1
Ex-Bok analyses the concerning All Blacks trend that's cost them this year
By Josh Raisey
One of the biggest differences between the All Blacks' performances against England in July and this Rugby Championship has been how they have approached the final quarter of the match.
On consecutive weekends in July England looked to be heading towards a rare victory on New Zealand soil before the hosts, largely through the exploits of Beauden Barrett, were able to snatch victory.
Only a matter of weeks have passed, but the latest Scott Robertson's side have managed to score in a match so far after three rounds of the Rugby Championship is 52 minutes, against Argentina in round one.
Although it did not prove costly in round two against Argentina, having built a handsome first-half lead, this inability to score in the final quarter has been the All Blacks' undoing so far this Championship.
The reigning Rugby Championship winners were leading at the hour mark in round one against the Pumas and round three against the Springboks before going on to lose both matches. If matches were only 60 minutes, New Zealand would be table toppers currently.
It is quite a contrast between the two campaigns so far this year, and while three matches is a small sample size and not enough to suggest there is any kind of deep-rooted problem, Schalk Burger recently dissected how the visitors' game management let them down in the final quarter at Emirates Airline Park on Saturday as the world champions were able to overturn a 17-27 deficit to win 31-27.
The former Springbok pinpointed the All Blacks' discipline as their fatal flaw on RugbyPass TV's latest episode of Boks Office, which allowed the Boks to gain the ascendency and score 14 unanswered points in Johannesburg.
"I would say this weekend their biggest culprit was probably going into game management too early," Burger said.
"But then you go into game management but your discipline doesn't go the same way. In their last 15 minutes they conceded I would say seven or eight penalties and then you're trying to kick it early in the phase. So they kick the ball to us and we were desperate to chase the game down.
"Obviously Ofa Tu'ungafasi's yellow card was a disaster because then our pack of forwards fronted up and said 'listen here, we're tucking it up under the jumper' and our attack in the 22 was exceptional."
Trending on RugbyPass
2
Gloucester respond to complaints over Russian flag
3
'Best forward in the country': Dallaglio calls for new England captain
4
Ex-England S&C coach on their 'rugby strong' player
5
Latest Comments
In regards to Mack Hansen, Tuipoloto and others who talent wasnt 'seen'..
If we look at acting, soccer and cricket as examples, Hugh Jackman, the Heminsworths in acting; Keith Urban in Nashville, Mike Hussey and various cricketers who played in UK and made the Australian team; and many soccer players playing overseas.
My opinion is that perhaps the ' 'potential' or latent talent is there, but it's just below the surface.
ANd that decision, as made by Tane Edmed, Noah, Will Skelton to go overseas is the catalyst to activate the latent and bring it to the surface.
Based on my personal experience of leaving Oz and spending 14 months o/s, I was fully away from home and all usual support systems and past memories that reminded me of the past.
Ooverseas, they weren't there. I had t o survive, I could invent myself as who I wanted, and there was no one to blame but me.
It bought me alive, focused my efforts towards what I wanted and people largely accepted me for who I was and how I turned up.
So my suggestion is to make overseas scholarships for younger players and older too so they can benefit from the value offered by overseas coaching acumen, established systems, higher intensity competition which like the pressure that turns coal into diamonds, can produce more Skeltons, Arnold's, Kellaways and the like.
After the Lion's tour say, create 20 x $10,000 scholarships for players to travel and play overseas.
Set up a HECS style arrangement if necessary to recycle these funds ongoingly.
Ooverseas travel, like parenthood or difficult life situations brings out people's physical and emotional strengths in my own experiences, let's use it in rugby.
Go to commentsI agree what a load of crap! The ABs are elite sportsmen and ALL sportsmen want to challenge themselves against the best. And where better than Eden Park - some say that is our fortress. Well the ABs will relish the chance to build on that notion I am sure.
Go to comments