The difference between the All Blacks and the Lions in one word
If the Lions take a close look at the match statistics from Eden Park, they will head to Wellington this week convinced they have what it takes to level the test series with the All Blacks. But there is just one thing those statistics won’t show, writes Scotty Stevenson, and it is the difference between these two teams.
Forget ruck percentages, lineout success, kick retention and all the other numbers that can be extrapolated from the first test match at Eden Park. Don’t be fooled by the rhetoric around protecting halfbacks (like they need any more) or blocking, or sealing off the opposition ball at the breakdown. There is one thing that separates the All Blacks from the Lions: trust.
No matter what kind of team spirit the tourists have been able to stir among themselves in the opening few weeks of this great adventure, the fact remains they are a side of constituent parts, yet to display the kind of cohesion that makes the whole greater than the sum. They are a problematic equation yet to be solved in action.
Trust is the diamond the All Blacks have honed through pressure and through time. How else does one explain Aaron Smith’s decision to take the quick tap penalty, right under the nose of his captain? How else does one explain why Codie Taylor remained in the tramlines, not on the off chance that Smith would do that, but because he fully expected him to do that.
Conversely, after Taylor somehow took that final pass three millimetres above his shoelaces and dived over the line for the opening try, Lions winger Elliot Daly, who had turned in field rather than stay out on his man, immediately looked across at his team as if to say, “what the hell was that?” In a world of trust there is no room for accusation.
Trust is the difference between offloading in contact, and dying with the ball. Trust is what allows Kieran Read – falling forward with a Lions player between him and Aaron Smith – to throw a one-handed pass that ultimately led to a try to Rieko Ioane. Earlier, the Lions had opened the All Blacks up down the left hand edge only to take the wrong side from the resulting ruck. On finally heading open, Ben Te’o eschewed a two-man overlap and took the tackle. At that point Talupe Faletau, stationed in exactly the same spot Taylor had been in the first half, clapped his hands in frustration.
Faletau could hardly be blamed for being infuriated. The game was, at that very moment, in the balance. The Lions – as they had been in the opening two minutes of the match – had the momentum and the belief. Frustration, however, is the enemy of trust. With that clap of the hands, Faletau’s trust in the team dissipated in the drizzle.
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Trust is what allows the All Blacks to have plan A, B and C. With the exit of Ben Smith, Beauden Barrett simply slid back twenty metres and carried on. With the exit of Jerome Kaino, Ardie Savea slotted into place on the side of the scrum and proceeded to pound the Lions line with his trademark leg drive. With the departure of Moody and Franks, Crockett and Faumuina didn’t just fill the gap, they redecorated the room.
In one five minute period, those last three names combined to force two successive breakdown penalty plays. No one in the All Blacks side expected anything less from them. TJ Perenara then entered the match and deftly won a breakdown turnover for good measure.
Perhaps most telling of all, replacement first five Aaron Cruden’s first kick of the game directly led to the Lions’ great try. Liam Williams picked his way through the oncoming chase line with dexterity and poise, neatly accepting the path cleared for him by an impressive Ben Te’o retreat that prevented Sonny Bill Williams from getting a hand on the Lions fullback. The rest of that play is one for eternity’s highlight reel, with Sean O’Brien the man to ultimately have his name on the score sheet.
What stands out, though, is this: not one All Black turned to Cruden to apportion blame. Not one accusatory stare was cast, not one hand clap of frustration punctuated the moment. Cruden lined up with the rest of them as the conversion was taken, and put it all behind him. His pass to Rieko Ioane for the first of his tries was a confident miss-ball past the more experienced Anton Lienert-Brown, to the youngest member of the team.
Warren Gatland, in the post-match interviews, pondered what the world’s media would have said about the Lions had they played with the same bludgeoning style the All Blacks showcased on Saturday night and won the game. It’s an interesting diversion, but it is a pointless comparison.
That the All Blacks trusted themselves to play that way is the reason they won the game. That the Lions don’t yet trust themselves to play the way they are capable of is the reason they did not.
Comments on RugbyPass
Sorry Morgan you must have been the “go to for a quote” ex player this week. Its rnd 6 and there is plenty of time to cement a starting 15 and finishing 8 so I have no such concerns.
1 Go to commentsGreat read. I wish you had done this article on the ROAR.
2 Go to commentsThe current AB coaching team is basically the Crusaders so it smacks of wanting their familiar leaders around. This is not a good look for the future of the ABs or the younger players in Super working their way up the player ladder. Razor is touted as innovative, forward looking but his early moves look like insecurity and insular, provincial thinking. He is the AB's coach not the Golden Oldies.
10 Go to commentsSimple reason for wanting him back. Robertson wants him as captain. Otherwise he wouldn’t be bothering chasing him. Not enough reason to come back just to mentor.
10 Go to commentsI had not considered this topic like this at all, brilliant read. I had been looking at his record at the Waratahs and thought it odd the Crusaders appointed him, then couple that with all that experience and talent departing and boom. They’ve got some great talent developing though, and in all honesty I don’t think anyone would be over confident taking them on in a playoff match, no matter how poor the first half of their season was. I think they can pull a game out of their ass when it counts.
2 Go to commentsNot a bad list but not Porecki and not Donaldson. Not because they are Tahs, or Ex Tahs, they are just not good enough. Edmed should be ahead. Far more potential. Wilson should be 8 and Valentini 6. Wilson needs to be told by his father and his coach, stop bloody running in to brick wall defence. You’re not playing under the genius Thorn any more. He’s a fantastic angle runner. The young new 8 from the Brumbies looks really good too. The Lonegrans are just too small for international rugby as is Paisami, as is Hamish Stewart at 12. Both great at Super Rugby level. Stewart could have been a great 10 if not for Brad Thorn. Uru should be there and so should Tupou. Tupou just needs good Australian coaching which he hasn’t been getting. I don’t think Schmidt will excite him.
2 Go to commentsIf he wants to come back then he should. He will be a major asset to the younger locks and could easily be played as an impact player off the bench coming on in the last 30. He is fit, strong and capable and has all the experience to make up for any loss in physical prowess. He could also be brought back with a view to coaching within the structures one day. Duane Vermeulen played until he was 37 or 38. He is now a roaming coach within the South African coaching structures. He was valuable in the last world cup and has been a major influence on Jasper Wiese and other young players which has helped and accelerated their development and growth. Whitelock could do the exact same thing for NZ
10 Go to commentsBrett Excellent words… finally someone (other than DC) has noted that Hanigan is very hard and very good at doing what Backrow should do… his performance via the Drua sauna was quite daunting for those on the other side… very high tackle count… carries with good end result… constant threat to make a good 20-25 meters with those long legs… providing his mass effectively to crunching the Drua pack… Finally he is returning to quality form… way to much injury time over the last 2 years… smart-strong-competent in his skills… caught every lineout throw aimed at him and delivered clean pass to whoever was down below… and he worked hard for the whole 80 minutes… Ned has to be in the top 5 for backrow honors… He knows what is required as he has been there before…
20 Go to commentsI think Sam Whitelock should not touch a return with a bargepole. He went out on a high, playing in the RWC Final. He would be coming back into a team that will be weaker than last years, and might even be struggling to win games, especially against the Boks. Stay in France, enjoy another year with Pau, playing alongside his brother.
10 Go to commentsRyan Coxon has been very impressive considering he was signed by WF as injury cover whilst Uru has been a standout for QR, surprised neither of those mentioned
2 Go to commentsIt’s the massive value he brings with regard team culture/values, preparation, etc. Can’t buy that. I’m hoping to see the young locks get their chance in the big games though.
10 Go to commentsAll good, Gregor, except that you neglected to mention Sam Darry amongst that talented pool of locks. In fact, given Hannah’s inexperience and the fact that Holland won’t be eligible until next year, Lord and Darry might be the frontrunners this year, to join Barrett, Tuipoluto, Va’ii and possibly Whitelock. In fact there might be room for all of them if Barrett played 6 (like Ollie Chessum).
10 Go to commentsHis value is stabilizing the ship 20 - 40 minutes out from the final whistle plus his valuable experience to the underlings coming through.
10 Go to commentsWhat is criminal is she acts like it's no problem her actions have have cause the Italian player to lose her playing career, lose salary, if she did this in day to day life she would be in jail, she is a complete thug!!!
3 Go to commentsCorrect me if i’m wrong but the sadas have to win all games running into the finals yeh nah?
1 Go to commentsDon’t like Diamond but the maul is a joke, the sight of a choke tackle creating a maul then players in offside positions flopping on it killing the ball but then getting the put in? Banal.
3 Go to commentsHopefully Tabai Matson returns to Crusaders as head coach next season.
1 Go to commentsstorm in a teacup really. Penalty only so play on as the try was scored. Now the real question is: why was Maitland allowed to pass the ball off the floor? That is illegal but refs never pick it up.
1 Go to commentsWhen Beauden Barrett signed his contract before the 2023 RWC to play in Japan in 2024, it was NOT part of a sabbatical agreed to with NZRU prior to his signing, as was Ardie Savea and Sam Cane. Barrett changed his mind after the fact and negotiated his return to NZ Rugby and he was given permission to be eligible for All Black selection straight away once he signed a new contract to return to the Blues in 2025. Therefore, why would anyone argue against Whitelock returning to the All Blacks straight away after his season is France is finished if he signs a new contract with NZRU which includes a Super Rugby contract in 2025? If Barrett can, Whitelock should be allowed too.
10 Go to commentsThe All Blacks will select 5 locks this season. Scott Robertson will most likely want to select 2 veteran locks who can start right away in 2024 and 3 young promising locks who he would like to be pushing hard for selection in the starting XV in two years time- 2026. Scott Barrett is a world class lock. Who would you rather start beside him this season against England, South Africa, Ireland, and France- Sam Whitelock or Patrick Tuipulotu? I would choose Whitelock over Tuipulotu all day, every day.
10 Go to comments