'Better intent': All Blacks assistant coach reflects on dominant victory

The All Blacks head to Hamilton for the third and final Test match against France in this July series, after two very different victories to start 2025.

The first, which was a narrow 31-27 victory over France, now seems like a distant memory after the All Blacks put France to the sword in Wellington, beating them 43-17.

All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson will be tempted into making wholesale changes for the third Test in Hamilton, after announcing at the start of the series that they plan to give everyone an opportunity.

One change will be forced, with Chiefs lock Tupou Vaa’i failing his HIA in Wellington, meaning we could see Naitoa Ah Kuoi off the bench, as he has spent the last couple of weeks training with the squad.

Looking back on the 2nd Test in Wellington, All Blacks assistant coach Tamati Ellison joined Jason Pine on Newstalk ZB’s Weekend Sport show to react and reflect on what he saw in Wellington.

Pine started by asking what Ellison thought of the Test match, after a slightly underwhelming start in Dunedin the week before.

“I think we probably started with better intent and fewer collisions than we did last week. I think we found some flow with our tackle so similar to last week, but probably completed more in the first half,” Ellison told Pine.

“I think, on the defensive side of the ball, around our team’s tackle height in last week in Dunedin, we probably rode way too many tackles and against big sides, they can just eat the gain line up and continue to play on top of you.

“So we were happy with parts of that in the first half, which then saw a few more turnovers, and then we could attack from the turnover ball.”

Ellison admits that the addition of Bryn Evans as lineout coach has really helped the coaching group focus on their specific areas.

“Yeah, he’s got a good relationship with Jason Holland, and it’s great to see it because it’s an area of the game where, from last year, we really have an emphasis on our strike.

“So it’s been nice for both of those men to work together and give Jason Ryan some time to keep his eyes on other things.

“It was a beauty.”

One position that Ellison knows a lot about is centre, a position he played most of his career at, and tells Pine that Billy Proctor needs to continue growing in the role.

“I think it’s new for him, some of the adjustments in his game, I think defensively he’s just working out how much line speed he needs to bring and how connected he needs to be with his insides.

“He’s one of the best edge defenders in Super Rugby, without a doubt, so he’ll continue to grow and make some adjustments.

One area of clear controversy from the second France Test took place in the 19th minute, where All Blacks first-five Beauden Barrett was penalised for intentionally knocking the ball down, stopping a France attack.

Referee Christophe Ridley and the TMO ruled this to be a yellow card offence, something that Ellison thinks needs to be reaccessed.

“Yeah, I think you have to look at things and work out how much time the player had to make a decision and versus someone who is defensively in the line coming forward.

“I think I’m not sure that the yellow card part, but I think you have to read the situation, that’s for sure, the context of when it’s happened.”