England explain the Schmidt All Blacks influence they want to curb
England have highlighted the Joe Schmidt influence on the All Blacks that they will look to curb when the teams meet this Saturday in the Autumn Nations Series at Twickenham. The ex-Ireland coach was added to Ian Foster’s coaching staff earlier this year during the fallout that followed the home Test series loss to an Irish side now coached by Andy Farrell.
It hasn’t been all plain sailing since Schmidt came on board as the defeat to Argentina in Christchurch heaped further pressure on the Foster regime. However, the All Blacks have arrived in London on the back of a six-game winning streak and they will have every confidence that this run can now be stretched to seven in their last outing of 2022.
England defence coach Anthony Seibold, who has just two games to go before he heads back to Australia to take over as head coach of Manly Sea Eagles, explained the influence that Schmidt has wielded in recent months on the All Blacks. “There have been some noticeable changes since Joe has taken on a position,” he suggested.
“I feel as though if you look at the New Zealand style of play, particularly early phases, there is certainly a deliberate pattern to how they play. There is certainly a deliberate pattern to how they play. They certainly try and create momentum and they have got some really good ball carriers.
“They try and create momentum on those early phases and they have got great skill level and speed in the back line. What they are trying to do is shorten up the defensive line so they can attack us on the edges, whether it is aerial attack or whether it is through the hands.
“That is how they look like they are playing. Rugby is a chaotic game but it certainly looks as though the team is a lot more structured with Joe Schmidt’s influence on their attack. He did a super job with Ireland and so you can see some improvement there since Joe has been involved.”
Despite that Schmidt influence, Seibold has backed up last Saturday’s claim by Eddie Jones that the All Blacks are there for the taking by England and he is expecting a home team win. “Yeah, I really am. Statistically, the facts are that New Zealand have won 78 per cent of games against England, so if you look at statistics England are expected to lose and New Zealand are expected to win.
“But in Eddie’s time here the group has played New Zealand twice had a close loss a couple of years ago in 2018 and then won the semi-final the last time the two teams match up, so we want to go after New Zealand this week, we don’t want to wait for New Zealand to come to Twickenham and come after us.
“We want to go after them and the comments from Eddie are a good indication of where we want to take our training week and how we want to start the game. We want to start the game fast, we want to take it to the New Zealand side.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Except for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
33 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
33 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
33 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
33 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
33 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
33 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
1 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
33 Go to commentsArdie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
17 Go to commentsNot good to hear Ulster described as “financially troubled”. Did not think it was getting to that level. I would hope the Irish system of spreading players of talent away from Leinster would kick in now. Better to have a Leinster fringe player with Ulster or Connacht, then getting only a few games a season in Dublin. 10, for example, would seem to be a case for spreading the talent. I would not be at all adverse to a SA man coming in as head coach/DR. Ludeke is worth trying. Certainly got a long and impressive coaching career at this level…..149 games in SR, then Japan, 30 years experience. And Ulster’s ledger of successful SA coaches and players is on the positive side. Is talk of Ruan Pienaar interested in coming back as a coach…..could be a good combination with Ludeke. And Pienaar and family would have no settling in to do, one would judge. He loved life in Ulster when there, by all reports.
1 Go to commentsSome thoughts to consider here, Sam. Thanks
2 Go to comments