'One-dimensional': Rennie weighs in on attacking performance against Wales

Despite having plenty of possession and opportunities against Wales in Cardiff, All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie was frustrated with how his attack was functioning at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff.

The All Blacks’ 35-28 defeat against Steve Tandy’s Wales is the first since 1953, and their 55 thousand fans had more than enough to cheer about on Saturday afternoon.

The visitors had their chances, but ultimately couldn’t break down the home side’s “brick wall”, slumping to their fourth defeat of 2026 under Rennie.

After doubling down on his selections during the post-match press conference at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Rennie said his side was also too static in attack.

“Yeah, I mean, we created opportunities. Just thought we got a bit one-dimensional. There are times where maybe we could have just stayed on one side of the field and played through them,” the All Blacks head coach said.

“Where we had good numbers, and we’d play away from that or, like I said, we got a bit one-dimensional, so we tried to carry through them when we’ve actually squeezed them up, and now it’s a chance to pick them off.

“So that’s decision–making under pressure, and they provided a lot of pressure.”

During the first half, Rennie’s side made several half line-breaks, continuing to go for the offload to try and capitalise on the opportunity.

But many of them went to ground, and Rennie said the “decision-making wasn’t sharp enough”.

“Oh, it’s decision–making. Yeah, I think we turned the ball over nine times in the first half. Four of them were from offloads, so that’s a point of difference for us.

“But it’s about the quality of the decision, deciding the target and then using the appropriate pass, and so I thought maybe the quality of our decision–making wasn’t sharp enough.”

The All Blacks’ halftime team talk was short-lived, re-entering the field minutes before Wales did, but the momentum remained with the home side.

Rennie said his side didn’t start either half strongly, and would have to re-look at the timing of his substitutes.

“Oh, it’s always a guess [substitutions]. You get a feel around things, and you look at someone that we put on like Leicester, but Wallace Sititi was going great guns,” Rennie added.

“He had a big shift, so we decided to put Leicester on for him. And yeah, look, we’ll look at everything because because when you lose, it’s not just on the players.

“It’s everything around how we prepare the team this week, and selection and then our decision–making around substitutions coming on. So yeah, we’ll look at all of that.”