'Start dominating': What Sam Cane told his All Black side during Wallabies' onslaught
All Blacks captain Sam Cane had to lead his side out of a 14-point deficit in Dunedin as the Wallabies dominated the first half with two tries in the first 10 minutes.
The shellshocked All Blacks couldn’t stop the Wallabies early as they strung together the phases to run over the top of them with a mix of power carrying and width.
Cane lamented his side’s ability to control the tackle area and fold around the corner which he described as ‘a bit slow’ in the opening stages.
Standing behind the goal line after Tom Hooper crashed through Damian McKenzie and three other defenders to score, the All Black captain delivered the message to ‘start dominating’ and get the tackles right.
“We were a little bit slow to get set, so they were beating us to the punch,” Cane recalled of the opening period.
“But also our tackle type, we were getting ‘ridden’ and they were getting gain line, it was quick ball.
“We spoke about making sure we got two men in the tackle and start dominating the collisions.”
The All Blacks still couldn’t figure out the right formula as the Wallabies continued to enjoy the lion share of possession and territory.
But last ditch defence by the home side helped prevent any more damage being done.
Two try savers, one on Pone Fa’amausili under the posts and one by Sam Whitelock and Ardie Savea on captain Tate McDermott, stopped the Wallabies finding their third try.
Had the Wallabies got to a 24-3 lead, it may have been enough for the in as the All Blacks finished with 23 points and the visitors added another penalty goal in the second half.
“We didn’t get it right straight away which we’d like to as soon as we address the message,” Cane said of the continued pressure.
“We got there in the end.”
The All Blacks captain was not surprised to see the Wallabies fire out of the blocks even after last week’s 38-7 victory in Melbourne.
The leadership group plan for all situations which “takes the shock factor away” when they happen on the field.
“Going into Test matches you mentally prepare for different scenarios, going over them in your head during the week,” Cane said.
“It sort of takes that shock factor away. It’s not a surprise because you’ve considered what could happen.
“We have good game discussions with our leaders, our game drivers, around game situations and one is being down by two tries early, what if the opposition start really well.
“You don’t allow yourself to think too far ahead, because there is nothing positive from worrying about the scoreboard or what’s going to happen in 10 or 20 minutes time.
“The most important thing is the next moment and winning that one.”
The Wallabies were the first team to put the All Blacks behind on the scoreboard this year. They led 7-5 for 26 minutes in Melbourne while in Dunedin Eddie Jones’ men had the lead for 61 minutes.
The All Blacks raced to a 31-0 halftime lead against Argentina and a 17-0 early blitz against South Africa which they never gave up.
This type of Test match was a “good lesson” according to head coach Ian Foster who explained that they will take a lot out of the experience.
“This lesson is a good one,” Foster explained.
“We certainly put ourselves in a hole, the Aussies put us there.
“When you come out of the other side, you actually learn a lot about yourself, your comms and your trust in what you’re doing.
“I think that’s the biggest lesson to be perfectly honest. The stuff about the start, we can all pick holes in that, we know we’ve got to work on that.
“But I love the confidence of winning a Test that looked like it might go the other way.”
Comments on RugbyPass
“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
2 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
2 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
2 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
37 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
2 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
1 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
5 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
33 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
5 Go to comments