Weak scrum? Poor kicking? All Blacks misconceptions quashed in data analysis
As the countdown moves from days to hours ahead of the highly-anticipated clash between England and New Zealand at Twickenham on Saturday, we attempt to erase three common misconceptions about the All Blacks.
Thanks to analysis of entries into the 22 and scoring by and against New Zealand over the last couple of years, provided to us by Simon Gleave of Gracenote Sports, we have been able to identify three myths around the number one side in the world that England will need to take note of if they are to have any chance of upsetting the odds on Saturday.
The analysis is based on the 23 most recent Test matches that New Zealand have played against the world’s top nine ranked sides, as well as the British and Irish Lions.
Set-piece dominance isn’t just lineout-based
Rightly, everyone rushes to pour adulation on New Zealand’s lineout, and with a unit generally consisting of the likes of Codie Taylor, Dane Coles, Brodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock and Kieran Read, that’s no surprise, but this idea that the All Blacks have a weak or easily attackable scrum is wide of the mark.
On entries into the 22 beginning with a scrum, New Zealand average 3.31 points, whilst possessions in the same area beginning with a lineout only average 3.07 points. Both figures explain why New Zealand regularly chose not to kick at goal, but the scrum has proven to be a more clinical facet of New Zealand’s game in the ‘redzone’ than their much-lauded lineout.
The scrum has the advantage of often being able to split the field and create space, so if a side is confident in their ability to quickly and cleanly win the ball, it makes sense to make it a focal point in your attacking game plan.
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Watch: Eddie Jones previews England’s clash against New Zealand
Kicking woes exaggerated?
The critique on New Zealand and Beauden Barrett is that their kicking at goal is not as accurate as the other leading sides in the world and whilst that is true, the idea that it is an area where England will have a clear advantage on Saturday has been overplayed.
In Gracenote’s analysis of conversion kicking rates, something which they argue is a better measure of true kicking ability due to the fact every kick has to be taken and harder kicks cannot be declined, New Zealand have a success rate of 74.18%. Argentina, South Africa, France, Ireland and Wales may all sit above New Zealand in that table, but what about England?
Well, of the nine top ranked nations, England actually sit at the very bottom, with a success rate of just 70.42%. If you remove George Ford’s conversion attempts, so that it is just representative of Owen Farrell, who will be kicking for England on Saturday, the success rate does rise to 74.55%. It’s a number that is on par with New Zealand, but certainly not significantly higher or to be considered a clear advantage.
Less structure can be key
New Zealand are kings of creating more opportunities than their opposition. In the recent Rugby Championship, they averaged 9.2 entries into the 22 per game, the highest in the competition, and allowed just 5.8 per game in return, the least in the competition. One way in which New Zealand do seem to allow more entries into their 22, however, is through the return of kicks.
Again, another cliché is that to beat New Zealand you need to dominate the set-piece and keep the game structured, denying them the broken field situations that they are so composed at finishing off. However, 20.95% of entries into New Zealand’s 22 since 2017 have come as a result of a reception on a New Zealand kick and that’s a significant increase on the 12.04% of entries into the 22 that the All Blacks have managed in the same fashion.
Whether it is a combination of their kicking game being off the mark, their kick chasers not being quite in tune with the kickers or their ability to make one-on-one tackles on counter-attacking players, it is a more than viable way into the New Zealand 22. Given that you need to score tries to beat New Zealand, especially as they average over five tries per game, the only way to do that is by entering the 22 and the numbers show that a willingness to run the ball back at the All Blacks is beneficial in that goal.
Watch: Mark Wilson speaks ahead of the Test with the All Blacks on Saturday.
Comments on RugbyPass
I really get the sense that when all is said and done, the path of least resistance will end up being a merger of Wasps & Worcester that essentially kills the Worcester Warriors brand and sees Wasps permanently playing at Sixways. I’m not saying that’s what should happen or what I want to happen. I just think it’s the easiest rout to take and therefore, will be what happens. Wasps will definitely return to play first, and I suppose it all depends on if they can find support at Sixways. If people turn up and support Wasps in that community, at that ground, I bet they drop the Sevenoaks plan and just remain at Sixways. Under the radar but not totally unrelated, it looks as though London Irish are going to be brought back from the dead by a German consortium and look set to return, likely to the remade Championship. It’s set to have 12 clubs next season with 14 in 2025/26, what do you want to bet those extra 2 are Wasps and London Irish?
1 Go to commentsThe shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to commentsBold headline considering the Canes and Blues are 1 and 2 and the Brumbies were soundly beaten by the Chiefs and Blues. Biggest surprise is Rebels 4 Crusaders 12 - no one saw that coming. If Aus are improving that’s great 👍
1 Go to commentsAnna, You are right, we need to have patience whilst the others catch up to England and France. Also it is the PWR that has been the game changer for England. the RFU put money into that initially at the expense of the Red Roses. I was sceptical at first but it has paid off in spades.
1 Go to commentsI think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to commentsFarcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to commentsHavili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to commentsWe had during the week twilight footy, twilight cricket, tw golf plus there was the athletics club. Then the weekend was rugby 15s plus the net ball, really busy club scene back then but so much has changed and rugby has suffered. And it was all about changing lifestyles.
6 Go to commentsIn the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getting to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
6 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
8 Go to commentsNo 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
6 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.
56 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.
8 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
61 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 comments