
Ronan O'Gara identifies key All Blacks weakness
Having been an assistant under incoming All Blacks coach Scott Robertson at the Crusaders, and now leading serial Champions Cup winners La Rochelle, Ronan OāGara has a unique and valuable perspective on the international rugby landscape.
Applying that perspective to the Rugby World Cup, the 128-cap Ireland legend says the All Blacksā recent struggles donāt condemn the team to an early exit, but there are improvements to be made.
After debut losses to Argentina and a first-series loss to Ireland on home soil, the All Blacks started 2022 in strong form, producing a clean sweep of The Rugby Championship.
Just a month later though, the team were back on the wrong side of history, suffering their worst-ever defeat at the hands of the Springboks before falling to their first-ever pool stage Rugby World Cup loss to France.
The historic defeats would be forgiven by many though if coach Ian Fosterās team were to lift the Webb Ellis Cup in Paris.
āI think thereās an asterisk on what you said though,ā OāGara told The Breakdown when the losses were pointed out to him in the context of the All Blacksā Rugby World Cup campaign.
āBecause the great thing about New Zealand is theyāll be judged on their Rugby World Cup, and thatās what the best teams do and they accept that pressure. And to use the great Dan Carterās āpressure is a privilegeā, weāll see now.ā
The former flyhalf said New Zealandās rugby history speaks for itself and provides an innate advantage when looking to tackle the top competitors at the World Cup.
The worldās top-ranked side, Ireland, on the other hand, are forging their path into new territory if they are to prevail past the quarter-final stages.
OāGara said during his three World Cups, while the opportunity presented itself, getting rid of Irelandās quarter-final āhoodooā proved too difficult of a challenge to overcome.
He referred to 2011ās quarter-final against Wales as the game that got away.
āSometimes you donāt realise how good the opportunity in front of your nose is and you donāt take it, and itās four years gone and youāre back to the drawing board. But thatās sport, thatās why we love it.ā
With Irelandās win over the Springboks furthering their case as World Cup favourites, OāGara complimented their leaders but again highlighted the fact that āpressure becomes different when itās knockout footyā so history matters.
āIreland donāt know where the semi-final winning line is, the final winning line is. This is in the DNA of all New Zealand teams and itās something that you cannot underestimate.
āSo, are they waiting in the long grass? Yeah, but they need to be because their game needs to be a little bit better.
āI think where teams have probably gone beyond them is on the defensive side. Their attack has always been top notch but I think defensively it seems like theyāre still defending the man, which nowadays, with teamsā capacity to retain the ball, is you keep pushing them towards the sideline, the opposition is going to have too much possession and be able to fire too many shots and they probably have to defend a lot of players with X-factor.
āI think if theyāre very aggressive with their defence, they could surprise people and go all the way.ā
Thanks Ronan O'Gara, you absolutely šÆ% right about the All Black's, and their chances of winning the Rugby World Cup! You, highlighted their defence as their No1 issue. A Very Good, And Concentrated Defensive Effort Will Win You More Games, than trying to score more points than the opposition. All Black teams in the past had very good defensive player's on their bench, Guy's that could defend, and close the game out. The All Black's today have to many show ponies on their reserve bench, Guy's who don't know how to tackle. But the opposition play their show ponies in the first half to score the points, then bring on their mongrel player's in the 2nd half who aren't afraid to tackle, and defend their lead, as though their lives depended on whether their team won or lost. Finlay Christie, David Havili, Akira Iaone, Hoskin Sotutu, Thomas Umaga-Jensen, Billy Proctor, are the sort of player's that have the mongrel, to have in your Defensive Line. It's okay have player's that are show ponie's who can run, score tries, but are they capable of tackling, by putting their bodie's on the "DEFENSIVE LINE OF DEFENDING YOUR LEAD?"
Ha! Come on, Simon.
Scott McCleod is the weakness - ancient defense thinking
Typical!! Ireland and NZ have yet to qualify from the group phase and they are planning the QF against each other! Such arrogance and disrespect to Italy and Scotland!!
So Italy 96-17 ?
OK Simon š
Ah yes donāt underestimate the team that has won one six nations game in the 6 year interval since Scotland last beat Ireland.
The only thing to remember is its mostly the media, its not the teams and in most cases its not the fans either.
And part of that is the pundits would have to do some more research! Who in NZ knows anything about Italy...
Well apart from Kieran Crowley.
A fraction too much friction...People speculate about sport. 'It's a completely natura-al, expression of huma-an will, but when will hostilities subside?'
I saw the original Ronan Interview and from someone in both camps he is so right in his comments. Thers no pressure in the super rugby comp until the semi. Having 8 out of 12 teams in the play offs is ridiculous and as he says theres no consequences..how about bottom 4 teams play off for 2 of them to be relegated. Hes correct because the results prove that, 2017 we struggled with pressure and defense from Lions team, then 2019 we couldn't handle England, then it was Ireland with 4 out of 6 wins then France, we collapsed in pressure and defense. We are not prepared properly and it goes right through to our U20 teams..
I saw the original Ronan Interview and from someone in both camps he is so right in his comments. Thers no pressure in the super rugby comp until the semi. Having 8 out of 12 teams in the play offs is ridiculous and as he says theres no consequences..how about bottom 4 teams play off for 2 of them to be relegated. Hres correct because the results prove that, 2017 we struggled with pressure and defense from Lions team, then 2019 we couldnt handle England, then it was Ireland with 4 out of 6 wins then France, we collapsed in pressure and defense. We are not prepared properly and it goes right through to our U20 teams..
I saw the original Ronan Interview and from someone in both camps he is so right in his comments. Thers no pressure in the super rugby comp until the semi. Having 8 out of 12 teams in the play offs is ridiculous and as he says theres no consequences..how about bottom 4 teams play off for 2 of them to be relegated. Hres correct because the results prove that, 2017 we struggled with pressure and defense from Lions team, then 2019 we couldnt handle England, then it was Ireland with 4 out of 6 wins then France, we collapsed in pressure and defense. We are not prepared properly and it goes right through to our U20 teams..