Former All Black captain credits Crusaders duo for dismantling 'one trick pony' Boks
Former All Black captain Kieran Read has credited first five Richie Mo'unga and new forwards coach Jason Ryan for their roles in taking apart the Springboks at Ellis Park.
Speaking on SENZ Radio on the The Run Home Show, the 128-test No 8 thought that forcing the Springboks to use their bench so early contributed to them tiring out late in the game.
The All Blacks scored two tries in that final 10 minute period which proved crucial in securing a famous win.
"Richie Mo'unga was the guy for me, who steered the ship around and got us in the right areas of the field," Read told The Run Home hosts Kirstie Stanway & Stephen Donald.
"The way the Springboks selected their team, I think the fact that we made them go to their bench early really helped us down that back end.
"They want Marx to come on and only play 40 minutes and Kitshoff, a few of their other big players, even Vermeulen could only go 30 minutes.
"It was a testament to our start, which hadn't been at our best all year. Guys put them under pressure and I think it paid dividends in the back end."
The All Blacks were able to play an up tempo game which got South Africa out of their comfort zone, unable to rest at stoppages as often as they like.
On stopping the Boks game, Read described it as a 'brutal' type of game but that they are a bit of a 'one trick pony'.
"Even on the weekend where we played pretty well, there was periods of play where they were able to get a bit of a roll on," he said.
"They could score points on us and put us under a lot of pressure.
"They are, in some cases you could say a one-trick pony in the way they play. It's just a brutal game plan from them.
"It's so brilliant, you know? Mapimpi chasing high balls, it's not 50-50 when he's chasing it. He's catching everything.
"And they've got their maul. So you've got to give kudos to our forward pack for scrumming well and stopping the maul basically over the whole series.
"Stop them winning penalties to then kick to the corner and have another shot."
The promotion of Crusaders forward coach Jason Ryan seemed to have an immediate impact with the All Black scrum improving over the two tests while the maul defence become almost impenetrable overnight.
After conceding multiple maul tries to the Ireland pack, the Springboks were unable to score any over the two test series as scrum & maul penalties dried up.
On what kind of impact Ryan has had, the former Crusaders great said his former coach would have helped align the pack more and used his existing relationships to change a few things.
"I think it’s hard to see too much detail … and maybe the attitude was the biggest one he could shift over in South Africa,” Read said.
"Just getting the guys more aligned I think could help.
"Jase is a smart man, and he would’ve seen a few things that he could’ve just provided up to a few guys, individually.
"I think the way he’s got his senior players in that forward pack stepping up.
"I guess he can lean on a few Crusaders; Sam Whitelock I’m sure would’ve had a big impact in there, echoing a bit of what Jase has been saying.
"And then Scott Barrett, I thought, had one of his best games in the lock jersey as well, he was brilliant and went all 80 minutes.
"So, he deserves a bit of credit there, old Jase.”
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> It would be best described as an elegant solution to what was potentially going to be a significant problem for new All Blacks coach Scott Robertson. It is a problem the mad population of New Zealand will have to cope with more and more as All Blacks are able to continue their careers in NZ post RWCs. It will not be a problem for coaches, who are always going to start a campaign with the captain for the next WC in mind. > Cane, despite his warrior spirit, his undoubted commitment to every team he played for and unforgettable heroics against Ireland in last year’s World Cup quarter-final, was never unanimously admired or respected within New Zealand while he was in the role. Neither was McCaw, he was considered far too passive a captain and then out of form until his last world cup where everyone opinions changed, just like they would have if Cane had won the WC. > It was never easy to see where Cane, or even if, he would fit into Robertson’s squad given the new coach will want to be building a new-look team with 2027 in mind. > Cane will win his selections on merit and come the end of the year, he’ll sign off, he hopes, with 100 caps and maybe even, at last, universal public appreciation for what was a special career. No, he won’t. Those returning from Japan have already earned the right to retain their jersey, it’s in their contract. Cane would have been playing against England if he was ready, and found it very hard to keep his place. Perform, and they keep it however. Very easy to see where Cane could have fit, very hard to see how he could have accomplished it choosing this year as his sabbatical instead of 2025, and that’s how it played out (though I assume we now know what when NZR said they were allowing him to move his sabbatical forward and return to NZ next year, they had actually agreed to simply select him for the All Blacks from overseas, without any chance he was going to play in NZ again). With a mammoth season of 15 All Black games they might as well get some value out of his years contract, though even with him being of equal character to Richie, I don’t think they should guarantee him his 100 caps. That’s not what the All Blacks should be about. He absolutely has to play winning football.
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