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'That was personal': How the All Blacks found 'ruthless edge' against Italy
Any thoughts of a famous Italy upset over New Zealand were quickly doused in Lyon’s pivotal Pool A contest, as the All Blacks ran in 14 tries to remind the rugby world of their pedigree.
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After two record losses in the three matches prior, expectations for the All Blacks were varied against an ever-improving Six Nations opponent.
No one, however, not even the All Blacks players themselves expected a 96-17 demolition.
The statement has been made and the quarter-finals are one step closer. The potential matchup is one for the ages.
As it stands, the All Blacks would face Ireland in the quarter-finals. The teams have not played each other since last year’s historic three-game series, where Ireland won their first-ever game and series on New Zealand soil.
While Ireland have well established themselves as an attacking threat against any team, Ian Foster’s side, on the other hand, are still finding ways to get the ball into the hands of their dangermen against physical opposition.
Against Italy, they did just that.
“We have to celebrate the All Blacks,” Former All Black James Parsons told the Aotearoa Rugby Pod. “Because I’ve sat on here and pumped Ireland up around putting out their best side and dominating, just wiping the floor.
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“Italy, everyone was talking them up to win. That was personal. That’s the sort of ruthless edge that may just give them the confidence now that they can go and execute as well as that against a better side in Ireland.”
Initiating that ruthless edge was a greatly improved set piece, specifically lineout. The return of blindside flanker Shannon Frizell was credited as a major influence on the improvement, and so too was forwards coach and former Crusaders guru Jason Ryan.
Frizell has the ability to cover lock and started there for a number of games this season for the Highlanders.
The flow-on effect from the strong set piece was evident early and only improved once the New Zealand bench took the field.
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“They were very Crusader-like,” Parsons continued. “I don’t know if it’s Jason Ryan but that variation around that lineout attack was outstanding.
“Shannon Frizell was quite key, his ability in the lineout is quite critical to us being successful at set piece. We ran at 100 per cent.
Territory
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42%
34%
18%
52%
Territory
48%
“There are so many moving parts and it was similar movements, that picture never really changed but the option changed. And that’s when it’s hard defensively: When the triggers and everything is exactly the same every time and you think you’ve got it and then they go and change the point of attack.
“Now, they’ve shown so much that teams will think ‘right, we’ve got to sort out our transition defence, we’ve got to be right around the front’ and then, we can now maul because it just creates that hesitancy.
“Having that innovation is a big, big gain for them and was a good reason where I think they got their mojo going, and I don’t think we’ve seen that.
“It’s been pretty status quo for a while around our lineout attack.”
Comments on RugbyPass
You have got to consider that if the situation was flipped and the French were held to a salary cap with no English equivalent, the English would laugh in their faces and tell them to get over it. As for Leinster (as a fan), the central contract system is a dream but is guilty of cutting out the other 3 provinces. At the end of the day, it comes across outside of the English border that the Premiership is drowning and trying to take everyone else with it rather than adapt. The English lose, the English want new rules. We've seen this repeat (and once it even led to the current Champions Cup) You make many good and informed points, but if the flip was on the other flop, it wouldn't be Rugby’s problem I suspect - it would be a French one.
13 Go to commentsSeems to have been a bright start but it tailed off. To win the big matches you have to get used to putting your foot on the throttle and your opponent’s necks in an 80 minutes performance which is what the All Blacks were renowned for. An example in the Women’s game is England v Ireland in the 6N match played at Twickenham in April. Watch on YouTube.
1 Go to commentsBobby has been a first grade bonehead since high school. Like a true Cape Tonian, his own reflection is more important than anything else.
1 Go to commentsNo comment on the textbook red card for Ramm that was just ignored? Amazing that
4 Go to commentsThese rule changes have been implemented with good intentions, but much like every other rule change focus on isolated symptoms instead of the root cause. If you cannot croc roll, and cannot risk any head contact with a front on clear out, it is not clear how you are supposed to lawfully clear someone out who is attempting a jackal. This will backfire massively and lead to substantially more kicking. Teams will simply not want to take the ball into contact. Or it will lead to even more dangerous methods to clear players out who are over the ball. I much prefer having the set piece on a 30 second shot clock over no scrum on a short arm infringement. Resets are not a problem in themselves, but 90 second water and tactics breaks before every scrum are a big problem. Trainers constantly coming on to the field to help players pull their socks up and delaying the game are a problem. DuPont law was a blight on the game and should have been changed the day after it was first implemented.
79 Go to commentsAh yes, the opinion of Andy Goode… Andy Goode, the man who knows what some of the Irish players said to Eben Etzebeth after the QF, better than what Eben himself knows. And, judging by this piece, the Grandmaster of clichés.
4 Go to commentsI think this is a fair view. As a South African I am concerned about the depowering of the scrum but let’s be honest, until the SA vs FRA quarter many people didn’t even know you could take a scrum from a free kick. As you say it’s going to come down to interpretation… until then we don’t really know how this is going to impact the game. That would lead to my own objection. Do the unknowns of changing a law outweigh the cons of said law. With such an obscure law that most people had never heard of, one that had never really had an impact on the game in the first place is it worth changing to invite so much uncertainty. Better the devil you know then the devil you don’t as it were…
4 Go to comments162 comments so far and counting. i didn't realize that rugby fans are on the way to join the football brothers. what is the point to share personal opinion only to get all this shi*? it seems IRB bosses are doing the great job by killing the spirit of the game both on and outside the pitch. too sad, indeed. btw, was there anything on eben’s point of view from the boys in green, who he mentioned?
164 Go to commentsJob done guys. Great win in a game where things can quickly go wrong.
1 Go to commentsAlex Sanderson fantastic coach and person .So pleased he has signed another contract great days ahead for Sale under his leadership.
1 Go to commentsAndy Goode cant kick to 12
164 Go to commentsDoxed himself. Great work Johnny. You are well suited to the Saders
1 Go to comments_Best game players _
1 Go to commentsWho's Jarrad Hohepa?
1 Go to commentsSo let me get this straight. Say you have the dominant scrum. You are 99% sure you can go for a scrum pushover try on the line to win the game. The opposition knows it too. They give away a silly tap kick instead. You are now not allowed to scrum. This is ridiculous! *%@ing the game up as usual! The fact that the attacking teams are not allowed to scrum from a held up over the line is just as ridiculous. Really world rugby? Careful people might start a rebel league called True Rugby or Real Rugby.
79 Go to comments12 subs during a game? How has that been allowed to happen NB? I hate when the game goes in this monopolistic direction closing up shop, it just becomes non sport. Btw have you seen anything of how Liam Coltman was tracking for Lyon? He has just signed to return to Otago though we have a couple of young hookers developing here. He was a popular gentle natured character down here and I’m glad to see him back but maybe he will be a mentor primarily?
13 Go to commentsGreat breakdown and the global politics always confuses me a little. The southern hemisphere seems to be left out a bit but I wouldn’t even know where to start with fixing it. Club challenge could be a step in the right direction
13 Go to commentsSince he coached Free state, from that time onwards, I maintained he was the coach for the Boks. A nice, no nonsense guy with an excellent brain, who gets results.
11 Go to commentswell - they only played against 14 men and had the TMO team on their side - and still should have lost… so actually that makes sense.
35 Go to commentsSouthern hemisphere Rugby is exactly that, boring. Northern Hemisphere Rugby is soooo much more entertaining and better with better players.
2 Go to comments