Have we crossed the bridge into Believeland yet? Things certainly seem pointing that way after some seriously tough times, but there are a few factors to consider before assuming the sort of confidence normally associated with an All Black World Cup campaign.
While they were awfully impressive in their 35-20 win over the Springboks in Auckland, it could be argued that the South Africans were just plain awful – at least for the first 20 minutes when the only time the Boks touched the ball was when it briefly connected with Damian Willemse’s foot as he kicked off.
There was some thought that both teams might be foxing a bit, given they meet each other again a fortnight before the World Cup starts and potentially in a quarter final in France. But it really felt like Jacques Nienaber and Rassie Erasmus totally misread this opportunity. Not contesting lineouts early was a serious miscalculation, while the reliance on the famed ‘bomb squad’ seems to only pay off when the Springboks have established a lead. The bench are there as executioners, not firemen.
Despite the effort getting considerable better when the likes of Malcolm Marx and Pieter-Steph du Toit came on, it was just too late. Which begs the question the Neinaber and Erasmus: why didn’t you just, you know, start your best players?
Anyway, the Springboks know full well what they got wrong, with a rare admission on Twitter by Erasmus that referee Mathieu Raynal had a good performance. The reliance on Faf de Klerk doing the same (he didn’t) is palpable.
So, what can be made of the All Blacks? Things are looking a hell of a lot better than they were 12 months ago, that’s for sure, but we’re not going to know exactly where this team is at until they play a team that’s firing on all cylinders too. The Wallabies can, on their day, produce that sort of performance. But if these Bledisloe Tests do result in a predicted walkover, then we may not see that happen until the opening game of the World Cup against France.
It has been heartening to see the forward pack bully their way through the Pumas and Boks on successive weekends. Scott Barrett seems to be in the best form of his career and his utility value is going to come in very handy, Shannon Frizell has finally turned into the wrecking ball everyone hoped he’d be, the front row keeps trucking along nicely and still has Joe Moody to come back, and the depth across the pack is looking Olympic-sized rather than the paddling pool it was against Ireland last year.
The Mo’unga vs McKenzie debate was given a stunning rebuttal by the Crusaders’ first five, with the 10 jersey likely to stay in his possession for the Bledisloe opener in Melbourne. But the other winner in all this is Beauden Barrett. Through circumstance and a couple of excellent performances of his own, Barrett has emerged as the logical first choice fullback, with McKenzie on the bench in the 23 spot.
Another consequence of all this is that the All Blacks are now stacked full of goal kickers. On that note it was odd to see a Bok side show up to Auckland without a recognised kicker, but it wouldn’t have really mattered anyway.
But really the biggest difference maker was Will Jordan. Rumour has it his migraine condition is preventing him from taking long journeys by air, so for the All Blacks’ sake he can get that fixed by next month. Whatever the case is, they are a different team with him in it.
Jordan is good for a try a Test and was everywhere in the blistering opening passage. His ability to get to his feet and play on in the lead up to the first try was crucial, as was his instinct to find front rower Steven Kitshoff and cut back past him into space and set up Aaron Smith.
So, things are looking good. However, we already knew that the All Blacks are the best team in the world at making fools of sides that show up half cocked, and that is exactly what will happen to the Wallabies unless they can dramatically improve in the next week and a half.
Will Jordan of New Zealand makes a break against the Boks. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)
The All Blacks will see the Boks again in London before the World Cup but given the South Africans’ schedule is Wales the preceding week and with a tough RWC opener against Scotland, there is no guarantee that will be a full strength side.
You have to hand it to Ian Foster: the critique of his decision to take almost the whole 36-man All Black squad to Argentina and back didn’t effect anything negatively and, from what the players said last week, achieved the goal of bringing the team together at the start of a massively important season. The Boks, on the other hand, may well point to their split squad approach as to why their start was so slow.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Really looking forward to him taking over. Very keen on some new thoughts coming in to the test arena. Heaps changes as most of us have wanted Razor since 2019. That takes absolutely nothing away from why I support Foster now tho. He's the coach.
Lux Interior
Roar Rookie
Eddie will have his side primed to make things as messy as possible from kickoff while hoping to keep 15 on the paddock. But where will Wayne Barnes draw the line between good hustle and unlawful disruption?
JD Kiwi
Roar Rookie
Did us a massive favour
Lux Interior
Roar Rookie
The Irish excellence on NZ soil made many of us realise that All Black selections and tactics needed an urgent overhaul. Credit to those who got it happening.
Bluffboy
Roar Rookie
I am certainly looking forward to reading your support of Scott Robinson next year. I presume nothing will change as he will be the coach of your team.
Bluffboy
Roar Rookie
I agree completely Cookie, but he is 31 and I can see him realizing or starting that motor anytime soon
Bluffboy
Roar Rookie
That says it all :thumbup:
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Cold day no doubt. :laughing: :laughing:
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
I am sitting down. BA, may I ask the former moniker that yours has ‘begun again’ from?
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Jacko, yours or mine? Just so you know- I took your comment as a compliment. (and it’s not a familiar feeling).
Riccardo
Roar Rookie
Thought she was found... and exonerated... Still a go to tho... good call... Like the endless yawn that is the underarm delivery... makes me cringe when I see it in type...
AntiCorey
Roar Rookie
If the USA were about to face Fiji in a basketball series it would be quite absurd to try and suggest anything else but a clear flogging. Surely we don’t need to analyse why. One nation is a top tier operation in the sport and the other is just having a go at it. Again surely we do not need analysis on why a low tier rugby nation is about to lose, again.
savant
Roar Rookie
Agree with all this. I don’t think the backs are better under Eddie btw. And I thought the decision to replace Rennie was foolish and said so at the time. A cursory glance at the test schedule would have shown that there was a high likelihood that we would go to the WC on the back of 5 straight losses and that there would be damage to our confidence and morale. But the captain (McLennan) made an ego call to show everybody who’s boss. This could be a career changing decision for both McLennan and Eddie. The truth is our world ranking is accurate. All the talk about smash and grab and how we have a great back line is delusional. Partly I’m offended that Eddie takes us all for such fools. There isn’t a single Wallaby back who makes a world XV. I doubt any of them are good enough to make the All Blacks. The truly disappointing thing about getting rid of Rennie is that he was building a forward pack that could at least provide a platform. So far we appear to have gone backwards up front.
Good Game
Roar Rookie
I think you will find most kiwi comments were of congratulations to Ireland while also deriding the tactics and strategy of the ABs. You'd be hard pressed to find reluctance of giving credit where it was due.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Sorry thats not true. I dont feel any need to thank Schmidt or Ryan. Foster is HC. The assistants are helping him with his job. Seems logical that his assistants assist.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Thats only a 1/3rd Ken, not a 1/2.
BeginAgain
Roar Rookie
Which is interesting. If you watch the Chiefs under Rennie, they totally played with width. But yes it requires a genuine 10. Quade can get the ball to whomever he wants and isn’t limited to just shovelling the ball on aka Noah or any of the other first fives Australia had on offer. The backs aren’t playing better now though. They don’t have any pill. The other problem as you point out with players like Piasami and Perese, Rennie had no choice but go to these known ball hogs because the cabinet was bare. Walton and Flook as two others were not up to it at that point. I think some recognition for blooding Foketi and Ikatau has to be given to Rennie and his coaching team. The problem with wingers come centres like Piasami and Perese are, they aren’t great wingers and can’t be easily trained to distribute in the way a centre needs to and this has been the challenge of many coaches overtime in trying to convert wings into centres. While not perfect Reiko Ioane for the ABs demonstrated the same characteristics and has been heavily criticised for it… time has been the improver. But Rennie recognised how unfit Suli was, but Eddie in the other hand needed to watch an entire season of him doing nothing and still selected him. How is that better in any shape or form. Eddie has nothing to do with the development or the availability of the current players. On the other hand Rennies revolving door policy on exposing more players to internatiomal level was irksome, because games are lost that shouldn’t be, but in order to develop depth and prepare for a RWC I can understand if not appreciate it :happy:
savant
Roar Rookie
It wasn’t the players so much, it was the way they played. The strategy and tactics. I agree he brought some talent though I never understood the obsession with Paisami. Rennie’s only success was with Quade running the show at 10. Without him he played off the 9 which didn’t get the ball to the outside much. Rennie seemed to avoid going wide and rarely let the ball past the 12 channel. In the loss to Italy Paisami went to first receiver more than Lolesio and just crashed it up. We lost that game. Rennies forwards provided a platform to win all the spring tour games but the backs strategy didn’t deliver. I was hopeful that when Wisemantel left we might get a change in strategy but Rennie was sacked soon after.
scrum
Roar Rookie
Thanks for your reply. I cannot agree on the throat slitting. Respect needs to go both ways. Not denying the Haka just this particular one for the reasons I stated.
Cec
Roar Rookie
Foz & all of NZ fans need to thank Schmidt & Ryan for ‘assisting’ the ABs in finding their mojo. It will be interesting to see ABs play FRA who are young and also improving.