Three former All Blacks assess the playing style adopted against France

There has been a great deal of discussion surrounding rugby circles about how the All Blacks are playing, what tactics they are using and the type of opportunities that they are creating.

Scott Robertson and his coaching staff have continued to talk about how fast they want to play with the ball in hand, and how they want to pin France back in their own 22.

You get the feeling they are satisfied with how the plan went in the second Test, where they were able to be more clinical in and around the opportunities their ambitious style of rugby created.

Speaking on The Breakdown on Sky Sports, three former All Blacks have discussed what they think of the first two Test matches of the International season in 2025.

81-Test former All Black halfback Justin Marshall was impressed with the way the All Blacks kicked the ball tactically, often along the ground.

“Yeah, well, I like the balance in it, because what they did was they didn’t kick predictably, and when you do that, then it’s easy for the opposition to set up for it,” Marshall said on The Breakdown.

“There were plenty of instances where Beauden Barrett went over the top, I think over the top to Ardie Savea, Cameron Roigard’s kicking game was really good, he kicked in better channels.

“Out of hand, everybody had their moments, including Will Jordan. I think they just varied it enough that the French just couldn’t kind of get their head around exactly where the kicks were coming from or where they’re going to do so, I think it was more just being smart.”

Former All Black first-five Stephen Donald agrees that the kicking game of the All Blacks was effective in the second Test, where they changed from last year’s tactic.

“The smart side of it for me is if we go back to last year and compare it, it’s the setups like when we’re coming out of our own 30 or 40, we’re actually looking like we’re a threat to run,” Donald said.

“You guys talk about the front 12 or 13 of the French is around and not much back there, then that’s because we are actually set to run, as opposed to just being predictable and letting them know we’re kicking.”

Former All Black centurion Mils Muliaina believes that the All Blacks now have confidence, and it’s showing with the way they are playing with the ball in hand.

“That’s also confidence, this sort of stuff is our game, it’s in our DNA, the ability to pop, but also understanding the support player has got to get in behind, as opposed to the width, because you’re wanting to play a wide sort of a game,” Muliaina said.

“It’s off the back of what the guys have just said, you build pressure around getting down the right end of the field,  Roigard’s kicking and putting the French under pressure.

“That’s what I liked about the performance last night, everyone said there was a game plan, kick over the top, but you’ve still got to execute those kicks, and I thought Beauden Barrett did them exceptionally well last night too.”

Marshall adds to what Muliaina explained, saying that there is a clear plan there.

“You can see it formulating, formulating what they’re trying to achieve, the basis of it is there, I don’t think they’re anywhere near where they want to get and they might be holding back, because if you try to throw the kitchen sink in, and then it becomes real messy.

“I think we went through the French really well, narrowed up when we needed to, the one break on the outside was from a forward, I’d like to see the evolution if we punch the middle, and we’ve got great narrow attack.

“We’re tough there, we can play the right areas, but we can go around teams, once we start going around teams and around that blitz defence, we’re going to have a really well-balanced, dangerous game plan.”