Watch: Breaking down the NZ Schoolboys' dominant showing over Australia
The New Zealand Schoolboys defeated their Australian counterparts 34-11 on the weekend, a seemingly comfortable score line. However, the score was close for large parts of this contest, and with 25 minutes remaining New Zealand held a slim 17-11 lead.
As we highlighted over the last couple of weeks, New Zealand had some of its best ever schoolboy athletes on show.
We’ve broken this game down and analysed the numbers, and found that even the final scoreline wasn’t misleading – this one wasn’t even close. In fact, it is downright scary for Australian rugby. However, this should be more about celebrating New Zealand’s talent, which any rugby fan should be able to appreciate. This was a performance of raw athleticism; power, speed and agility combined with finesse, skill and flair. The only thing missing was clinical finishing.
The backline had five players crack 100 running metres, and one only played 35 minutes:
- Leicester Faingaanuku – 166 metres on 13 carries, 3 line breaks, 13 defenders beaten, 2 offloads, 1 try
- Quinn Tupaea – 111 metres on 12 carries, 1 line break, 11 defenders beaten, 1 offload, 11 rucks cleared
- Isaiah Punivai – 115 metres on 10 carries, 4 line breaks, 4 line break assists, 7 defenders beaten, 4 offloads, 1 try assist, 1 try.
- Etene Nanai – 185 metres on 14 carries, 1 line break, 1 line break assist, 6 defenders beaten, 2 offloads, 1 try
- Danny Toala – 125 metres on 7 carries, 3 line breaks, 10 defenders beaten, 3 offloads, 1 try assist
The New Zealand backline alone also had 15 turnovers.
Nanai knocked on over the line, Faingaanuku was bundled into touch one metre out and Faingaanuku also knocked the ball on two metres out trying to score. While that is quite a high error rate, a number of these are ‘positive effort’ errors, incurred trying to make a play.
New Zealand’s half combination of Taufa Funaki and Rivez Reihana contributed to another five line breaks, making one each while Reihana assisted on two and Funaki on one.
The only man to have a relatively quiet day at the office was Waisake Naholo’s younger brother Kini Naholo, who still finished with 51 metres on six carries with two offloads and had two defenders beaten.
It was an astounding performance of raw attacking firepower, illustrated by their combined 58 defenders beaten. This was demonstrated in the fifth minute when Faingaanuku took a big shot but maintained his balance to turn the play into a 26m run, beating six defenders on the way. That one play summed up the whole match.
In total, New Zealand made 17 line breaks to Australia’s seven, and beat defenders 78 times to Australia’s 16.
Number eight Devan Flanders picked up the illustrious Jerry Collins Memorial Bronze Boot award for New Zealand’s man of the match with an understated and consistent game, but it must have been a hard task to select.
Comments on RugbyPass
Pretty good side. Scott Barrett should be the captain. Ethan Blackadder a great choice at blindside. He is going to go from strength to strength having made a couple of starts for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson rates him highly. Perenara could start a no 9.
3 Go to commentsI question and with respect. Was enough done over the last few years to bring through new blood knowing the Whitelocks and co couldn’t last forever. There should have been more done to future proof the team. New squad new coach, he and they weren’t set up well. IMO
6 Go to commentsJacobsen will definitely be in the 23
3 Go to commentsLots of discussion points, Ben, but two glaring follies IMO: 1. Blackadder at 6. Has done nothing so far this season to justify his selection. Did you see him going backwards in contact at the weekend? Simply has not got the physical presence at 6: we need a Scott Barrett or a Finau (or wildcard Ah Kuoi), beasts who are big enough to play lock, like Frizzell. If Barret played at 6, Paddy could be joined at lock by Vai’i or one of the young giants we need to promote, like Darry or Lord (if he ever gets on the field). Blackadder best left to join the queue for 7. 2. Not even a mention for Christie? Ratima gets caught at crucial times at the back of the ruck when he hesitates on the pass. The only way he starts would be if Christie and TJ are injured.
3 Go to commentsWhat a dagg in more ways than one
6 Go to commentsRegroup come back next year but sack some of the coaching team and don't be like the ABs last minute sacking. If Crusaders don't do well ABs don't do well.
5 Go to commentsProctor Definitely inform again this year had a hell of a season last year and this year is looking even better. Still mixed feelings about Ioane tho.
4 Go to commentsDagg is still trying to get enough headlines to make himself relevant enough to get a job. The Crusaders went back to square one at all levels. Shelve this season and nail the next one.
6 Go to commentsHe was in such great form. Sad for him but only a short term injury and it will be great to see him back for the finals.
1 Go to commentsAfter their 5/0 start, I had the Crusaders to finish Top 4 only…they lost the plot in Perth but will reload and back themselves vs 4th placed Rebels…
5 Go to commentsBoth nations missed a great opportunity to book a game that would have had a lot of interest from around the world. I understand these games can’t be organised in 5 minutes but they should have found a way to make it happen. I don’t think Wales are ducking anyone but it’s a bad look haha.
3 Go to commentsIt will be fascinating to see the effect that Jo Yapp has. If they can compete with Canada and give BFs a run for their money that will be progress
1 Go to commentsFollowing his dream and putting in the work. Go well young fella!
3 Go to commentsPerhaps filling Twickenham is one of Mitchell’s KPIs. I doubt whether both September matches will be at Twickenham on consecutive weekends. I would take the BF one to a large provincial stadium so as not to give them the advantage and experience of playing at Twickenham before a large crowd prior to the RWC.
3 Go to commentsvery unfortunate for Kitshoff, but big opportunity potentially for Nché to prove he is genuinely the best loosehead in the world, rather than just a specialist finisher. Presuming that if Kitshoff is out, it will also give Steenekamp a chance to come into the 23? Or are others likely to be ahead of him?
1 Go to commentsA long held question in popular culture asks if art imitates life or does the latter influence the former? Over this 6 nations I can ask the same question of the media influencing the thoughts of its audience or vice versa. Nobody wants to see cricket scores in rugby, as a spectacle it is not sustainable. With so many articles about England’s procession and lack of competition it feeds the epicaricacy of many looking for an opportunity to pounce. England are not the first team to dominate nor does it happen only in rugby, think Federer, Nadal, Red Bull or Mercedes, Manchester Utd, Australia in tests and World Cups. Instead of celebrating the achievements why find reasons to falsify it pointing towards larger playing pool, professional for a longer period or mitigate with the lack of growth in other nations. Can we not enjoy it while it is here and know that it won’t last for ever, others coveting what England have will soon take the crown, ask the aforementioned?
6 Go to commentsShame he won’t turn out for the Netherlands now they’re improving. U20s are Euro champs and in the U20 Trophy this year. The senior sides gets better every year too.
3 Go to commentsWill rugbypass tv be showing these games?
1 Go to commentsWell where do you start, the fact that England have a professional domestic league and Ireland’s is fully amatuer, that they have fully seperated professional squads at Fifteens and Sevens (7’s thinly disguised as GB), and Ireland have fully pro Sevens squad who loan some players back to the Semi-Professional Fifteens squad (moved from amateur for only a year or so) for a few games at 6N & RWC’s. The Women’s games is a shambles, and is at risk of killing itself by pushing for professionalism when the market isn’t really there to support it outside one or two countnries..
6 Go to commentsWayne Smith's input didn't have as much impact on the last final as Davison's red card for Thompson. England were 14 points up and flying when that happened.
6 Go to comments