Neil Barnes: 'That's who we are, that's what our people expect from us'

All Blacks assistant and former Taranaki head coach Neil Barnes is keeping his feet firmly on the floor despite back-to-back convincing victories over the Wallabies, conceding that it’s “what our people expect from us”.

In the end, Dave Rennie’s All Blacks battled their way to a 43-21 triumph over Les Kiss’ Wallabies in Sydney, even after a near-perfect first forty minutes where the visitors ran in six tries to one heading into the break.

The Kiwis went down to 13 men at one stage, with debutant winger Chay Fihaki handed a yellow card after head-on contact on Joseph-Aukuso Sua’ali’i, and Timoci Tavatavanawai having to leave the field as the All Blacks had used their full complement of substitutes.

Barnes, who addressed media in Sydney post-match, admitted that no matter who the All Blacks play, the fundamentals of their game plan will remain the same.

“It’s our DNA, to be honest, and we’re trying to play a game that fits us, and obviously you’ve still got to play the tough parts of the game,” Barnes said.

“And just like the South Africans, the people over there [Europe] will challenge us up front too. But I’d like to think I’m in a way better place to handle them now and impose ourselves on them.”

The All Blacks had a clear focus on approaching their breakdown with efficiency and power, especially against Fraser McReight and Rob Valetini, who are constantly hunting around the ruck.

Barnes said there was a huge emphasis from the coaching staff around the All Blacks’ physicality around the fringes of the ruck, expecting their players to be first to the cleanout.

“It’s our DNA, that’s who we are, and that’s what our people expect from us, and how we expect ourselves to play. So around our breakdown work, we expect people to win races there and put people on the ground, and you’re putting shots into people.

“It’s just like fighting. You’re putting little jabs into them, and it takes its toll. They’ve got to get off the ground afterwards, and you can push them out of the way and secure the ball, and ain’t brutality to me. But everything about us has got to be physical. That’s the way we are, the way we’re built.

Not only have the All Blacks learnt a lot about themselves throughout the 2026 Test matches, but they’ve used over 50 players, creating depth in numbers ahead of a Rugby World Cup in Australia next year.

“Yeah, 100%. And at the end of the day, too, we’re creating depth all the time. We’re trusting the next cab off the rank, and people are stepping up.

“Look at that crew we went out with today. There’s a lot of changes in there, and then by the end of it, people are all over the place. But yeah, I know up front people might be saying we made a lot of changes in there, but there are positions where I don’t think there’s a lot between the players.

“People need to be given the jersey to enhance it, and if it hasn’t shifted forward, I’ll put someone else in there and see how they go.

“And I think if you look at Fabian [Holland] tonight, I thought he was outrageously good. Good on him, stepped up big time. So he made a statement, didn’t he?