1
'Had a point to prove': All Blacks praised after improved performance vs Wales
Rugby World Cup winner Mils Muliaina has praised the All Blacks for their improved performance against Wales last weekend, saying “the rustiness wasn’t quite there” anymore.
ADVERTISEMENT
While the All Blacks are always somewhat under pressure, the European leg of their Northern Tour was always going to be a hot topic of discussion a year out from the Rugby World Cup.
After an up and down international season which included historic losses to Ireland and Argentina, New Zealand began their Northern Tour with an unconvincing win over giant slayers Japan.
The All Blacks survived a genuine scare against the Brave Blossoms, who trailed by just four points with a minute to play, to win 38-31.
But the All Blacks may have silenced some of their critics for at least another week after a 55-23 demolition of 2021 Six Nations champions Wales at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium.
Speaking on The Breakdown, All Blacks centurion Muliaina said the team will still be “disappointed” with some areas of their game after the win over Wales.
“I thought the rustiness wasn’t quite there, there’s a lot of players that came back that hadn’t played for five or six weeks. Ardie Savea for me was sensational,” Muliaina said.
ADVERTISEMENT
“There were areas in their game they’ll be disappointed about, particularly keeping the Welsh in the game.
“But I thought the physicality that they showed, the ruck ball and the speed that they got particularly up front was pretty good.”
Caleb Clarke's position on the left wing has come under little scrutiny this year but that could be about to change. #AllBlacks #SCOvNZL
?? Tom Vinicombehttps://t.co/eIBu8QHjM2
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 7, 2022
The All Blacks got off to a roaring start in Cardiff, with hooker Codie Taylor crossing for two tries inside the opening 20 minutes.
While New Zealand managed to protect a relatively comfortable lead for most of the Test, the hosts fought their way back to trail by just six early in the second half.
ADVERTISEMENT
But the All Blacks scored five tries to one in the second 40, including a double to record-breaking scrum half Aaron Smith, and ran away with a 55-23 win.
“That’s been the most improved part of the All Blacks performance is just the physicality. I just thought we saw a lot more passion in the boy’s performance this week,” former Black Ferns star Chelsea Semple said.
“They were really competitive at every breakdown, they were physical, making big tackles. I enjoyed watching that game and I think the Welsh will be a little bit disappointed by their own performance.
“They did score a couple of really nice tris, one particular off a scrum set-piece, a really well executed move.
“I think Ian Foster and the group have done an awesome job coming off the back of the Japan Test to get the boys up and humming another level.”
New Zealand are now on a five Test winning streak, although criticism and scrutiny continues to follow the team a year out from rugby’s ultimate event.
After their far from clinical display against Japan, Samoan international Taylah Johnson believed the All Blacks played like they “had a point to prove” against Wales.
“The All Blacks played like a team that had a point to prove as well,” Johnson said.
Aaron Smith became the most capped All Blacks back of all time over the weekend, with his 113th cap pushing him ahead of his former halves partner Dan Carter. #WALvNZL https://t.co/p6n5SbQiZK
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 8, 2022
“Yes, they got the win over Japan and we’ll be naïve to think they don’t read the comments on social media and everything like that.
“That team went out there to do a job and they did it, and even on defence they had some outstanding plays on defence as well.
“Everyone on that field really gave everything that night, not that they ever don’t, but you could see that extra passion and determination.”
The All Blacks have two more Test matches to play on their tour to the Northern Hemisphere, with a crunch clash with Scotland at Murrayfield coming up this weekend.
New Zealand then finish their international season with a blockbuster against traditional rivals England at Twickenham.
Comments on RugbyPass
Farcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to commentsHavili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to commentsWe had during the week twilight footy, twilight cricket, tw golf plus there was the athletics club. Then the weekend was rugby 15s plus the net ball, really busy club scene back then but so much has changed and rugby has suffered. And it was all about changing lifestyles.
6 Go to commentsIn the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getting to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
6 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
7 Go to commentsNo Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
6 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
55 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
7 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
61 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
61 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
7 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
61 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
55 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
61 Go to comments