The quick solution to improve the All Blacks backline chemistry
As the All Blacks prepare for a rematch with the Springboks at Ellis Park they are in desperate need of finding answers for a team that hasn’t performed to expectations.
Whilst there were signs of improvement in Mbombela, the All Blacks still lack cohesion and chemistry as a unit to pull off the level of clinical execution required.
There were half-chances and half-breaks but they weren’t able to capitalise on much, with a late try coming from Shannon Frizell after a Caleb Clarke burst.
If Ian Foster wants to improve the chemistry in his out-of-sync team, one simple solution is to make selections for the Ellis Park test based on key combinations that have already been formed, which is something the All Blacks have not done so far, particularly in the backs.
They played Beauden Barrett at first five-eighth with Quinn Tupaea and Rieko Ioane and in the midfield twice against Ireland, before swapping Tupaea for Crusader David Havili in the third test.
In the first test against Ireland Tupaea and Ioane played well together, having a few starring moments in attack. They combined well down the left hand side to free Leicester Fainga’anuku in the lead up to Jordie Barrett’s opening try.
The Chiefs No 12 was then dropped for the third and final test after an off-night in Dunedin which then thrust Havili into the role cold, but that didn’t improve things, and was in fact probably a worse performance than what Tupaea offered.
It is clear there is no chemistry between Havili and Ioane, with neither player showing a great understanding of each other’s game. They had a handful of tests together in 2021 but don’t play at club level and the lack of time together shows.
It doesn’t help that neither player is established at this level in their respective positions, with Ioane attempting a transition from the left wing while converted fullback Havili is trying to find his feet at second five at test level.
Ioane has areas of his game as a centre that need to develop which has complicated matters for the backs.
His anticipatory support play in general play has been next to non-existent so far this year, always expecting early ball to have a carry rather than offering a support line for a playmaker.
When he does get the ball, he has tunnel vision too often and will almost never look to keep the ball alive late. His ability to draw contact and promote the ball is not there, starving his outsides of opportunity.
When he distributes, he plays early which isn’t a problem but does not stall the defence from drifting.
It is a big part of his game that needs to come into fruition. Ioane would flourish with a No 12 who can put him into space and unlock the speedster’s open field running, but his own support play needs to improve. Right now, Ioane’s own talents are wasted.
However, if Barrett and Ioane are persisted with at 10 and 13, the ideal option at 12 is Roger Tuivasa-Sheck due to the fact they have played the entire season together at the Blues and they combined well at the back end of the season. There is a level of comfort and trust there that can be relied on to improve the situation.
The Rugby League-convert has sharp footwork and is no stranger to running it straight into physical defences from his time in the NRL, while if he was given a license to look for an offload he might give Ioane an opportunity he needs to break a game open.
Tuivasa-Sheck is a rookie to international rugby but he is not an inexperienced athlete. The 29-year-old is a seasoned professional having played in high pressure games in the NRL including Grand Finals, and would handle the Ellis Park environment as well as anyone.
Whilst Aaron Smith and Barrett have formed their combination together for years with the All Blacks, Blues halfback Finlay Christie was the form No 9 of Super Rugby and showed at Mbombela some zip and energy that had been missing.
Adding Christie and keeping last week’s left wing Caleb Clarke would form a majority Blues backline that would at least bring a level of understanding that is simply not there at the moment.
Even Stephen Perofeta at fullback should be considered. Whilst a left field pick, he would bring some much needed ball-playing into the 15 jersey that Jordie Barrett hasn’t mastered.
Rieko Ioane and Jordie Barrett’s chemistry out wide has also been clunky, Barrett has suffered from the same tunnel vision problems as Ioane, shutting off other options and looking for contact with no intention to pass late at the line.
When Jordie Barrett has stepped up as a first receiver he has looked very good, it is when he is out on the edge, he hasn’t been able to create for his wingers enough.
Late in the second Irish test he had a great play bouncing outside of Joey Cabery before putting Will Jordan over in the corner, but that playmaking has been a rarity.
The other option for the All Blacks coaches have is to rely on the Crusaders combinations, and connect Havili with the players he knows and trusts.
Havili is out of sorts playing with the Blues No 10 and 13 and needs Richie Mo’unga and Jack Goodhue to find some familiarity. Goodhue has been injured but his offloading and passing game has been sorely missed.
If Goodhue is fit and available it would alleviate some of the teething problems with Ioane at centre.
Mo’unga looked sharp in his brief stint off the bench and offered some confident play that has been missing from his tests against top tier international teams. With an injury cloud over Barrett, Mo’unga could have his chance to start again.
Will Jordan could be given a run at fullback with Sevu Reece coming back onto the right wing.
There are two ready-made backlines sitting there with better chemistry than the one currently being hobbled together.
The backs can in fact overcome shortcomings at the breakdown if they are good enough to strike early off set-piece and in broken play moments. Long phase counts typically aren’t required to manufacture tries and breaks.
While the All Blacks will want to improve their ball retention, they don’t need to play a dull game of carrying the ball off 9 all day in close quarters. First phase, second phase or third phase strikes can do the job.
If you look at where the Springboks have been opened up the most in the last 12 months, it has been out wide when the high pressure defence hasn’t been quick enough, and up the seam at the tail of the lineout.
Two of their most important cogs on the edge that keep the high pressure defence together, Faf de Klerk and Cheslin Kolbe, are out injured. They are down to their third choice right wing, centre Jesse Kriel.
The Wallabies knew where to target last year, the British & Irish Lions in the third test finally figured it out, but the All Blacks haven’t figured it out yet.
If they select a backline with some pre-made cohesion from either the Crusaders or Blues, they might be a chance to execute at the level they need to and get their attacking game going.
Comments on RugbyPass
You doing the same thing I disliked about the example of Samisoni Taukei'aho, Nick. He’s great the way he is, you’re trying to do what modern-day coaches frustrate me doing, turning everyone into the perfect athlete. Next thing you’ll be telling me you’ll bench him until he’s hit that arbitrary marker, and can’t overtake the current guy who’s doing all his workons. He’s a young Kieran Read, through and through, plays wide and has threat, mainly (and evident in your clips) through his two hand carry and speed. Just let him work on that, or whatever he wants, and determine his own future. Play God and you risk the players going sideways, like Read did, instead of being a Toutai Kefu. I mean I was in the same camp for a while, wanting our tight five to have the size, and carry ability, as the teams they were getting beat by. Now I’m starting to believe those teams just have better skilled and practiced individuals, bigger by upwards of 5kg sometimes, sure, but more influentially they have those intrinsic skills of trust and awareness. Basically our guys just didn’t know wtf they were doing. Don’t think I’m trying to prove a point here but hasn’t Caleb Clarke been in much better form this year, or does he just ‘look’ better now that he’s not always trying to use his size?
43 Go to commentsThe pack lacks a little in height for the line out and I wouldn’t be completely convinced by some of the combinations till we see it in action.
5 Go to commentsThe side is good but lacks experience. International playing bona fides udually trumps super rugby form for good reason. And incumbents are usually stuck with. Codie Taylor should start or come off the bench. B Barrett will start at fullback. Blackadder has not earned the position, Finau has. TJs experience and competitiveness earns him a starting role, Christie or Ratima off the bench
5 Go to commentsPretty good side. Scott Barrett should be the captain. Ethan Blackadder a great choice at blindside. He is going to go from strength to strength having made a couple of starts for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson rates him highly. Perenara could start a no 9.
5 Go to commentsI question and with respect. Was enough done over the last few years to bring through new blood knowing the Whitelocks and co couldn’t last forever. There should have been more done to future proof the team. New squad new coach, he and they weren’t set up well. IMO
6 Go to commentsJacobsen will definitely be in the 23
5 Go to commentsLots of discussion points, Ben, but two glaring follies IMO: 1. Blackadder at 6. Has done nothing so far this season to justify his selection. Did you see him going backwards in contact at the weekend? Simply has not got the physical presence at 6: we need a Scott Barrett or a Finau (or wildcard Ah Kuoi), beasts who are big enough to play lock, like Frizzell. If Barret played at 6, Paddy could be joined at lock by Vai’i or one of the young giants we need to promote, like Darry or Lord (if he ever gets on the field). Blackadder best left to join the queue for 7. 2. Not even a mention for Christie? Ratima gets caught at crucial times at the back of the ruck when he hesitates on the pass. The only way he starts would be if Christie and TJ are injured.
5 Go to commentsWhat a dagg in more ways than one
6 Go to commentsRegroup come back next year but sack some of the coaching team and don't be like the ABs last minute sacking. If Crusaders don't do well ABs don't do well.
5 Go to commentsProctor Definitely inform again this year had a hell of a season last year and this year is looking even better. Still mixed feelings about Ioane tho.
4 Go to commentsDagg is still trying to get enough headlines to make himself relevant enough to get a job. The Crusaders went back to square one at all levels. Shelve this season and nail the next one.
6 Go to commentsHe was in such great form. Sad for him but only a short term injury and it will be great to see him back for the finals.
1 Go to commentsAfter their 5/0 start, I had the Crusaders to finish Top 4 only…they lost the plot in Perth but will reload and back themselves vs 4th placed Rebels…
5 Go to commentsBoth nations missed a great opportunity to book a game that would have had a lot of interest from around the world. I understand these games can’t be organised in 5 minutes but they should have found a way to make it happen. I don’t think Wales are ducking anyone but it’s a bad look haha.
3 Go to commentsIt will be fascinating to see the effect that Jo Yapp has. If they can compete with Canada and give BFs a run for their money that will be progress
1 Go to commentsFollowing his dream and putting in the work. Go well young fella!
3 Go to commentsPerhaps filling Twickenham is one of Mitchell’s KPIs. I doubt whether both September matches will be at Twickenham on consecutive weekends. I would take the BF one to a large provincial stadium so as not to give them the advantage and experience of playing at Twickenham before a large crowd prior to the RWC.
3 Go to commentsvery unfortunate for Kitshoff, but big opportunity potentially for Nché to prove he is genuinely the best loosehead in the world, rather than just a specialist finisher. Presuming that if Kitshoff is out, it will also give Steenekamp a chance to come into the 23? Or are others likely to be ahead of him?
1 Go to commentsA long held question in popular culture asks if art imitates life or does the latter influence the former? Over this 6 nations I can ask the same question of the media influencing the thoughts of its audience or vice versa. Nobody wants to see cricket scores in rugby, as a spectacle it is not sustainable. With so many articles about England’s procession and lack of competition it feeds the epicaricacy of many looking for an opportunity to pounce. England are not the first team to dominate nor does it happen only in rugby, think Federer, Nadal, Red Bull or Mercedes, Manchester Utd, Australia in tests and World Cups. Instead of celebrating the achievements why find reasons to falsify it pointing towards larger playing pool, professional for a longer period or mitigate with the lack of growth in other nations. Can we not enjoy it while it is here and know that it won’t last for ever, others coveting what England have will soon take the crown, ask the aforementioned?
6 Go to commentsShame he won’t turn out for the Netherlands now they’re improving. U20s are Euro champs and in the U20 Trophy this year. The senior sides gets better every year too.
3 Go to comments