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Crotty says 'we let them back in' as All Blacks prepare to put things right

By Online Editors
Ryan Crotty of the All Blacks on the charge against Damian de Allende of the Springboks. (Photo by Anthony Au-Yeung/Getty Images)

The Rugby Championship may be decided but there is arguably even more to play for this weekend, as the All Blacks gear up to avenge their first loss of the year when they face the Springboks in Pretoria.

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The All Blacks were put under pressure by a defiant Springboks side in Wellington, going down 36-34 in a thriller. The return match adds some spice to the end of the competition that has already been decided.

“We were feeling good when we were 12 points up and we let them back in ourselves,” midfielder Ryan Crotty explained.

“They created a bit of pressure but we let them back into the game. The learnings were that we could have executed a bit better down the stretch …. also that we always believed that we were going to get it done and we didn’t and it hurt.

“We gifted them a couple of tries.

“It’s about eliminating those and fixing a couple of learnings defensively from last time.

“So a lot of learnings but probably as the leadership, just how important our connections are out there … the connections that feed into our driver so that we can make good decisions based on the game plan, game flow, and how we can exert pressure.”

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The pain of defeat will be used to motivate the team during the preparations, but come game time Crotty is expected a calm and focused side ready to execute the game plan.

“You don’t just bottle up the hurt and go out there and rip in on Saturday, it’s everything you do Sunday till Saturday. That’s how you use that as extra motivation.

“The early part of the week is getting the game plan and the mental side of it … the intelligence of the game and how you want to play. You put in a little bit of that hurt and bring it with the physicality. It’s a mixture of both but you use it to your advantage rather than let it hinder you.”

“You know if someone is drifting or too hyped.

“It’s about getting alongside them and helping them get to where they need to get to.

“But I trust our boys, that we will prepare well and be in a pretty good place mentally.”

The Springboks know that giving the All Blacks 70% possession and 75% territory is not a reliable recipe for winning against the number one side and will be looking to get better with the ball in hand.

“We have got to focus on ourselves and where we can get better and what we did wrong in the All Blacks game and the Australian game. It’s about trying to build on that,” Springboks hooker Malcolm Marx said.

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“We want to attack a bit more … we were on defence quite a bit.”

In other news:

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Bull Shark 2 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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