It was an interesting game we were presented with on Saturday night. Conditions weren’t the best, and errors and poor discipline created a stop-start match.
Front row
George Bower and Nepo Laulala had a solid showing. The scrum held up well against the Wallabies where they said they would target. Replacements coming on were up and down in the scrum.
On attack the front row combined had a couple of solid carries. Laulala was quiet, Codie Taylor and Bower contributed the most. Taylor was solid in lineout throws.
Locks
Both Sam Whitelock and Brodie Retallick were at their best disrupting the lineout for the Wallabies and securing the ball for us. In play Retallick brought some mongrel into his game but also infringed a few times. Both were solid on defence, and we missed Retallick in that final 15.
Patrick Tuipulotu coming on certainly affected our dominance from the prior 15 minutes. With Beauden Barrett dropping out we struggled not having that physically dominant lock on.
Brodie Retallick. (Photo by Amilcar Orfali/Getty Images)
Loose forwards
It was a solid game from Akira Ioane. He has grown over the last few years and we are seeing him come through nicely, with dominant tackles throughout the game. He solidified the scrum and had good carries throughout the game, leading up to all three tries, as we needed him to do. Again, we missed his dominance in the final 15 – both him and Retallick being off made a negative difference.
Dalton Papalii had a good defensive game. Most rucks from both teams were well protected in this match, and turnover opportunities were limited. Ardie Savea had an up-and-down game that didn’t really go his way, with a few handling errors and carries that were there in the build-up to the tries.
Forwards overall
The All Blacks tried to start off with a hiss and a roar, going wide and lateral when instead we needed to keep it tight and control the middle early on. They couldn’t dominate on attack, with it coming between the 50th and 65th minutes, which was some fine rugby. Watching Aaron Smith bring them together with some cohesion was great to see, but we needed to play tightly like this in the first 15 to 20 minutes, with the forwards to have gained control and allowed the game to evolve from there.
The changes around the 65th minute really affected the dominance we had just gained, and we couldn’t get it back at all. We needed either Ioane or Retallick to stay on or a similar player to on, which Barrett would have been. Maybe next time Savea can go off for Luke Jacobson.
Halfbacks
Aaron Smith had a solid game behind a forward pack that didn’t go massively forward at times. His kicks went well, his direction around that 15-minute mark in the second half was great positional play, leadership and rugby.
First five
Richie Mo’unga contributed with his intercept and three penalty kicks, which become extremely valuable in the end. He had a shaky game in the first half, unsure at times which option to take, which put pressure on the team. David Havili was used at first receiver to get him onto second-phase ball, which never really eventuated in that first half because of infringements or handling errors. He will be better for it in the long run, watching where he can improve behind a pack and not going forward for 45 minutes.
Barrett, a charged kick and a missed tackle to his name, didn’t really contribute, with the Wallabies dominating the final 15 minutes.
Midfield
Havili and Anton Lienert-Brown are coming along. Havili used at first receiver and crash ball option, with some gains coming from him, and he did well with Lienert-Brown to take the tackle when things went stale on attack to let a reset happen. There were some handling errors from both they will be disappointed about, but both were solid in defence and great with spot tackles to keep the Wallabeis from the gain line.
Wings
Ioane had another solid outing on the left wing. He brought some size out there where we miss Caleb Clarke. He ran some great lines in a lateral backline. Sevu Reece got in there, getting a try off a ruck.
Fullbacks
Damian McKenzie popped up around the place with his lateral running. He was flattened a few too many times in this game. He popped into first receiver to relieve Mo’unga near the end of the first half at times. I think Will Jordan deserves a run to see how he goes.
Backs overall
In a disjointed, error-riddled first half the backs struggled. There was no real direction at times. What they did was very lateral, a couple of times getting bundled out over touch. They didn’t use the wind to gain territory early on, but kicks were non-existent in this game from the All Blacks. Ioane had a couple of decent runs and looked good on the left wing.
The backs contributed to the build-up to the three tries in the second half, linking with the forwards well, keeping the momentum going forward. Changes in the last 15 minutes led to some disjointed defensive work, letting the Wallabies kick through and score.
All Blacks overall
Captain Whitelock did well to take the points on offer after 15 minutes. It kept the scoreboard ticking over when we couldn’t connect with a high tempo plan of attack at the start, the passes not sticking, and discipline letting the side down. Taking the lineout option at the end and rumbling it up with the forwards, keeping it tight and going over, gave us a good lead into halftime.
Coming out in the second half and keeping it tight with what ball they had paid off with three nicely built tries. There was some good, solid running from Savea and Ioane and passing from Smith. This is the kind of play we want all game, or at least for 60 mins, with a defence to maintain the lead for the rest.
It was a rough period of play in those final few minutes when the Wallabies were very dominant. We lost it with starting players going off. The bench didn’t really gel on the field. With both Retallick and Akira off we struggled to maintain the dominance we had built, and we couldn’t contain the Wallabies bench players, who finished well.
Next week
I’m looking forward to next week to see whether the All Blacks can reduce the handling errors and really control their discipline around the park. They need to get some structure from the start and build that into a dominant display.
Double Agent
Guest
Redemption? You know they won don't you? :laughing:
Francisco Roldan
Roar Rookie
Hi Emery, how are you ...! My opinion is that if the Wallabies presented a good night, full of expansive play and relative control of the breakdown, the All Blacks would have to show their best version to overcome the situation. NZL must urgently lower the number of penalties awarded to numbers less than 2 digits.
Riccardo
Roar Rookie
Agree with the author in that they were too lateral early on. They were certainly better once they were more direct and you're also right about composure. The verbose Whitelock indicated as much, highlighting another slow start and some pretty average positional discipline. The back row remains unbalanced for me; some good defense undone by positional irregularity and a lack of go-forward. Jacobson must come into 8 and Papalii needs to remain at 7. Reckon we may see Frizell get a run at blindside too. I remain convinced Ardie is best introduced from the bench. Not convinced by the props who would get a toweling from the Boks but the locks were great. Big Patrick is proving he is just not cut out for this level. Scooter back on the pine will make a difference; the drop off once Retallick left the field was palpable. Mid-field is till a bit of an issue but I would persist with Havili/ALB until we have other options. They are showing signs of combining well and Ioane is best on the flanks. Damien is a gutsy footballer but is another who's speed and lines would be more disruptive from the pine. I, like many others, would like to see how Will Jordan goes there. Perhaps Beauden starts there as an alternative playmaker? The bench, for all its strength on paper, was out-played by the Wallabies and that has be to be coaching. Scott Barrett, Ardie and Damien will provide better impetus late in the piece. Better composure, discipline and accuracy are the requirements this week...
Paulo
Roar Rookie
To be fair, Wallabies are actually 6th, not 7th, and just beat the 5th ranked France in a series. The ABs while 2nd, we’re soundly beaten by the 3rd ranked team in the RWC. The differences between these teams is not that great. The last 1/4 of the game shows what both teams a capable of.
nroko
Roar Rookie
They were going outwide way too soon in the first half when there wasn't much on, forcing plays. In the 2nd half they played more direct, up the middle that easily opened up opportunities outwide for relatively easy tries to Dmac and Havili.
Lara
Guest
Watched Aaron Smith interview. It was interesting, because he stated they didn’t follow the plan n saw to many opportunities….they got greedy n was out of control. So , if they play to their structure n concentrated, they would do better…..interesting. The question now is, what opportunities did the Wallabies offer n will they still be there come Saturday . If they are there the ABs may have more than enough to build on.
Paulo
Roar Rookie
Don’t worry, they didn’t.
WEST
Roar Guru
Nice summary of the ABs :thumbup: I wonder if they were over eager at time’s? Bit too excited. Just need to chill and hold their composure. The discipline certainly needs to been brought into line. That’s just creating far to many opportunities to the Wallabies. I think we’ll see a completely different animal this Saturday.
Pedro
Roar Rookie
Indeed...
Old Bugger
Guest
REDEMPTION......is all that matters.
J Jones
Roar Rookie
Hard for ABs to be exposed by those sides without having had yet played them...
OtakiCraig
Roar Rookie
Great wrap, totally agree about the loosies, defensive lines were pre-set and the starters did well with Akira doing well. Certainly the line out defence suffered with big Brodie going off and near non-existent after Akira went off.
Pedro
Roar Rookie
Nice article. Well done The team just doesn't look coached, relies on individual brilliant plays, which has been a trademark of this team for the last 4-5 years. Unless the ABs are brilliant they are very average, as Argentina exposed last year. When has matching an Wallaby front row been acceptable? The Wallabies discovered late in the game that they could run down the blind side, Sevu Reece would make the tackle, but the Wallabies would get over the gain line. Will Jordan must be given game time, preferably at full back. Is it an obsession of All Black coaches to play people out of their position? Akira has been given game time and has benefitted greatly. How do you get a big fella fit -- give him plenty of minutes. This used to be the theory with props, get them fit on the field, as most are not keen on doing laps. The reality is England is average, the Boks are average, the French may be strong. Thus, an average All Black team is not being exposed.
Cheika_Mate
Roar Rookie
Thought the AB backrow other than the last 15 minutes were pretty good overall, and the second rowers well ....world class. Ritchie mayu have been made to look good at times with soft tackles missed but never the less his world class and his vision is incredible. Back to the forwards particularly the back and second row will be intersting who the wallabies pick as it is area they could of attacked more at set piece. I know that may sound crazy, an all black strength. And McKenzie, probably did not test him enough under the high ball. That may change if White is picked. Both sides were untidy at the start whilst the wallabies will improve the all blacks seem to take it as a pride thing and will find that other gear that was missing the other night.
jcmasher
Roar Rookie
Nice article and well written. I have a lot of issues with both the selection of the reserves and the way they are used. TBH while I personally prefer BB over RM, I don’t really care as they both bring things the other doesn’t but what I do hate is trying to use both with one, usually BB, out of position. I’d like to see BB start and RM come on late and see how that goes. I hate seeing JB come on as a wing. He’s not actually suited to that position and it seems to be a fall over from Ben Smith being so good and able to do both that people now see the roles are interchangeable. I don’t think they are and it’s just a reflection of how good a player he was that he could fill both roles so well. Personally I think most positions require specialists and while you have to have people covering a number as reserves, you lose out when you bring them on in a different position and this should only happen to cover injuries.
Tooly
Roar Rookie
If the Wallabies frightened you watch out from here on in.
J Jones
Roar Rookie
All blacks were too often guilty of being ahead of the play (over eagerness and unsettled combinations)… as ugly as it often looked better that than not having the cattle at all (Wobblies). Once the forwards, especially, began to play what was in front of them rather than over anticipating they looked very cohesive and ruthless. Back line balance is out, with some line benders required… similarly the loosies will benefit from the return of Cane with his hardworking grafting style. Wobblies never had a sniff… their late run mirrored what we seen in Super TT all too often. This side is not close to the recent amazing sides we have come used to seeing from the ABs, but they’ll compete for the #1 spot, though unlikely to own it for a years on end like past sides.
Rubbish Surf 69
Roar Rookie
Hey mate, cool first article, well written. With regards to the game: If I'm an All Blacks supporter I would be incredibly unhappy with that showing, and to be honest I would be worried about the rest of this international season. That was the worst game I've seen the ABs play in recent years and possibly the worst ever. Australia were abysmal in the first half and a firing ABs team should have been at least 20 points up by then. And I know the game was done, but to let in three tries at the end is very, very un-All Black like. I don't mean to be team bashing here, I think I am fairly capable of making a unbiased view (I am a Wallabies supporter). Considering the Wallabies are 7th in the world, had very little experience in the backline, one of the scores was an interecpt try against the run of play, Lolesio missed a bunch of goal kicks, they gave up so many turnovers and generally played a very ordinary game I think the ABs should have been miles ahead. The fact that the Wallabies even had a sniff with their performance is more of an indictment on the ABs. I'm interested Emery in how you think they will fare against stronger teams like SA and some of the NH big guns?