The slight tactical fix for the All Blacks to make is an easy one
The tactical adjustment for the All Blacks this week is an easy one to make to improve their chances of beating Los Pumas.
It is clear the Argentinians are superior up front in strength, size and are well versed in the wrestle required to dismantle a carry-heavy game.
The All Blacks haven’t been all that strong at the breakdown in terms of generating quick ball, particularly when their ball carriers are met with multiple tacklers in contact.
With 6o per cent possession they had nearly double the number of rucks as Argentina (107 vs 54) but could only find three points in the second half.
With only 15 kicks out of hand in Christchurch, the All Blacks need to find a better balance to vary their game and looking for more attacking kicks is the way to do that.
What we saw by the All Blacks against Los Pumas trended towards a Joe Schmidt-style phase attack.
Schmidt’s game plan with Ireland was very much a high possession game, cycling through a lot of phases and retaining the ball with few offloads.
The launch plays were articulately designed with running lines that required exquisite timing.
The attack opened up the defence most of the time based on planned scheme rather than instinctual opportunity or the use of promoting the ball in the tackle.
It was brilliant and worked in part because mastermind Johnny Sexton was pulling the strings.
However, the detail required to pull Schmidt’s game off is not within the capability of this All Blacks team right now.
Their ruck work is too inefficient, the players are not used to executing running lines with timing to perfection they way Irish players are trained to.
And they don’t have a No 10 who demands as such, with neither Richie Mo’unga or Beauden Barrett at the level of Sexton’s ball playing or command running a complex attack.
They have other strengths that Sexton doesn’t, but cannot replicate his genius in running a similar structured attacking game. He ensures others know their role as much as his own and that is integral to making it click.
While it takes time to lift the standards of the All Blacks’ play with ball-in-hand, smarter game management is required to turn teams around, particularly Los Pumas.
Their strength in contact and the ground has to be negated, which means steering clear of too much contact in close and spending too much time trying to break down a brick wall.
The All Blacks need to spread them out with a game that goes from tramline-to-tramline quickly and then get boot to ball when it doesn’t work.
Run the launch plays as planned, but after the strike look to the air or in behind to force the Pumas backfield to cover contestable chips, grubbers, or bombs.
Argentina have imploded in the past against the All Blacks, playing a hand in their own downfall trying to play too much.
The helter-skelter style they played in the past would give turnover opportunities for the All Blacks to dine on.
In 2017 they were leading 22-15 in New Plymouth before a Pumas turnover from a failed exit was spun wide to blindside flanker Vaea Fifita who scored a blistering try to change the game.
In 2018 in Buenos Aires the ball spilled out of a ruck after Batista Delguy was unfortunately concussed running it out from deep and Rieko Ioane scooped up the turnover to put the All Blacks up 21-3 at halftime.
Nico Sanchez gave up a 50-metre intercept try to Brodie Retallick in 2019 right before halftime and they ended up losing the test 20-16 with that try being the difference.
In the 2020 rematch won 38-0 by the All Blacks it was two quick tries to Will Jordan, one off a dropped Pumas’ pass and another from an intercept, that broke the game open.
Argentina have decided not to overplay their hand with a more conservative approach so those type of turnovers have dried up, but if they have to clean up a few more kicks, they will be forced to scramble more and anything can happen.
Lucio Cinti, Emiliano Boffelli and Juan Cruz Mallia are not the most experienced back three together, while Boffelli is a fullback playing right wing.
Caleb Clarke’s try came after exposing his sliding hesitant defence on the right flank. Once you identify a tendency, you have to go after it and the home side did not do that in Christchurch.
The ability to adapt to the situation in-game has been lacking for this All Blacks team, along with inconsistent decision-making.
After a missed Jordie Barrett penalty early in search of three points to opening their account, the next penalty was kicked to the corner and successfully resulted in a maul try.
On one hand they wanted three, moments later they wanted a try.
Later on in the match a low percentage 60-metre attempt was taken, yet deep into the game with the Pumas nursing a small lead, the All Blacks kicked to the sideline instead of trying to narrow the lead with threes after struggling to make inroads previously.
Codie Taylor’s subsequent throws spoiled the opportunities but the decision-making throughout the game was all over the shop.
As the bout entered the late rounds, the All Blacks weren’t willing to win the test ugly like the visitors were, who kept ticking over the scoreboard with six penalties and only bagged one opportunist try.
If the test plays out like that again they have to win by the means necessary and that means chipping away at the lead if most of the shots have fired blanks to that point.
Comments on RugbyPass
No Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
3 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
55 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
5 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
54 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
54 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
5 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
54 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
55 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
54 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
54 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
18 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
18 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
54 Go to comments