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'Some pretty aimless kicking': Barrett boys' tactics under spotlight

(Photo by Kai Schwoerer/Getty Images)

The All Blacks 57-23 win over Fiji in the first of two tests was Beauden Barrett’s first start at first five since declaring in Japan he wanted to win his position back off Richie Mo’unga.

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Moving out of the fullback role, Barrett spent last week against Tonga on the bench before getting the chance to control proceedings at 10 along side his younger brother Jordie at the back as part of a reshuffled back line against Fiji.

One aspect of the game in focus was the kicking from the Beauden and Jordie Barrett 10-15 partnership. Patrolling the backfield for the All Blacks, a number of kicks went long and uncontested and ultimately were safely caught by their Fiji opposites.

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Kirwan on why Fiji and Japan are ready for Rugby Championship | The Breakdown

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Kirwan on why Fiji and Japan are ready for Rugby Championship | The Breakdown

Both Barretts seemed content with continuing to return serve on the full, failing to get contestable, high kicks up to test the Fijian backfield. Speaking on Sky Sport’s The Breakdown, the panel thought the amount of kicking was ‘aimless’ at times, and served to invite Fiji into the game through counter-attacking opportunities.

“Our kicking game on the weekend, for me, I got a bit concerned about it,” former All Black Jeff Wilson highlighted.

“One of our great strengths of our game is kicking to get possession back, it looked as though on the weekend we gave away a lot of pill. We gave them the opportunity to attack us.”

Former Black Fern Hannah Porter agreed with Wilson’s summation, saying the kick decisions were below par.

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“There was some pretty aimless kicking from our decision makers, giving them back the ball,” she said.

“The chase line here isn’t that great, so we aren’t adding pressure onto that kick,” Porter described whilst viewing a Barrett grubber.

“It was frustrating to watch, wasn’t it?” Wilson added.

“I just got a sense that we were asking them to take the ball back to us, rather than the other way around.

“I’m just not sure these are the things that the All Blacks will be looking for.”

With Foster and his staff searching for the right make-up of his side, the All Blacks could see Mo’unga return to the starting line-up with a new fullback for the second test after the kicking game failed to impress.

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One of the key decisions coming up with the return of Anton Lienert-Brown from injury will be the make-up of the midfield. Blues centre Rieko Ioane has been given two starts at 13 so far, and former All Black John Kirwan would like to see more out of his game.

“Everyone knows I really think we should invest in Rieko,” Kirwan said.

“What I would like to see from him though, we know how fast he is but he’s taking the outside break a bit too much.

“I think he needs to take a bit more time straightening the defenders up early. Taking those hard lines on the inside shoulder.

“He does this a lot [take the outside], he can really accelerate through that, but I think he just needs to build a wee bit more, but that’s just learning to play centre.

“I’d like to see Havili and Anton Lienert-Brown, but possibly Lienert-Brown at 12 and Rieko at 13 just to keep him in there.

“Keep him [Ioane] in there and get him still working on his game, if they think he is the guy for the future.”

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H
Hellhound 2 hours ago
Bok rule-benders are changing the game. They deserve respect

You want a lot of things that will never happen. You describe rugby League. You should go and watch that then. Rugby is supposed to be competitive. It's the opposition team that should figure out how to defend and turn it into an attack on the fly. The Boks play within the rules. Everyone says that kick off should have been a penalty. The law state that from a kick off it's a scrum. It's confusing as with mauls and rucks, the player has to be behind the kicker. The same does not hold true for kick offs. That law they can change, because the same rule should apply across the board for players to be behind the kicker. It's not the first time that the infield lineout has been used, only the first time in an international match. If I remember correctly, the Barbarians used it against England in 2021 or 2022 (under correction). It's also been used in SR during the 2000’s. There is just this big hoo haw because the Boks did it. If it was another team like the Irish or England or the French or someone, it would be innovative, genius and brilliant. The dummy the AB's did where a player broke to the right, acting like he had the ball, meanwhile the scrumhalfs ran down the sideline and scored. I don't hear you cry about that. That can be seen as cynical play and there is even a case for unsportsmanlike behaviour and at a minimum a yellow card. Yet there is silence from you about that. I on the other hand thought that was a great tactic. It's also not a new invention, but an old one. You only love rugby when it suits you. I don't care what new tactics teams use, or whoever the team is that is doing it. Every new invention or tactic or play that the coaches comes up with is great for rugby. It keeps it interesting. There is no law that prevents other coaches using the same tactics or create their own. It's up to coaches to come up with defense strategies to cut that down, and even retaliate against it. The game is never boring. It keeps evolving. People keep talking about rugby and all these things is what draw new fans. They don't want boring. They want innovative and fun. They want to hear the crash of bodies. They want to see the strength of the scrums. They want to see the speed, agility and flair of the players. The amazing passes and jukes or side steps. The only reason you are so up in arms is because the Boks did it and now you want it banned. The same rhyme over and over. Matt Williams wannabe. Nah, you don't love rugby or else you would enjoy the most exciting era yet in this lovely sport. Stars in so many national teams has never been more abundant nor was there so many teams that could beat each other on any given day. Not to even mention watching an era of the most controversial but most innovative and clever coach ever. A dynasty that's to last for a very long time even after he retires. Like him or hate him, his genius is undeniable and he is recognised world wide as the best coach in most countries by fans and pundits alike, even if they don't like him. Stop the hate and rather enjoy what's to come.

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