1
Use of the bench hanging over the All Blacks coaches after Cape Town
By Ben Smith
Following the 31-27 defeat to the Springboks in the first Test at Ellis Park which featured a final quarter fade, the All Blacks attempted to fix the issue by stacking the bench with more experience.
Three of the most experienced All Blacks in the team, TJ Perenara, Anton Lienert-Brown and Beauden Barrett, were named on the bench along with Luke Jacobson.
In addition, the All Blacks coaches left many of starters up front out on the field longer and even left players on the bench unused.
Ex-All Black fullback Mils Muliaina questioned whether the team needed to take a reactionary approach to counter what the opposition was doing.
"They're starting to develop sort of guys in certain roles. You talk about the have we got the perfect mix in terms of the loosies? I don't think we have," Muliaina said.
"We're often reacting to what the other teams are doing. Well, why? Why should we pick a bench to try and counter another bench?
"It's minute one to 60 to 70, and then bring on [the bench]. What you've got to find is your DNA. We know what that is."
Reserve lock Sam Darry didn't see the field in Cape Town, while Asafo Aumua featured 10 minutes in the first half while Codie Taylor underwent injury assessment. He did not return as Taylor played out the second half.
Reserve prop Ofa Tu'ungafasi was given 13 minutes of action while young Crusaders prop Fletcher Newell was only given the last five minutes.
All Black prop Angus Ta'avao weighed on the use of the reserve front rowers and added he's never experienced such low minutes as a reserve option.
"Not at international level, no," he said of the limited game time for the bench props.
"Tyrell and Tamaiti have been playing unreal, but to ask a front rower, scrums, mauls, rucks, getting around the field, they both carry immensely.
"It's tough to do that for 50-60 plus. Getting into the 70s is a big ask.
"But if you look at the past of the All Blacks, the strength of the bench has been massive. You know, it's been a big part of our team.
"It's usually in that last sort of 20 to 15 where impact will come on and sort of change the game. So I'm behind what you're saying, Mils, is looking at what they do against Australia and maybe changing that up.
"You both mentioned six-two splits in the past, do we go to something like that."
Trending on RugbyPass
2
Stuart Lancaster takes giant stride towards immediate Racing 92 exit
3
Rugby Australia CEO Phil Waugh on Joe Schmidt’s future post-Lions
4
Glasgow coach jumps to defence of McDowall who faces possible huge ban
5
Latest Comments
There's no easy fix here. From a geography standpoint, South Africa is kind of on an island alone in the rugby world, much like Argentina.
They don't have enough talent to have a top tier domestic league of their own, and it won't support the union financially. Best case you could hope for would be the five extant franchises (including Cheetahs) and perhaps a team from Namimbia. Gives you a 6 team league, that's not enough. Plus again, it's just not financially sustainable either.
At the same time, it's not really great for them to be involved in either the European or the Pacific rugby set up. That said, as bad as the travel is, at least Europe makes more sense from a time zone perspective. I still think it's the least bad option. Also has done wonders for the URC.
I don't think though, that it makes very much sense to have 4 teams from the URC excluded from European qualification. Not to mention, being able to compete in the Champions Cup was a big draw for the South African clubs anyway.
So yeah, I don't really see a change that makes more sense than the less than ideal situation that already exists.
Go to commentsMoriaty refused to play for wales also he’s injured, France’s is being coy about wales, North in the dark but Sam David and jerad are you joking their not good enough
Go to comments