Sir Ian McGeechan: New Zealand should have lost by more
It’s no exaggeration to say that England’s remarkable win over New Zealand was one of the best games of rugby I have ever seen.
In my opinion, it was comfortably England’s best performance of the professional era, and I’m still stunned by the way this extraordinary game unfolded. I had predicted England to win by five, but they utterly dominated the game in a way that wasn’t reflected on the scoreboard.
In a lifetime of watching the All Blacks, I’ve seen them beaten plenty of times, but I have never seen them so comprehensively outplayed. It is all the more remarkable because this is an excellent New Zealand side, but it floundered because the players so rarely find themselves in this position and struggled to work out clear alternatives. This was an 80-minute onslaught from England.
For England to inflict New Zealand’s first World Cup defeat in twelve years in that fashion, completely controlling the game from the kick-off to the final whistle, is unprecedented. This was a technical and tactical masterclass in which England had a complete appreciation of what they were trying to achieve. Eddie Jones, take a bow.
Their attitude was exemplified at the final whistle. Of course, there were celebrations and an obvious sense of relief, but there was no punching of the air, no hint that they saw this as some sort of end goal, simply a recognition that they had only navigated one important staging point on the road to their final destination. I loved that.
While there was incredible tactical nuance to this win, the reasons for England’s victory can also be broken down into three key factors. The first was that they consistently won the collisions, especially up front where their pack was superb and forced a remarkable 16 turnovers. The second was a beautifully acute kicking game and aggressive kick-chase which allowed George Ford and Owen Farrell to turn the front foot ball provided by their forwards into match-winning field position. Thirdly, England’s linespeed, physicality and virtually flawless first-up tackling in defence left New Zealand playing on the back foot with nowhere to go.
It was a toxic mix for the All Blacks, who found themselves playing catch-up rugby throughout on the back foot, a combination they rarely – if ever – face.
The first two minutes – an opening passage of play that is as good as you will ever see – set the tone. England’s opening salvo of high tempo, heads-up running rugby carried out with remarkable accuracy was as unstoppable as it was compelling. The best team in the world watched on helplessly, unable to stop England’s juggernaut.
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It was immediately apparent that England’s forwards were comfortable carrying the ball, and were desperate to recycle quickly, even if it meant moving the ball before scrum-half Ben Youngs’ arrival, a tactic which led to Manu Tuilagi’s try. That combination was crucial, as was England’s domination of the breakdown, where Steve Hansen’s decision to play Scott Barrett in the back row proved to be a mistake. Sam Underhill and Tom Curry were once again outstanding, as was Maro Itoje. His partner in the boiler room, the excellent Courtney Lawes, put in several big tackles in the wide channels, where England’s breakdown work benefitted hugely from Tuilagi’s willingness to commit to rucks in a way that was reminiscent of Brian O’Driscoll in his pomp.
England’s big men won the battle of the breakdown and also dominated the battle of the gainline. Recycling ball at speed, every time they took the ball into contact against a heavier New Zealand pack, they invariably made ground as their variety of play and offloads kept the All Blacks guessing. England were comfortable going wide – it was Elliot Daly’s break outside Richie Mo’unga which made the first try – but their use of the front row as ball-carriers was also particularly effective. They punched holes with ball in hand but all three also offloaded, featured in loop plays, and explored a range of out-the-back options.
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I was incredibly impressed with tighthead Kyle Sinckler, whose handling, mobility and discipline were streets ahead of a year or two ago. A former hothead, his self-discipline was emblematic of all that was good about England’s forwards, although it helped them that there were so few strength-sapping scrums, especially in the opening 20 minutes.
England’s domination of the gainline and breakdown put them on the front foot, and was the foundation of this victory, but their use of that quick possession was also exceptional. England’s kicking game was streets ahead of New Zealand, who invariably kicked off the back foot and under pressure. England won the territorial battle because by kicking off the front foot they dictated where the New Zealand back three had to go. It was not just the variety of positions from where they kicked, but also when they kicked – not just first phase but the fifth or sixth phase, too – which is so difficult for defences to anticipate.
Ben Youngs’ box kicks were invariably contestable, with England’s kick-chase putting New Zealand’s back three under huge pressure, but Ford and Farrell’s positional kicks were also spot-on. Beauden Barrett, Sevu Reece and George Bridge were often going backwards to claim the ball, and were either hemmed in by the touchline or forced to kick to touch before the white wave crashed onto them. After ceding so much territory and being turned over so often in the first half, in the second half they fell into the same trap as Australia and tried running from their own 22.
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The killer statistic from this game is that England kicked 37 times and made 882 metres, while New Zealand kicked 28 times but made just 577 metres because England were on the front foot, New Zealand on the back foot.
Throw in England’s Saracens-style linespeed in defence (especially from Tuilagi), their discipline, their impressive percentage of first-up tackles made, and excellent scramble defence, and you can see why New Zealand were so comprehensively beaten as England kept the scoreboard ticking over.
I suspect Eddie Jones will want to face Wales in the final, and in the second semifinal I believe Warren Gatland’s men will shade South Africa – 18-17, with Wales kicking six penalties to the Springboks’ three tries sounds about right. Where South Africa would have the size to stop England on the gainline, I believe England now have too much firepower and confidence for a Wales side who look exhausted and are missing Liam Williams.
Either way, if the final is even half the quality of England’s semifinal win over the All Blacks, it will be quite some game
This article first appeared on nzherald.co.nz and is republished with permission.
New Zealand fans were so shocked after the game, they couldn’t take anything away from a dominant England performance:
Comments on RugbyPass
It couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
25 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
13 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
25 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
13 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
84 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
1 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
13 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
12 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
13 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
13 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
13 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
13 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
44 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
58 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to commentsGood article. A few years back when he was playing for the Cheetahs, he was a quiet standout for exactly the seasons stated here. I occasionally get to see his games in the UK, and he has become a more complete player and in many ways like an Irish player. His work ethic is so suitable to the Leinster game. I wonder if Rassie would have him listed somewhere.
3 Go to comments