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'That there makes me nervous': Ex-All Blacks worried about fronting up at set-piece time

By Sam Smith
The loss to Ireland represented Sam Whitelock's first as captain. (Photo By David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

The All Blacks will have to improve their set-piece execution against the Springboks if they are any chance at Mbombela Stadium according to two former All Blacks.

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The Springboks lineout operated at 95 per cent against Wales while the All Blacks were at 81 per cent against Ireland, a significant difference in efficiency heading into the two-match stretch.

Former All Blacks Jeff Wilson and Mils Muliaina discussed their areas of concern for the All Blacks on Sky Sport NZ’s The Breakdown, with the former Blues fullback ‘nervous’ about the prospects against the Bok pack at the set-piece, which has traditionally been a strength of the South Africans.

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“Don’t talk about set-piece, because that there makes me nervous,” Muliaina said.

“You only have to look back to the first test [last year] to see what the Springboks did. What they used, their driving mauls from the lineout.”

In the first test in Townsville last year, the All Blacks attempted to maul over the South African pack from many lineout opportunities but were unable to convert any into tries.

The Springboks’ defence dismantled their maul and drove them over the sidelines on multiple occasions.

Ex-All Black wing Wilson said he was intrigue with the re-call of Highlanders blindside Shannon Frizell, who could offer help in the physicality department and bolster the lineout options.

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“The blindside flanker thing for me is fascinating, Scott Barrett was the first choice, picked up an injury and couldn’t play the third test,” Wilson said.

“Akira Ioane showed some signs in the third test against Ireland, but Shannon Frizell, a lineout option, carries the ball hard, that make up of our forward pack, and particularly at lock.

“Then we’ll have to trust Tupou Vaa’i with Sam Whitelock against the Springboks, is that the future?”

“I think Frizell brings something. The lineout is going to be the killer,” Muliaina responded.

“That’s going to be a place they have to really attack, instead of trying to absorb it. How do they do that? Well, perhaps sending someone like Frizell in who can bring a bit of physicality.”

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Defensively, South Africa only conceded seven line breaks in their series against Wales versus the 20 that the All Blacks gave up to Ireland highlighting the need for improvement across the board.

Mils Muliaina backed the ability of the players available and highlighted the need to win the first test otherwise they face a ‘very long tour’ if they are unable to start fast with a win.

“If I look at our players, I’ve got full confidence in the X-factor players we have got. There is no doubt in my mind that we have got the players to be world champions,” he said.

“It is how they go about playing. What have they gone away and changed over the last couple of weeks to really simplify their game plan and get on the same page.

“We saw that against the Irish, they looked all over the place, they looked confused.

“Has Ian Foster said ‘this is now how we are going to play’ and got the backing [from the players] of the game plan and the style they want to play in South Africa.

“If they don’t win that first one, for me really, it’s going to be a very long tour. That second one is going to be a hard one to pick up.”

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Wilson said that with the departure of the assistant coaches, Ian Foster has near total control over the selections with input from Joe Schmidt expected.

That would give the embattled head coach the opportunity to ‘ride or die’ with players of his choosing, leaving few excuses if they cannot turn results around.

“The moment they let John Plumtree go out of the building, that was a selector gone,” Wilson said.

“My understanding is that Ian Foster, with advice and support from Joe Schmidt, are the two that are actually picking this side to play South Africa.

“It was always going to be difficult to bring Jason Ryan into this environment and go ‘look, can you pick the team as well?’.

“I think this is going to be Ian Foster’s team. The one that is going to perform and help him survive.

“He’s got to decide which of the guys are for me now, the guys that he’s going to trust the next 15 months if he’s going to be the All Black coach.

“I like the fact that if he goes down, he’s picking the 23 guys to determine his future.”

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j
john 29 minutes ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

But here in Australia we were told Penney was another gun kiwi coach, for the Tahs…….and yet again it turned out the kiwi coach was completely useless. Another con job on Australian rugby. As was Robbie Deans, as was Dave Rennie. Both coaches dumped from NZ and promoted to Australia as our saviour. And the Tahs lap them up knowing they are second rate and knowing that under pressure when their short comings are exposed in Australia as well, that they will fall in below the largest most powerful province and choose second rate Tah players to save their jobs. As they do and exactly as Joe Schmidt will do. Gauranteed. Schmidt was dumped by NZ too. That’s why he went overseas. That why kiwi coaches take jobs in Australia, to try and prove they are not as bad as NZ thought they were. Then when they get found out they try and ingratiate themselves to NZ again by dragging Australian teams down with ridiculous selections and game plans. NZ rugby’s biggest problem is that it can’t yet transition from MCaw Cheatism. They just don’t know how to try and win on your merits. It is still always a contest to see how much cheating you can get away with. Without a cheating genius like McCaw, they are struggling. This I think is why my wise old mate in NZ thinks Robertson will struggle. The Crusaders are the nursery of McCaw Cheatism. Sean Fitzpatrick was probably the father of it. Robertson doesn’t know anything else but other countries have worked it out.

13 Go to comments
A
Adrian 2 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

Thanks Nick The loss of players to OS, injury and retirement is certainly not helping the Crusaders. Ditto the coach. IMO Penny is there to hold the fort and cop the flak until new players and a new coach come through,…and that's understood and accepted by Penny and the Crusaders hierarchy. I think though that what is happening with the Crusaders is an indicator of what is happening with the other NZ SRP teams…..and the other SRP teams for that matter. Not enough money. The money has come via the SR competition and it’s not there anymore. It's in France, Japan and England. Unless or until something is done to make SR more SELLABLE to the NZ/Australia Rugby market AND the world rugby market the $s to keep both the very best players and the next rung down won't be there. They will play away from NZ more and more. I think though that NZ will continue to produce the players and the coaches of sufficient strength for NZ to have the capacity to stay at the top. Whether they do stay at the top as an international team will depend upon whether the money flowing to SRP is somehow restored, or NZ teams play in the Japan comp, or NZ opts to pick from anywhere. As a follower of many sports I’d have to say that the organisation and promotion of Super Rugby has been for the last 20 years closest to the worst I’ve ever seen. This hasn't necessarily been caused by NZ, but it’s happened. Perhaps it can be fixed, perhaps not. The Crusaders are I think a symptom of this, not the cause

13 Go to comments
T
Trevor 5 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

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B
Bull Shark 9 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

29 Go to comments
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