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The Autumn Internationals Preview: New Zealand
By Peter Bills
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All Blacks Schedule
vs Ireland – Sunday November 6, 4:00am HKT
vs Italy – Saturday November 12, 10:00pm HKT
vs Ireland – Sunday November 20, 1:30am HKT
vs France – Sunday November 27, 4:00am HKT
The All Blacks broke the record for most consecutive wins by a Tier 1 nation in their last match, claiming win number 18 against the Wallabies at Eden Park. Can Ireland, Italy or France stop them from extending that record to 22 on their end-of-year tour?
What to look out for
Well, where to begin? The rapier-like counter attacking skills of the starting back three – Israel Dagg, Julien Savea and Ben Smith – and the deceptively fast scuttling running style of Beauden Barrett; the constant off-loading of the forwards even in heavy collisions... it goes on and on.
Strengths
Their deep self-belief and expectation of prevailing is seldom discussed but it is critically important. The power they generate going forward at terrific pace is alarming for any defence and their clinical execution, accuracy and patience inside the opposition 22 is legendary. Then there are their ball skills...
Weaknesses
Seriously? They have just established a new 18-test winning run record, they’ve cleaned up another Rugby Championship and they whitewashed Wales back in June. They have back-up players who would walk into any other national team in the likes of Waisake Naholo, TJ Perenara, Ardie Savea, or Aaron Cruden. Beauden Barrett’s goal kicking is erratic, but who needs to worry when they routinely score five, six or seven tries a match?
Coaching situation
This is where so much of it comes from. They have coaches with their feet firmly on the ground, people steeped in the game who remain humble and calm despite all their success. Above all, Steve Hansen and his colleagues absolutely understand the game and how to maintain impeccable standards.
Player to watch
For pure aesthetic delight, it has to be Beauden Barrett, although new second five-eighth Anton Lienert-Brown is a fast-rising talent. But Barrett has seized the mantle, stepping effortlessly into the role vacated by Dan Carter. Barrett offers more than Carter on attack which perfectly enables the All Blacks to play their high-tempo attacking game.
Best chance of an upset
With most teams you might think overconfidence could bring them down. But this lot don’t deal in unfounded optimism. They regard every game as another hurdle to scale. Their strong mental approach never wavers.
Prediction
They’ll make patsies (or should that be pasta?) of the Italians, fry the frogs in Paris and crush Irish exuberance, certainly at least in Chicago. It might be closer for the return game in Dublin – maybe only 12 to 15 points the difference.
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Latest Comments
A few comments. Firstly, I am a Bok fan and it's been a golden period for us. I hope my fellow Bok fans appreciate this time and know that it cannot last forever, so soak it all in!
The other thing to mention (and this is targeted at Welsh, English and even Aussie supporters who might be feeling somewhat dejected) is that it's easy to forget that just before Rassie Erasmus took over in 2018, the Boks were ranked 7th in the world and I had given up hope we'd ever be world beaters again.
Sport is a fickle thing and Rassie and his team have managed to get right whatever little things it takes to make a mediocre team great. I initially worried his methods might be short-lived (how many times can you raise a person's commitment by talking about his family and his love of his country as a motivator), but he seems to have found a way. After winning in 2019 on what was a very simple game plan, he has taken things up ever year - amazing work which has to be applauded! (Dankie Rassie! Ons wardeer wat jy vir die ondersteuners en die land doen!) (Google translate if you don't understand Afrikaans! 😁)
I don't think people outside South Africa fully comprehend the enormity of the impact seeing black and white, English, Afrikaans and Xhosa and all the other hues playing together does for the country's sense of unity. It's pure joy and happiness.
This autumn tour has been a bit frustrating in that the Boks have won, but never all that convincingly. On the one hand, I'd like to have seen more decisive victories, BUT what Rassie has done is expose a huge number of players to test rugby, whilst also diversifying the way the Boks play (Tony Brown's influence).
This change of both style and personnel has resulted in a lack of cohesion at times and we've lost some of the control, whereas had we been playing our more traditional style, that wouldn't happen. This is partially attributable to the fact that you cannot play Tony Brown's expansive game whilst also having 3 players available at every contact point to clear the defence off the ball. I have enjoyed seeing the Boks play a more exciting, less attritional game, which is a boring, albeit effective spectacle. So, I am happy to be patient, because the end justifies the means (and I trust Rassie!). Hopefully all these players we are blooding will give us incredible options for substitutions come next year's Rugby Championship and of course, the big prize in 2027.
Last point! The game of rugby has never been as exciting as it is now. Any of Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, France, Argentina, Scotland, England & Australia can beat one another. South Africa may be ranked #1, but I wouldn't bet my house in them beating France or New Zealand, and we saw Argentina beating both South Africa and New Zealand this year! That's wonderful for the game and makes the victories we do get all the sweeter. Each win is 100% earned. Long may it last!
Sorry for the long post! 🏉🌍
Go to commentsWouldn’t mind seeing that grounding in slow mo there. Too much to ask?
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