Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
NZ NZ

Analysis: Why the Blues need to play Rieko Ioane at 13

By Ben Smith
Reiko Analysis 2

Superstar Rieko Ioane put up a decent stat line in the Blues agonising 41-34 defeat against the Highlanders last week– 75 run metres on 12 carries, with five defenders beaten and four clean breaks, showing flashes of his explosive talent.

ADVERTISEMENT

The stats might look pretty, but in reality, most of this came from counter-attack and generally very little from set-piece and only in specific circumstances in phase play.

When you look into this deeper the Blues are not using Ioane effectively, at least not to his maximum potential, and the Chiefs and every other team are going to thank them for it.

The Blues are going to run into real problems this year based on what we saw last Friday night and run the risk of wasting Ioane’s talent on the wing. Head coach Tana Umaga explained earlier this year his reasoning for leaving Ioane on the wing.

“I said to him it’s hard when he’s the world’s best left wing so it’s his own fault at the moment.

One key difference is missing here – the Blues are not the All Blacks. What Ioane does for the All Blacks on the wing cannot be expected at the Blues. The All Blacks create space for Ioane on the wing, the Blues don’t.

Blues problems run deep

What we learned against the Highlanders is the Blues are trying to play shockingly deep. This structure is going to hamper Ioane’s ability to get quality ball in space all season long during phase play.

ADVERTISEMENT
The Blues two receivers are set extremely deep on open side phase play.

The depth in itself isn’t the problem. The issues develop when the Blues backs remain static and pass directly backward instead of flat and ‘out in front’ of the player. This starts with Gatland at 10 and exacerbates as the play goes on.

The starting depth combined with deeper passing results in huge gain line losses for the Blues.

Here Gatland’s catch’n’pass is almost in the same spot and Collins is not much better. By the time Collins receives the ball, the play is already 13 metres behind the gain line.

Michael Collins is roughly 13 metres behind the gain line when he receives the pass.
ADVERTISEMENT

The Highlanders rush defence is able to sprint up as there are really no flat options for the Blues.

By the time Sonny Bill Williams receives the ball, Rob Thompson is in his face and is able to tackle him for a 15-metre loss.

SBW is smashed by Rob Thompson for a 15 metre loss.

Sonny Bill Williams is almost stationary when he receives the ball meaning Rieko Ioane outside of him also has to stop. If Williams offloads, Ioane would be standing still with Walden (12) closing in.

Again, we see Gatland passing deep to Collins far behind the gain line and the decoy runners nowhere near the advancing defensive line as viable options.

Another deep set up resulting in a massive gain line loss.

Once Matt Duffy (14) receives the ball he is monstered by Tevita Li (11) for another big loss.

Matt Duffie is hammered by Tevita Li well behind the gain line.
Gatland releases the ball as the Highlanders defence line closes in.

Here again, none of the backs have moved off their mark and Gatland has already released his pass.

The next man is under so much pressure by the time he receives it he has to fling it on awkwardly. George Moala and Sonny Bill Williams are standing still outside him, with zero momentum.

The clunky pass is fired above Williams’ head and Tevita Li is easily able to cover the overlap.

Going backwards – the Blues backs lose more metres on another wide shift.

We have seen in recent years when sides try to play with a ‘game managing’ 10, they fall back into this type of deep structure, which only results in disaster.

The Reds with Jake McIntyre tried the same thing and were cannon fodder for teams with rapid line speed. You cannot stand still and shovel wide to your weapons.

The Blues are looking to employ similar tactics but will find it extremely difficult against all the New Zealand sides that all adopt vicious rush tactics. Even if they are able to successfully spread the ball to Ioane, he will often be static and 15 metres behind the gain line.

Gatland was far more promising in the first half when he attacked the line and played on the run instead of the ‘stand and shovel’ pass that developed as the game went on.

The Blues deep attack is usually limited to when they try to release the open side. Their short side is generally much flatter, and this is where they found success on numerous occasions against the Highlanders.

Video Spacer

Ioane might be world’s best wing, but is Moala a better centre?

George Moala is a run-dominant player – which is a nicer way of saying he doesn’t pass the ball often.

There is a reason why Moala is no longer in contention for the All Blacks. Younger more rounded centres like Jack Goodhue have surpassed him. He is obviously capable of passing the ball as seen in the try above, but often misses opportunities to utilise space on the outside when he is covered, favouring contact instead.

Moala has an opportunity to spread the ball to the open Rieko Ioane.

The Blues have a lineout play inside the Highlanders 22 early in the match and Moala finds himself pressured by Rob Thompson as he receives the ball. With two men outside him, quick hands by Moala could release Ioane for a try scoring opportunity.

Waisake Naholo (14) is trying to close the outside space but is angling in. If Moala can get the ball to Collins, he will already be outside of Naholo giving the Blues a massive scoring opportunity.

Moala takes the ball into contact and is easily covered by the Highlanders.

Moala tries to take on Thompson on the outside and is swallowed by the Highlanders cover defence.

Again right before halftime, Moala has an opportunity down the short side to play numbers and free up Ioane inside the 22.

Moala has another opportunity to set Ioane free.

He engages his opposite forcing Naholo to cover two players. All that is required is a simple pass and the next man can free Ioane.

He takes it into contact and the opportunity is lost.

George Moala is swallowed by two Highlanders defenders.

Without a ball-playing 13, Ioane is going to have limited opportunities on the end of the Blues backline. When you have the deadliest player on the field and don’t use him enough, the missed opportunities add up in a game only decided by 7 points.

The one set-piece play Ioane was used on was a simple crash ball running off 9. There was no creative play design to use Ioane in wider channels. This stunning play by the All Blacks created space for him outside the centre channel and he took advantage.

Video Spacer

The All Blacks create space for Ioane, the Blues don’t.

The case for 13

The reasoning above argues that Ioane will be wasted on the wing this year but doesn’t outline the benefits the Blues will get from actually having Ioane at centre. Without going into too much detail, these are fairly obvious.

He will have the opportunity to get more touches on both sides of the field. We saw Ioane’s freakish offload in the lead up to Matt Duffie’s try on the right-hand side of the field. There is no reason why he couldn’t provide more of that in the 13 jersey.

He has the ball-skills Moala doesn’t, plus the speed and breakaway ability. He will draw in more attention from defenders but has the ability to capitalise on it – by getting away offloads in the tackle. George Moala would actually benefit more being outside Ioane.

The Blues have depth issues in attack, but having the dangerous Ioane there could still work. Even under pressure, he will be a better chance at shaking off the first defender and opening something up.

The move will benefit both Ioane and Moala, and ultimately the Blues. They must do what is best for them.

Ioane is the world’s best wing because he is in the world’s best team – the All Blacks.

The Blues aren’t, they need him at 13.

 

 

ADVERTISEMENT

Join free

Aotearoa Rugby Podcast | Episode 6

Sam Warburton | The Big Jim Show | Full Episode

Japan Rugby League One | Sungoliath v Eagles | Full Match Replay

Japan Rugby League One | Spears v Wild Knights | Full Match Replay

Boks Office | Episode 10 | Six Nations Final Round Review

Aotearoa Rugby Podcast | How can New Zealand rugby beat this Ireland team

Beyond 80 | Episode 5

Rugby Europe Men's Championship Final | Georgia v Portugal | Full Match Replay

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

J
Jon 3 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

This is the problem with conservative mindsets and phycology, and homogenous sports, everybody wants to be the same, use the i-win template. Athlete wise everyone has to have muscles and work at the gym to make themselves more likely to hold on that one tackle. Do those players even wonder if they are now more likely to be tackled by that player as a result of there “work”? Really though, too many questions, Jake. Is it better Jake? Yes, because you still have that rugby of ole that you talk about. Is it at the highest International level anymore? No, but you go to your club or checkout your representative side and still engage with that ‘beautiful game’. Could you also have a bit of that at the top if coaches encouraged there team to play and incentivized players like Damian McKenzie and Ange Capuozzo? Of course we could. Sadly Rugby doesn’t, or didn’t, really know what direction to go when professionalism came. Things like the state of northern pitches didn’t help. Over the last two or three decades I feel like I’ve been fortunate to have all that Jake wants. There was International quality Super Rugby to adore, then the next level below I could watch club mates, pulling 9 to 5s, take on the countries best in representative rugby. Rugby played with flair and not too much riding on the consequences. It was beautiful. That largely still exists today, but with the world of rugby not quite getting things right, the picture is now being painted in NZ that that level of rugby is not required in the “pathway” to Super Rugby or All Black rugby. You might wonder if NZR is right and the pathway shouldn’t include the ‘amateur’, but let me tell you, even though the NPC might be made up of people still having to pull 9-5s, we know these people still have dreams to get out of that, and aren’t likely to give them. They will be lost. That will put a real strain on the concept of whether “visceral thrill, derring-do and joyful abandon” type rugby will remain under the professional level here in NZ. I think at some point that can be eroded as well. If only wanting the best athlete’s at the top level wasn’t enough to lose that, shutting off the next group, or level, or rugby players from easy access to express and showcase themselves certainly will. That all comes back around to the same question of professionalism in rugby and whether it got things right, and rugby is better now. Maybe the answer is turning into a “no”?

35 Go to comments
j
john 6 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

But here in Australia we were told Penney was another gun kiwi coach, for the Tahs…….and yet again it turned out the kiwi coach was completely useless. Another con job on Australian rugby. As was Robbie Deans, as was Dave Rennie. Both coaches dumped from NZ and promoted to Australia as our saviour. And the Tahs lap them up knowing they are second rate and knowing that under pressure when their short comings are exposed in Australia as well, that they will fall in below the largest most powerful province and choose second rate Tah players to save their jobs. As they do and exactly as Joe Schmidt will do. Gauranteed. Schmidt was dumped by NZ too. That’s why he went overseas. That why kiwi coaches take jobs in Australia, to try and prove they are not as bad as NZ thought they were. Then when they get found out they try and ingratiate themselves to NZ again by dragging Australian teams down with ridiculous selections and game plans. NZ rugby’s biggest problem is that it can’t yet transition from MCaw Cheatism. They just don’t know how to try and win on your merits. It is still always a contest to see how much cheating you can get away with. Without a cheating genius like McCaw, they are struggling. This I think is why my wise old mate in NZ thinks Robertson will struggle. The Crusaders are the nursery of McCaw Cheatism. Sean Fitzpatrick was probably the father of it. Robertson doesn’t know anything else but other countries have worked it out.

28 Go to comments
A
Adrian 8 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

Thanks Nick The loss of players to OS, injury and retirement is certainly not helping the Crusaders. Ditto the coach. IMO Penny is there to hold the fort and cop the flak until new players and a new coach come through,…and that's understood and accepted by Penny and the Crusaders hierarchy. I think though that what is happening with the Crusaders is an indicator of what is happening with the other NZ SRP teams…..and the other SRP teams for that matter. Not enough money. The money has come via the SR competition and it’s not there anymore. It's in France, Japan and England. Unless or until something is done to make SR more SELLABLE to the NZ/Australia Rugby market AND the world rugby market the $s to keep both the very best players and the next rung down won't be there. They will play away from NZ more and more. I think though that NZ will continue to produce the players and the coaches of sufficient strength for NZ to have the capacity to stay at the top. Whether they do stay at the top as an international team will depend upon whether the money flowing to SRP is somehow restored, or NZ teams play in the Japan comp, or NZ opts to pick from anywhere. As a follower of many sports I’d have to say that the organisation and promotion of Super Rugby has been for the last 20 years closest to the worst I’ve ever seen. This hasn't necessarily been caused by NZ, but it’s happened. Perhaps it can be fixed, perhaps not. The Crusaders are I think a symptom of this, not the cause

28 Go to comments
T
Trevor 11 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

21 Go to comments
FEATURE
FEATURE Luke Cowan-Dickie: 'I didn’t feel right. I felt like I was going to pass out. Everything was going black in front of me' Luke Cowan-Dickie: 'I didn’t feel right. I felt like I was going to pass out. Everything was going black in front of me'
Search