The Springboks would have been disappointed to lose at Queensland Country Bank Stadium last weekend.
Their set-piece and kicking game forced penalties and errors from the All Blacks, who failed to adjust. The Bokke were much more physical than against the Wallabies, and their lineout was superb.
They were much better at the breakdown than the previous week, gaining multiple turnovers. Their kicking game was more accurate, and when it wasn’t the All Blacks dropped it. Bridge’s error was a fine example of that and likely affected his aerial game for the rest of a torrid encounter.
The All Blacks got themselves into early trouble with referee Luke Pearce at scrum time. Technical penalties and some frankly baffling decisions ensued, fodder for the boot of Handre Pollard. Their lineout did not fare any better, under constant pressure from Eben Etzebeth and Lood de Jager.
(Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
The All Blacks’ heavy turnover count hurt them. TJ Perenara has been criticised here, but while he needs to be quicker to get to rucks and get the ball away, the All Blacks were under pressure narrow. Better clearing and support from his loosies was an issue. However, it was noticeable that Brad Weber was quicker and more direct around the fringes. Ian Foster needs to start him.
David Havili has been criticised; isolated and turned over, his steady impact nullified. To be fair, there was little platform created by the forwards and his game wasn’t the only one that suffered. He should get another chance for the mullet alone! Foster must be tempted to start Quinn Tupaea, who has been outstanding, depending on the condition of Anton Lienert-Brown’s hamstring.
Given the Springboks tendency to drift in their shallow line, the All Blacks needed to adjust – stand deeper, have some runners on better lines and maybe look at a better short-kicking strategy when no territory is on offer.
Rieko Ioane needs to come back to the left flank. George Bridge’s dropsies need to be addressed because the same high spinning-ball kicks are coming and the All Blacks need a better counter.
Will Jordan needs to stay right. If they can get the pill to him, he can finish, and his deft kicking game is an asset. Jordie’s courage under the high ball in traffic was a highlight, as was his boot off the tee, especially that last one. Impressive composure.
Richie Mo’unga is there and available, so pick him. Beauden Barrett hasn’t been bad, but Richie’s better. Will the wise men see that as a risk? The fact he works better with Havili makes my mind up. Aside from that, his boot is superior.
This game should provide an opportunity for a statement from Joe Moody and Nepo Laulala, who still had moments. Matthew Carley is unlikely to be any more generous than Luke Pearce though. In any case, they need to deliver and provide parity at least to provide some room for a backline that is superior to their counterparts.
The lineout needs to be addressed and so does the breakdown, with much more urgency from the cleaners. Big Patrick Tuipulotu is a solid lineout option and carried well last weekend – something for Foster to think about.
The backrow also needs a rejig. Ethan Blackadder was probably one of the better men in black but the All Blacks missed Luke Jacobson at No. 8. Hopefully he starts. Blackadder is my preference blindside after last weekend. This allows Ardie Savea to captain from openside, his best position, and Dalton Papalii and Akira Ioane can impact later. They are better lineout options too.
Foster has said he admired the way the All Blacks stuck at their job against the Bokke even though they were behind for large parts of the game. There might be something in that, but the leadership group along with the captain need to be better under pressure. Shifting the point of attack, a deeper backline with a better kicking game. Discipline. Accuracy.
Finally, I would like to See Carley put some pressure on Siya Kolisi around Springboks tactics. The long parleys and injury breaks. They like to slow the game down. It suits them, and fair enough. Frankly, though, it becomes cynical when the breaks in play become strategy.
The All Blacks know all this of course, and I would expect they want to show they are worthy to hold that No. 1 ranking.
moaman
Roar Guru
'Team of 5 millions' mate, don'tcha know?
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
What moa?! There’s still some left over there? I was certain that the entire population was living near (or in) stadiums all over Australia.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
And, you were closer to reality than Foster it seems, Riccardo.
Sinclair Whitbourne
Roar Rookie
I read a Colin Mead's bio/ghost written auto in which he commented that the big difference between NZ rugby and that of other nations was that in most other places people played rugby to get fit, whereas in NZ people got fit to play rugby. I definitely belonged to the 'played to get fit' group. I played every game in a haze of either terror or concussion, or often both. But in between injury it did keep me fit. Lock was good, because I was tall and pretty quick and most of the really scary stuff happened away from me, where the inside backs and loose forwards smashed each other off a run up. I was picked at 8 for a game because a desperate coach thought my pace could work, but of course one does need a bit of hardness in that position and to say I lacked starch would be like saying the Third Reich's biggest issue was bad PR. If Rugby is the game they play in heaven then 8 is the position they put you in to help you know what hell is like. It will tell you a bit about my capacities as a rugby player to know that I also played full back for a fair time (in other words try as one might, there was no position on the field strange enough to suit me), before moving into the forwards. I was a prototype Kirwan or Roff, minus the talent and guts. 15 was good and I like to think I played in the Jonathon Webb mould of ridiculously thin fullbacks who specialise in treating the ball like it is a Bolshy member of the labouring classes trying to enter home through the front door - collect it and kick it away. There was a travesty in the laws, however, which prohibited me from outsourcing the tackling work to my batman.
Roddy
Guest
Thanks for the link Hika- I rewatched the whole game- I had forgotten how much more physical the rucks were and how mobile the Boks could be with ball in hand. McCaw was an absolute menace and all over the park. It was a great game to be reminded of- Carter having an off night with the boot, the forwards absolutely destroying each other and the rucks... mate they were ugly!
Riccardo
Roar Rookie
Kerevi is closer to Nonu than Havili will ever be, Android. Havili is closer to a Crotty in style, and not there yet...
Riccardo
Roar Rookie
This is a good point Bernie. Even borrowed some of that for the All Blacks arsenal in response...
Riccardo
Roar Rookie
Same; thought Nepo had moments too... Thanks Sinclair...
Riccardo
Roar Rookie
Meant to put that in my leadership comment West, actually. Good point if you'll excuse the pun. Did this article in a break at work as I was annoyed at Foster being so pleased after such a narrow escape...
Riccardo
Roar Rookie
Thanks Diesel, Fair rationale around Reece too. Read in an article during the week Foster alluding to the fact the new flanks were in answer to our failure in those areas last weekend, so maybe a bot of both?
Riccardo
Roar Rookie
I wanted it to be out before All Blacks naming mate but not to be; to be fair to the editors, I only submitted it earlier in the week... 11pm mate? I'll be up, but not at my best...
Riccardo
Roar Rookie
Appreciated Roddy...
Riccardo
Roar Rookie
I used to think the Ioane’s were distracted by the ‘in your face’ backhanders, now I think it’s a self pickup in similar way to Leighton’s ‘come on!’. Your thoughts? Probably more Akira from memory. He still likes a bit of push and shove but he almost used to look for it. He appears to have gotten over it and as you say uses it as motivation rather than altercation. Frankly, he had to as it was holding him back...
Riccardo
Roar Rookie
Cheers Allanthus..
kgbagent
Roar Rookie
It is the refs job to stop deliberate time wasting and stalling. The AB dont want the rests that is the point and the Bok use foul means to achieve their method.
Android-angler Cartman-brah
Roar Rookie
I read somewhere that Havili is the answer to filling Nonu's void. And to be groomed for next WC. Now I'm not too sure after his last game. I'll reserve my final verdict till after EOYT.
Android-angler Cartman-brah
Roar Rookie
Somehow I agree. They must play within themselves. No need to always rush it. The ABs under Mccaw did it brilliantly. Same goes for boks. Cut out unnecessary stoppages and play like they did under Rassie not so long ago
Wallabies_Larkham
Roar Rookie
Riccardo...I think the AB played right into the hands of the boklings..That is why it was so close ...so now it will appear that they have lifted the intensity after 2 losses against wallabies...wallabies simply gave a template on how to go about bokling defense and should have given fozzie some further clues on how to break them down..
Muzzo
Roar Rookie
Well mate, after last weeks display, I really can't see them getting over the top of the Bokke pack. Obviously the coaching staff, can't see that. Also, really that would have to be one of the ' bad days' that Brodie had, as Etzebeth & de Jagger were all over Brodie & Scott. Time will tell, with Foster, as he's the first AB coach to ever lose to Argentina.
Colvin Brown
Roar Guru
Reminds me of my only attempt to play at number 4 in the LO in the 1960s. The guy I found myself marking was taller than me and I thought I needed to even up my chances. So just as he was about to jump I used my left hand to lever off his shoulder to help me jump up and use my outstretched right hand to tap the ball to our 9 who fed our backs. LO win for me. The guy was mad. I had messed up his jump completely. But no matter, we got the ball and I got out of there quickly by running off and following play. Unfortunately there was another LO not so long later and I concluded best to stick with the same winning tactic. The guy was ultra mad this time and as I was coming down after winning the ball again he launched this massive roundhouse swing at me and I was the closest thing to wearing a knuckle pie. The ref saw him, warned and penalized him. But in my case I determined that discretion was the better part of valor and moved myself to 8 in the LO for the rest of the game making sure I didn't come across him in general play. Those were the days.