'Trending downwards': Shocking stats show All Blacks' massive decline in key area
The All Blacks must improve in one crucial area if they are to avoid a third straight loss against the Pumas on Saturday, says former All Black and M?ori All Blacks coach Tabai Matson.
Speaking on Sky Sport‘s The Breakdown, Matson highlighted the All Blacks’ concerning decline in red zone attacking efficiency – in other words, the All Blacks’ ability to score when inside the opposition’s 22 – in recent years, but especially in the last two games.
Over the last three years, the All Blacks have scored 32.8 per cent of the time on average when in the red zone, according to Sky Sport‘s statistics. That’s almost scoring once in every three visits to the opposition 22.
In comparison, the Wallabies and Pumas’ three-year average in that department was 27.1 per cent and 22.8 per cent respectively.
But despite the All Blacks’ relative superiority over their Tri Nations rivals, they were still “trending downwards” coming into this year in an area that has traditionally been a strength for past New Zealand sides, says Matson.
“The key thing we took into this year was we’re trending downwards. What we talked about is can we change that moving forward.
“At this level of the game, we’ve seen over the last four-five weeks, taking those few opportunities is really critical. And we didn’t the last time we played against Argentina.”
The All Blacks seemed to be bucking the trend in the first three matches against the Wallabies. Red zone attack efficiency went from 21.4 per cent in the shaky first draw then rose to 50 per cent in the second test, followed by a whopping 74.3 per cent in the 43-5 thrashing of Australia at ANZ Stadium.
However, that trend quickly went back down in Ian Foster’s first two defeats as All Blacks coach to 28.6 per cent in the fourth Wallabies test and a meager 10 per cent against Argentina.
Matson believes part of the reasons for the decline has been the All Blacks’ inability to deal with pressure and their difficulty in breaking through the opposition’s disciplined and tight defence.
All Blacks playmaker Beauden Barrett is set to depart for Japan at the conclusion of the Rugby Championship. #AllBlacks https://t.co/kWRDBraf2A
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 25, 2020
The Pumas used suffocating defensive tactics, labeled “the blue wall” by some, which included not contesting at the breakdown and at times spreading almost every player across the defensive line without a fullback.
“We’ve got five in our ruck, they’ve got 15 on their feet and we wondered why we felt like we couldn’t get through and it looked like we were one-dimensional with some of the chat we had after the games.”
So how do the All Blacks improve in the must-win clash against the Pumas? It comes down to execution, says Matson.
“[Argentina] did a really good job at the lineout. Defensive lineout wise, they had the Wallabies in trouble and they had us in trouble.
“So for us, those few opportunities we get, in particular in the red zone, we have to take them. 10 per cent won’t be enough.”
The first indication of Foster and the coaching team’s thought process heading into the game on the weekend will be revealed tomorrow when the All Blacks name their team to face Argentina.
The All Blacks will face the Pumas in Newcastle at 9.45pm on Saturday.
Comments on RugbyPass
The 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.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
51 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.
10 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.
51 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.
3 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
51 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
51 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
51 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.
51 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.
17 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.
17 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.
51 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
51 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to comments