There aren't really dominant defences in New Zealand's Super Rugby teams
There aren’t really any dominant defences in New Zealand’s Super Rugby Pacific teams.
They are not dominant in the traditional sense that they pound the opposition backward from a set piece and force the opposition back 20 metres before they have to raise the white flag and kick.
Many of the Kiwi Super Rugby Pacific teams can repel an attack and hold their ground, but rarely do they regularly force a team to concede via kick after driving them back.
The Crusaders and Chiefs, two of the form teams in the competition, put out a high-quality, fast-paced contest in Hamilton, but both teams were able to roll over one another in attack.
The defences in New Zealand, for whatever reason, are built to bend with the aim of not breaking. They make a ton of tackles with a high completion rate, trying to absorb pressure and then try to the turn ball over after giving up a lot of ground. As such, it is generally always a pretty game to watch.
There are players in both packs who can be physical, but as an overall unit, no side in New Zealand has shown they can blunt an attack dead consistently and put them in reverse.
The opening try to Cullen Grace less than 10 minutes into the contest illustrates just how passive New Zealand’s defences can be at times, and why a skilled 12 like David Havili can do things in Super Rugby he cannot get away with at test level.
From the above lineout, Codie Taylor linked with Havili for a midfield crash, and the Crusaders second-five’s first move was to veer sideways away from Chiefs openside Sam Cane and into the path of Bryn Gatland and Quinn Tupaea.
Havili can get away with this kind of unconventional line running against Bryn Gatland and Quinn Tupaea, a 10-12 combination on the smaller size, in order to get front-foot ball for the Crusaders.
You can not do this against an elite test side, however. Havili would be blindsided by a more physical 12 and rag-dolled against a top test side for this, like he was against the Springboks last year.
Chiefs second-five Quinn Tupaea was nowhere near his first-five Gatland in the line, standing back on his heels, allowing Havili to manufacture some momentum by getting to the outside shoulder of Gatland and landing on his stomach in the low tackle.
Tupaea was then stuck in no man’s land and, as a result, was cleared out of the way by George Bridge, which left the Chiefs down a defender for the next phase. It wasn’t effective execution from the young Chiefs midfielder.
Crusaders halfback Bryn Hall then got fast ball and found Scott Barrett steaming around the corner for another positive gain line run on the next phase, taking play inside the five-metre line.
The Chiefs forwards are trying to round the corner and fan out, leaving them standing still and bracing for the contact.
Barrett was able to get a one-on-one matchup against Chiefs No 8 Samipeni Finau, who on this occasion was discarded fairly easily, while Chiefs prop Sione Mafileo lazily overran the Crusaders lock.
The Chiefs’ defence was reeling after two phases, and all it took was one more carry by Cullen Grace to score.
The Crusaders bent the Chiefs’ line back until they ran out of space to defend. This is largely the story of Super Rugby Pacific defence by New Zealand sides – they aren’t able to hold their ground and force an opposition back regularly.
The Chiefs were able to do the same thing against the Crusaders throughout the match, and that was generally only undone by turnovers or errors of their own once downfield.
The Highlanders, who have had issues getting their attack going in 2021, were able to get going against the Blues and built good tries through well-worked set-piece launches.
Their second try to Daniel Lienert-Brown came on the third phase from a midfield scrum. A strong carry off the back by No 8 Gareth Evans at Stephen Perofeta chewed plenty of metres, followed by another snipe by Aaron Smith around the base.
By the time of the third phase, the Highlanders had already netted 15 metres of positive gain line. A quick release and a nice pass from Mitch Hunt put Lienert-Brown into a gap and he galloped over almost untouched.
It must be stressed that these passive defences are likely by design, coaches asking for a target number for completion rate and dominant hits. To get a 90-95 percent completion rate, dominant hits must be lower as a result, around the 5 percent range or lower.
The question must be asked if this is making life too easy, though. New Zealand’s best attacking stars, the top All Blacks, have it easier in Super Rugby Pacific compared to the elite clubs in Europe, who dish out punishment and pursue aggressive defensive schemes.
There aren’t any punishing defences to really disrupt in New Zealand, with all of them skewed towards soaking up pressure and conceding ground.
Generationally, the sea change has brought forward young players who are still developing.
The Crusaders’ back row of Ethan Blackadder, Tom Christie and Cullen Grace all complete tackles very well and get through high work rates, but they aren’t going to leave anyone stinging they way Kieran Read or Jordan Taufua did.
Does anyone fear running at the Crusaders’ back row?
Looking across the five Kiwi franchises, excluding Moana Pasifika for the moment, the 10-12 pairings are Richie Mo’unga and David Havili at the Crusaders, Bryn Gatland and Quinn Tupaea at the Chiefs, Mitch Hunt and Scott Gregory at the Highlanders, and the Hurricanes played Aidan Morgan and Tei Walden against Moana Pasifika.
All are lacking size at 10 (despite having fantastic attacking abilities), and even in some cases at 12, with the Blues have the biggest 10 in Beauden Barrett, who offers the most test-calibre defence to shore up that channel.
The rest of these inside halves pairings are easy targets for an attacking launch, looking to find some early-phase momentum. These players can tackle, but it will always be passive and the first-up runner will never get put on their backside.
The one team that could change that is Moana Pasifika, who in the second half against the Blues on Tuesday turned up with fire and intent and really put them under pressure. Both teams fielded young sides, but Moana Pasifika had 14 debutants.
Given they had only put a team together months before the competition, what we have seen from them over the last two games has to be praised.
There were aspects of their defence that looked to impose themselves on the Blues and actually take the game to the side with the ball.
Second-five Solomone Kata made a great defensive read on Perofeta, putting him on his backside. After flooding the ruck with numbers, Moana Pasifika generated a great turnover through aggressive defence.
The aforementioned 12s around the Kiwi Super Rugby teams last weekend all lack the power, physicality and size of Kata, the Tongan international.
There is a real point of difference that players like Kata can bring to Moana Pasifika’s on-field identity, and that is to build the most aggressive defence in New Zealand over time.
Doing so would improve the quality of Super Rugby Pacific and better prepare New Zealand’s players for test rugby against the best defences. Moana Pasifika’s defence is by no means there yet, but could get there as they develop if they pursued a different defensive strategy to the rest of the teams in the country.
The Covid outbreaks through the teams aren’t helping preparations, but the passive defence that has been on show is a continuation of a trend that was seen throughout Super Rugby Aotearoa over the last couple of years.
It is highly likely to launch a set piece attack and make 20-30 metres upfield in Super Rugby Pacific in New Zealand with little resistance.
When the All Blacks were faced with an imposing physical defence from South Africa, Ireland and France last year, they were like deer in the headlights. They weren’t used to getting clobbered, held up, driven sideways and manhandled after two years of sugar-coated defence at home.
Even against Argentina the year beforehand, when the first two phases actually netted a loss of metres, they were flummoxed.
It put everything under the spotlight, something that Super Rugby – in its various forms – hasn’t done for a while.
Some tougher defences that aren’t willing to bend, and actually want to win back ground while not in possession, could change that and it would be great to see Moana Pasifika develop one.
Comments on RugbyPass
“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
3 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
2 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
3 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
3 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
3 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
2 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
4 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
22 Go to commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
3 Go to commentsBeaches? In Cardiff? Where?
1 Go to commentsHe is right , the Crusaders will be a threat. Scott Barrett, ( particularly), Fergus Burke , Codie Taylor, ( from sabbatical) etc due back soon for the Crusaders. There are others like Zach Gallagher too. People can right the Crusaders off, Top 8 , here we come !!
1 Go to commentsWe will always struggle for money to match the other sides but the least the WRU can do is invest properly in Welsh rugby. Too much has been squandered on vanity projects like the hotel and roof walk amongst others which will never see a massive return. Hanging the 4 pro sides out to dry over the last decade is now coming back to bite the WRU financially as well as on the pitch. You reap what you sow.
1 Go to commentsWhat do you get if you cross a doctor with a fish? A plastic sturgeon
14 Go to commentsWhat happened to feleti Kaitu’u? Hasnt played in a while right?
1 Go to commentsGregor I just can’t agree with you. You are trying to find something that just isn’t there. Jordie Barrett has signed until 2028. By the end of that he would have spent probably 11-12 years on Super Rugby and you say he can’t possibly have one season playing somewhere else. It is absurd. What about this scenario, the NZR play hard ball and he decides to leave and play overseas. How would that affect the competition. There seems to be an agenda by certain journalists to push certain agendas and don’t like it when it’s not to their liking. I fully support the NZR on this. Gregor needs to get a life.
3 Go to commentsHope he stays as believe he can do a great job.
1 Go to comments