, great attitude from Namibia (esp. the No.2 who spent all his time off his feet slowing down the AB ball!!), and sticking to some plans made pre-match.
Paulo
Roar Rookie
I thought that about the Tu’ungafasi card. There are a lot more impacts that could do more damage. The Ben Smith try has the Namibian falling on his head, looks to cop a knee to the back of the head then a forearm driving his head into the ground for an eternity after he scored. No reason to be on him at all at that point. Although with that dirty Mo he might have deserved that. Anyway, that’s prob me more having a whinge. The point being, yes, there are a lot of impacts and hits that happen in a game as standard that we accept, particularly around the ruck and clean outs. So either we get serious about where the real problems are or not.
Sylvester
Guest
The penalty offence was when he went off his feet.
Andy J
Roar Rookie
Tooly, country of origin would make matters worse, most of the players representing the islander nations are born elsewhere and qualify via heritage
Andy J
Roar Rookie
I think they’ll end up Scotland England South Africa tough run but England’s run harder with Argentina France Australia New Zealand and South Africa
Tman, regardless whether NZ win this one or not, in my view the 2015 All Blacks was one of the greatest teams ever.
taylorman
Roar Guru
Not if the 2019 version goes onto convincingly win this one. Or are you saying comparing the champions in 2015 to a team yet to finish pool play in 2019 is a fair comparison? Hmmm...
Faith
Roar Rookie
Thanks Tman - the WBs have stunned the ABs severally when they've not earned the right to go forward ...
Faith
Roar Rookie
A Smith had a shocker. 3 turnovers from rucks where clumsy feet kicked the ball forward. Tried a grubber at some point that went out on the full. One really good pass put B Smith in ... nowhere near the levels he played against S.A where he was best player after BBB and Savea ... Nuggy needs to be at his best for the ABs to go far and possible win. One way of playing against rush defences is playing off 9 and that showed against Boks and first game against BILs ...
Jacko
Guest
What I really hate is when ref rules advantage to attacking team 10m from the line and then they play for another 7 or 8 phases.....If they keep ruling these knee high head high tackles then we will see yellows becoming common from this when blowing the whistle straight away would not have led to a card.....If you look at the Tuungafasi YC he is hit just as high from a clean out just after his tackle....Why was that not a YC as well? Not that I want those a YC either but its getting difficult to have a accident on a rugby field....
Well to be fair it was the game to experiment.
Carlin
Roar Rookie
This game was always going to be a difficult one for the All Blacks due to the short turnaround and they tinkering in selections. Namibia deserve a lot of credit for getting stuck into the game and remaining close for the first half. The sad thing for them is they played just as well (if not better) than they did against the All Blacks in 2015 and lost by a bigger margin. The mental approach to this game is a big concern from the All Blacks. With Hansen quoting “With opposition you know you should beat, players, coaches and management can get a little lost in the mental preparation, for want of a better word.” If the management are not fully focused you can guarantee no matter what level the players are they are not going to be fully focused. Lets hope this is the game that is used to wake the All Blacks into life. They have showed signs of it with the speed they want to play and their skill level is exceptional.
taylorman
Roar Guru
Yeah agree with that, I just think we were made to look silly, which probably explains Hansens rare tirade at half time. Sounds like he asked for something else and didn’t get it. Just not getting this Jordie Barrett thing. I mean where hasn’t he played, and none of them convincingly. With Weber coming on so we’ll our 9 stocks are about as good as they’ve ever been, 3 very good ones, 10 as well with Barrett and Mo’unga. Midfield is shaping up nicely as well. Just gotta sort that grunt out.
Paulo
Roar Rookie
I think the issue comes when trying to make a blanket rule. I agree that runners in general play should never be deliberately that low to the ground, but then the pick and go tackles close to the line tend to be, so... maybe we need to review these pick and goes and say if players are deliberately running that low, it is more falling then running, and start penalising the ‘volunteer’ tackle. If you lie on the ground voluntarily then no ruck, no tackle, no offside. If the opposition lay two hands on you, then it’s a tackle and offside lines are created. Not ideal, but might be something. As for the knee-high head highs... nothing more to say that hasn’t already been said.
BJ
Roar Rookie
I have two questions for you more knowledgeable souls...how did Smith do? I didn't see the match, so am relying on comments of live blog and subsequent articles. The live blog suggested a bad'un. Also, what position did Perenara play and how did that go?
Atlas
Roar Rookie
Great lead-in photo to this article, Roar perhaps you could get a more recent one? New Zealand All Blacks Training Session CHRISTCHURCH, NEW ZEALAND - JUNE 12: Andrew Hore (L) of the All Blacks talks to coach Steve Hansen during a New Zealand All Blacks training session at Linfield Park on June 12, 2012 in Christchurch, New Zealand. (Photo by Martin Hunter/Getty Images)
RugbyLover
Roar Rookie
Look at this whole ruck/penalty from this position. Whitelock placed the ball. As there were no AB standing the ball was immediately OUT of the ruck. The hooker came through the middle of the ruck therefore could be legitimately called as counter rucking. As the ball was out of the ruck there was no infringement in his play – he could have done a dance it would make no difference if the ball was already out of the ruck. Smith, as is his way turned to have a complain to the ref but he was having none of it. Whitelock then saw what was happending and reached out to grab the ball and was penalised. Now if you look at it that way (which I beleive is the right way) then there was no ref error, it was all legit. Really Smith was the culprit here… he is constantly trying for the penalty rather than just playing the damn ball. Just my two cents worth…