@MiketheSnow said in All Blacks vs Ireland - series decider:
@stodders said in All Blacks vs Ireland - series decider:
@MrDenmore said in All Blacks vs Ireland - series decider:
Leinster’s head coach on how Ireland defused the All Blacks’ front row defence. https://twitter.com/brettruganalyst/status/1546240815143460865?s=21&t=ZV-SzHUWAueOoPqayoPU-g
They targeted the NZ front row. That has to send alarm bells ringing in the NZ coaching team. The NZ front row didn't work as a unit. Too many disconnects (lack of communication, bad defensive reads or just poor work rate?) and Ireland took advantage.
Can something so fundamental be rectified in a week? I'm not sure. NZ need to focus on starving Ireland of possession and territory. And nullify Irish momentum on early phases, which is where Ireland have successfully targeted NZ's defence, which has struggled to reset fast enough.
NZ's scramble defence has been world class. You can't fault the effort in that regard. But Ireland's structured attack and running lines have manipulated and ripped open NZ's defence too many times for it to be anything but a structural problem.
NZ has some of the most gifted athletes in the rugby world who can pass and kick to their teammates with pinpoint accuracy from 30-40m
But that shouldn't be your go to. Very easy to defend against.
NZ justs needs to truck the ball up for multiple phases, tying in players with the speed and point of attack, then release the backs when there's space and/or an overlap.
Easier said than done. The NZ players appear to be under instructions to kick the ball if they don't make the break early on in the phases and the defensive line is set. It feels like it is ingrained in the players, especially the decision makers.
This is fine if you have several good tactical kickers in your team capable of turning the opposition around or who are adept at putting in contestable kicks. It also requires a good kick chase that moves in unison. Both would appear to be lacking right now in NZ's armoury.
So if your kicking game isn't up to scratch and you either can't reclaim the ball or your defence can't pressurise mistakes and you can't hold onto the ball for long periods because players keep getting isolated because they run away from support or support arrives too late...you have a problem.
NZ do have the players to be the leading team again. But the players currently at the coaching team's disposal are either not capable of carrying out the game plan being asked of them on a consistent basis or the game plan is not designed to bring out the best of the players available.