'He's made for this situation': How O'Driscoll would fix All Blacks
Legendary Ireland midfielder Brian O’Driscoll believes the All Blacks must quickly become brutal with their decision-making and install Joe Schmidt to fix the current mess that has unfolded under Ian Foster. New Zealand surrendered a home Test match series 1-2 to the Irish last weekend in Wellington and there has since been much discussion as to how to improve a team that has now lost four of its last five matches on Foster’s watch.
O’Driscoll has now joined the chorus of reflection, reckoning that the only quick-fix available to the All Blacks is to hand Schmidt the reins as the coach rather than having him come in as planned as a selector, or else bring in serial Super Rugby winner Scott Roberston of the Crusaders.
During an appearance on Wednesday Night Rugby, the Irish Newstalk radio programme, O’Driscoll took a deep dive into what he feels has gone wrong for the All Blacks with just over a year to go to a World Cup in France where Ireland could potentially meet New Zealand in the quarter-finals.
“It is cyclical and there even the great nations like New Zealand can peak and slightly trough with the player quality coming through,” explained O’Driscoll. “I was wondering and my train of thought was if you are looking at them as World Cup quarter-finalists if we lost the third Test match it would have been massively disappointing but it wouldn’t have been the worst thing in the world because that (All Blacks) coaching ticket wasn’t going to change – and this All Blacks team looks at though it is really struggling, it really does.
“Knowing someone like Joe Schmidt or hearing what Scott Robertson is like and that attention to detail, would they not be the perfect fit to come in and do something in a short period of time? Particularly Joe, I know him a lot more. He is made for this situation, this circumstance where their passing quality has been really poor, they are having unforced errors, so un-New Zealand like.
“Whereas all of those aspects, sharpen that up, body contact, accuracy at the ruck, he would get all of that side right and then the knock-on effect of playing their free-flowing game happens organically. It’s not really a New Zealand thing to cut people, to go, ‘Right, panic stations, get someone else in’, so I can understand they are trying to work with Ian Foster. But who knows, in a year, 15 months’ time will it be to their detriment that they haven’t been more brutal with their decision-making and brought in someone that definitely would fix things in a very short space of time? That is the sense I get from either of those two guys (Schmidt and Robertson) – but particularly with Joe.”
O’Driscoll also had plenty to say about some underperforming veteran All Blacks players. “(Brodie) Retallick and (Sam) Whitelock, guys like Sam Cane, maybe before recent years would have been big, physical, ferocious players whereas (Caelan) Doris, Peter O’Mahony, our front row all had at least parity with the opposition and won the collision zone an awful lot.
“If you look at the second row, they are absolutely in the winters of their career. Whitelock has been going a decade in the row, a lot of miles on the clock. Retallick is something similar and the reality is that it just takes its toll physically. All those Test caps, both of them over a hundred, you just can’t play with that same energy and vitality as a youthful player.
“You might have the same enthusiasm but the body just doesn’t respond to messages being sent from up top. It feels as though that quality has probably slipped a little bit. The front row as well, you think about the Franks brothers, you think about (Tony) Woodcock, that calibre of players.
“Were any of the props real standout performers for New Zealand? Cody Taylor, good in parts. Dane Coles, another one in the winter of his career, I just don’t think there is the ferociousness of their front five like there used to be.
“And then right across the backs, if you look at the best New Zealand teams, four or five of those positions pick themselves before you even have to think about it. Right now, (David) Havili is in and out at twelve, (Richie) Mo’unga had a brilliant Super Rugby campaign but he is on the bench, (Beauden) Barrett is not at his best, (Aaron) Smith is coming into the winter of his career. You have all of these factors on top of maybe not playing with massive confidence in the black jersey.
“They are struggling a bit with what they are trying to do structurally. It was the first time I saw a New Zealand team struggling for ideas. There are multiple factors. Ireland loved putting loads of pressure on them but also this New Zealand team is not picking itself yet which the great New Zealand teams, before you blink, eight of them are on the side whereas now I don’t think you could guarantee eight starters off the top of your head. It’s (Ardie) Savea and 14 others maybe.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Think you might have written this just before the Brumbies got thrashed last weekend
5 Go to commentsI really do believe that Billy Proctor should be selected at least in the larger squad but also it would be my choice at 13, much more a center than Ioane who can still play at wing. Roigard if fit should play, otherwise it should be Perenara or Christie. Also, Iose could deserve a spot at blindside. Of course, being a Canes supporter I’m biased but I really believe that at least Billy P is deserving a chance and being Holland one of the Selectors, I’m having a little hope he could grab it.
12 Go to commentsI would not play Swinton I’d pick Wright or Hanigan. The rest are decent starters, but can’t agree on any subs except Tupou. My take on the subs: Gibbon, Ueslese, Tupou, LSL, Wilson, White, Will Harrison, and Petaia.
5 Go to commentsSBW the biggest moron to pull on a black jersey a park footy player at best
7 Go to commentsSBW is fast becoming a laughing stock, his misplaced comments & lack of insight Is actually pretty sad.
7 Go to commentsJust well you guys are couch 🛋 potatoes selector's, picking a team of greenhorns to play England! “What are you people smoking?” The halfbacks will be Christie, Fakatava, Perenara Props; Newell, Bower, Lomax, Tunga'fasi, Hookers; Asosa Amua when fit, Taylor, Samisoni,
12 Go to commentsQuite frankly, all this is a bit pathetic. The first time Wales get the Wooden Spoon in 21 years and everyone is on the bandwagon for a ‘play-off’ game. Wales have no obligation to Georgia and no obligation to the rest of the Six Nations to play such a game. If they want Georgia in so badly then they need to include South Africa into a Northern Hemisphere competition with 2 leagues of 4 teams with the top 2 competing for the Championship. Sadly, this will end Triple Crowns and Grand Slams forever. Is this really what you want?
4 Go to commentsI think Finau to start Blackadder to come on. Poss Prokter instead of Ioane, haven't seen much from Reiko so far this year.
12 Go to commentsJoe will have had a good chat with Dave Rennie, a smart move to begin with while it’s doubtful Fast Eddie will be consulted? Plenty of Aus players hitting top form so they should go OK.
5 Go to commentsMmm. Not sure I like this article or see it as necessary.
7 Go to commentsBlackadder but no Finau! 😀 It’s Razor so you are probably right, plus Taylor at 2…
12 Go to commentsThe strongest possible AB side would actually include Aaron Smith, Bodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Leicester Fainga'anuku, Shannon Frizzel.. don’t get me started on the rest of the injury hit brigade that got flung on the heap so left. Many a whole not getting filled as of yet.
12 Go to commentsI don’t think anyone knows what Schmidt will do, one thing is certain it ain’t gonna be all the picks we on the keyboard will think. My impression of him is that he will be looking at who can step up and what is the best combination. He will ignore individuals as he looks for guys who can build a powerful team and not just guys who can make a flashy run or ignore the winger as they want to score themselves.
5 Go to commentsSome dumb selections there. Not Porecki Not Donaldson Not Gordon Not Lonegran - both Not Nic White - Fines instead Not Liam Wright Not Paisami Definitely not Vunivalu Other than that not bad.
5 Go to commentsI've never been convinced that Patty T is a test match all black. Otherwise I probably agree it's the best side available to beat the poms. Caveat that Codie Taylor is yet to be seen and could very likely warrant selection by June. I hope that Razor brings the young loosies, half backs and locks into the training squad and develops/ selects the best
12 Go to commentsYou doing the same thing I disliked about the example of Samisoni Taukei'aho, Nick. He’s great the way he is, you’re trying to do what modern-day coaches frustrate me doing, turning everyone into the perfect athlete. Next thing you’ll be telling me you’ll bench him until he’s hit that arbitrary marker, and can’t overtake the current guy who’s doing all his workons. He’s a young Kieran Read, through and through, plays wide and has threat, mainly (and evident in your clips) through his two hand carry and speed. Just let him work on that, or whatever he wants, and determine his own future. Play God and you risk the players going sideways, like Read did, instead of being a Toutai Kefu. I mean I was in the same camp for a while, wanting our tight five to have the size, and carry ability, as the teams they were getting beat by. Now I’m starting to believe those teams just have better skilled and practiced individuals, bigger by upwards of 5kg sometimes, sure, but more influentially they have those intrinsic skills of trust and awareness. Basically our guys just didn’t know wtf they were doing. Don’t think I’m trying to prove a point here but hasn’t Caleb Clarke been in much better form this year, or does he just ‘look’ better now that he’s not always trying to use his size?
44 Go to commentsThe pack lacks a little in height for the line out and I wouldn’t be completely convinced by some of the combinations till we see it in action.
12 Go to commentsThe side is good but lacks experience. International playing bona fides udually trumps super rugby form for good reason. And incumbents are usually stuck with. Codie Taylor should start or come off the bench. B Barrett will start at fullback. Blackadder has not earned the position, Finau has. TJs experience and competitiveness earns him a starting role, Christie or Ratima off the bench
12 Go to commentsPretty 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.
12 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 comments