All Blacks’ defence coach talks record-setting defensive struggles

The All Blacks have claimed yet more unwanted history with their 43-10 defeat to the Springboks, but don’t slot the record books back onto the shelf just yet, because more looks to be on the way.

A total of 138 points were conceded in the 2024 Rugby Championship, surpassing the All Blacks’ previous tally in any tournament prior. That’s 22.7 points conceded per game.

This year, that number is up to 28.3, no thanks to the aforementioned pummelling in Wellington.

Current defence coach Tamati Ellison took over the role two rounds into the 2024 tournament, having served as skills coach in the opening months of the season under new head coach Scott Robertson. He was moved into the defence role when former attack coach Leon MacDonald departed the team and Scott Hansen changed portfolios from defence to attack.

Sitting down with RugbyPass in Auckland ahead of the round three matchup against the Springboks, Ellison reflected on his team’s defensive record from 12 months prior.

“It’s game to game and it’s moment to moment,” he said, when asked if setting the points conceded record sounded any alarm bells in camp. “I think that’s the big part around defence, is continuing to build moments, and obviously the game’s linked between the transition side of the ball, when you’re going from attack to D, or D to attack.

“So again, my focus is on how do we get better in each moment? We’re really clear in what the numbers look like, and really clear on what our targets are, and we’ve got to fall in love with the process.

“So, the short answer is no, because we focus on getting better every day.”

Points Flow Chart

South Africa win +33

Time in lead

22

Mins in lead

39

28%

% Of Game In Lead

49%

45%

Possession Last 10 min

55%

0

Points Last 10 min

14

Turning his attention to what the team had improved upon in the time between tournaments, Ellison said adopting new structures always takes time, but his men have shown growth in that journey.

“The boys have been really consistent around each defensive (set), and there are some structural changes there that sometimes it takes reps to embed. So it’s important that you stay fearless throughout that period.

“And if you’re really clear on what your outcomes are, then you can commit to it. And it’s like anything, any change, there’s going to be time for understanding, and then in Test match footy, you also have to have clarity around time for execution as well. So, it’s controlling that balance.”

The coach has a clear directive and a mindset that aligns with it: making others better. He says his love for the defensive side of the ball is all about the collisions, the effort, and the work that goes unseen. He highlighted the period of play in the recent Buenos Aires Test against Los Pumas, where his side was reduced to 13 men and successfully resisted the hosts’ attack, as an example of this.

When it comes to building a defensive structure, Ellison acknowledged his efforts weren’t from scratch. But taking over the portfolio a few months into the season was made easier by his familiarity with the ideas the existing structure was born from.

“I think having a close relationship with Scott Hansen already, and having previously worked with him at the Crusaders, there’s a lot of continuity already. So, most of the big, fundamental pieces have been built; it’s really just getting some clarity around that going forward, and then making it my own.”

The new system’s goal is to win the ball back, knowing the All Blacks are at their most dangerous with turnover ball in unstructured play. The coach said that emphasis is “massive”, not just in the breakdown, but in all areas of the game.

“You would have seen in recent weeks, the kick game and the rule adjustment around the contact in the air, so making sure that we’re loaded on both sides of the ball for our kick strategy, first and foremost, to how we get the ball back.

“As soon as the ball leaves the foot, we’re now defending, and it’s our job to get the ball back as quickly as we can. So yes, it’s a big focus each week, especially in the middle of the field.”

Scott Robertson put together the new coaching group with an awareness of his strengths and weaknesses, as well as who complements them. The familiarity of his selections has been a hot topic at various points since his appointments were announced, with some pointing to the lack of full-time international experience as a risk.

For Ellison, the coaching cohort’s experience together is a strength.

“We’re very honest in our reviews and with ourselves first and foremost, and we’re consciously on top of our processes. We’re actively asking for thoughts, and we’re pushing each other. So I think that’s the first thing, there’s no one that isn’t getting helped, and isn’t getting help, checking different blind spots and different things that we might have missed.

“So we’re really consistent with our process around feeding back and having really honest conversations, for sure.”