All Blacks head coach praises 'excellent' lock in return to Eden Park

All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie was full of praise for Blues captain Patrick Tuipulotu after his performance at Eden Park in their 40-21 victory over Ireland.

Tuipulotu returned to the starting lineup having missed the first two Tests of the Nations Championship July window for Rennie’s side, before coming straight back in at his home patch.

Rennie and his coaching staff made it clear during the week that multiple decisions were “fine-line calls”, one of which was likely leaving Sam Darry out of the match day 23, completely.

Speaking to media directly after the 19-point triumph at Eden Park, Rennie was quick to give credit to the way Tuipulotu played at his home ground, despite being “short of a gallop”.

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“I thought, Patrick was excellent. He hasn’t had a lot of footy in him and I’m really rapt that we made a call last week not to play him, just to give him one more week,” Rennie said post-match.

“You know he’s stronger, his ability to carry and get through two shoulders through, and he’s really physical defensively.”

Rennie explained that his physical presence around the paddock was strong, but also his scrummaging ability also added a point of difference.

“He gives our scrum a real edge too, with a big man there.

“So yeah, I thought it thought he was excellent, and he’s probably short of a gallop, and was starting to struggle a bit before we took him off.”

The head coach, who is now three-from-three in charge of the team, said that he also enjoyed the impact of Segner.

“I thought Anton was really good off the bench, and Peter Lakai didn’t get a lot of time. But yeah, we got good options there.”

Rennie said that one of the more pleasing aspects of the victory was the mindset, and the standard of preparation throughout the week.

“The prep’s been really good all week. I think you know we’re playing a real high quality side, and so a lot of people talking about Eden Park and and a lot of other factors,” Rennie told media in Auckland.

“So yeah, I just think the mindset was excellent all week, and we got a performance tonight, which you know six tries to three. We’re certainly happy with that.”