'They modelled how the game was evolving': What the All Blacks learnt from Ireland series
The 2022 Steinlager Series was a paradigm shift for rugby, the All Blacks lost a series at the hands of a northern hemisphere side on home soil for the first time since 1994, just the second time in history.
While the opening match of the series went the hosts’ way at Eden Park, the following two matches were resounding wins for the visitors.
Andy Farrell’s men had the brute force up front and the game management out back to steer the team around the park, while nullifying the All Blacks’ attacking threats before they could touch the ball.
Dominating the breakdown was a major advantage for the Irish, who were incredibly efficient with the attacking clearouts and disruptive on defence.
“Their breakdown was huge,” Rieko Ioane told the Aotearoa Rugby Pod. “They were getting two-second ball every ruck, if not quicker.
“The ability for their bigger boys, their tight forwards to ball play flat at the line with the backs they have, they came really well prepared and I think they modelled how the game was evolving, and now you see the likes of our big boys being able to do the same.”
With the exception of their most recent outing where they were demolished by the Springboks pack, the All Blacks had begun to find some dominance in the physical areas of the game, something that was sorely missing in and prior to the Steinlager Series.
Given this particular interview with Ioane took place six weeks ago, following the All Blacks’ win over the Springboks in the Rugby Championship, the narrative has evolved somewhat since the messages were delivered.
Forwards guru Jason Ryan was brought into the team following the Ireland series and the team’s results quickly started to turn around.
Ryan delivered simplified messages and along with strength and conditioning personnel, had the New Zealand forwards firing.
“We’re fitter, faster and I feel we’re in a place where we’re more physical, especially around that breakdown. You look at our forwards and the work they’re doing, as a back it’s easy to play off. You get to unleash the backs you have with the forwards doing that.”
While all the progress made wasn’t enough to overcome the reigning world champion Springboks at Twickenham, the team has clearly gathered confidence from their growth.
Comments on RugbyPass
Let’s not forget about Ardie Savea just yet.
4 Go to commentsThe URC and the Euro Championscup can’t run at the same time, basically dilutes both competitions.
1 Go to comments“While Sotutu should start at No.8 for the All Blacks against England, but it’s only in that arena that he can prove just how good he really is.” And that my friends is where simply hasnt shone despite multiple opportunities. Even in this performance you can see what did him in in the test arena..he almost always still runs at the opposition almost ramrod upright making him easier to stop than it should be.
4 Go to commentsShould have been 0-0 and a message from SR CEO to both teams - “don’t worry about turning up next year”.
4 Go to commentsGreat work Owen Franks. A great of this team, scoring his first try for the Crusaders since 2010.He was beaming, justifiably. A fine win, he and the rest did the job up front.
1 Go to commentsDanny Care. Lang in die tand.
1 Go to commentsBig empty stadium does nothing for atmosphere but munster are playing well with solid performance
1 Go to commentsYes, Fiji can win the World Cup! With that belief plus their christian faith🙏 and hard work it is achievable. Great article. Ian Duncan Fiji resident 1981-84
2 Go to commentsInteresting comments about Touch. England’s hosting the Touch World Cup this year and the numbers have exploded since their last World Cup in 2019, something like 70% more teams and 40 nations taking part. And England Touch have made a big thing about how many universities are in their BUCS University Touch Championship as well as Sport England membership. Can only see this growing even more domestically as more people become aware of it
10 Go to comments“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
4 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
4 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
4 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
38 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
4 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
2 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
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