Terrible performance from New Zealand, but it might be exactly what we need. We have been trumpeting our points and tries this year, but it's deceptive with games against Tonga Fiji and USA.
A lot of players played really poorly, and it's quite pointless running through everyone because it is the systems, systemic issues under which players underperform.
1) the first fundamental systemic issue is our defence. it seems like we defended really well on the line and kept Ireland out somehow. Absolutely not. Every tier 1 team rushes on defence, because it is the best way to defend, except New Zealand. When you don't rush what happens? You have a bollocking Irish carrier smashing into your line at full speed while you are standing still, making easy metres, no pressure on the scrumhalf, no pressure on the ball carrier. The lack of urgency in defence is what caused us to be camped on our own line in the first place, much as the goalline scramble was good.
This is a problem that has existed since Hansen, but we still defend in the same stupid manner trying to keep the line. If we don't rush, we don't win the World Cup. I think the best remedy for this is engaging John Mitchell or Joe Schmidt ( now that he's back). Becuase our defence system is poor.
2) attack. When Aaron Mauger was coach for the Crusaders, they had an incredibly moronic tactic of trying to get the ball to the wing as quickly as possible. It was a fucking disaster, and it was fucking disaster today. What's with the obsession of going wide wide wide before you even go forward. Are our wingers so much better than our opponents? Absolutely not. Look at Ireland. If you go-forward on first phase, the attack sorts itself out because one side has momentum and one has to realign. But our players have no go forward. They run or pass sideways. Remember at the start of the game simple pass barrett to ALB, who made 10m just running hard at the 10. That's it. That's all you need to do on first phase. Once you do that a few times, it opens up the kicking option.
At the end of the game, 2 attacks were abysmal. One where there 5 on 3 which ended in Sevu Reece crabbing sideways and throwing it out. It was a 5 on 3. Can someone just run straight? Zero defenders committed by attacks. Zero. Then on the next attack, it was a 4 on 3, and David Havili kicks (and kicks poorly at that) and was picked off by Hugo Keenan. Mo'unga who is such a skillful player stands far too deep for some reason of late, and then the backline just shovels it on because no seems capable of carrying it. In the NPC, Leicester Faingaanuku is carving it up running straight. He is much better in defence than Reiko. Can we have him in the AB team please? Quinn Tupeau is not yet near a finished product. But because he runs straight, can we get him to start against France at 12?
3) Leadership. While the Irish yakked non-stop and encouraged each other, Sam Whitelock self-destructed just like he did in RWC 2019. I love Sam Whitelock the player, but he was horrendous today at kick-off, lineout, and rucks. He was shite. Sam - at 20-14 with only about 11 mins left, 5m out, just having had a try ruled out, we have to go for scrum or lineout. The kick serves little purpose 6 points down.
There was an air of defeat, pressure, stress, that permeated through the team. No one to say, hey, look boys, heads up, we are the ABs, we are going to win this. Richie McCaw just had this. He always had his chest out and his drive to win and an incomparable Mana. Look at 2013 when the ABs got the penalty. McCaw's face, ok boys we are going to win now. Read had an optimistic personality that seemed to put pressure on refs. Sam Whitelock is not captain material. There was no one that gave any sort of a positive vibe to push the ABs forward, perhaps just a little from Dane Coles and TJ Perenara, but no one else. Even Retallick went into a shell. For this reason, I think Dane Coles might need to start at hooker even up till 2023. I'm not sure what Codie offers these days, but Coles has that combative spirit and you need a few of them in the team. Everyone is so placid.
4) Adapting. The LO was not working well, because it was telegraphed, the throws were poor. Part of this has to do with how much pressure the hooker is under because he can't hear the call. Then Dalton has to run forward to yell it out, by which time the clock is ticking and the hooker is now under more pressure.
Why can't you just settle on the LO call before you head to the line-out? Where is the adaptability?
The ABs had no possession in the first half. So the talk to the team should be hey, we need to keep the ball, and not follow some existing game plan that in zone A we have to kick, and in zone B we have to run this back move. Keep the ball.
5) passion. Look at James Lowe. He wanted it. So did Doris and Keenan and Sexton and Conan and Furlong and everyone. The Irish wanted it more. O'Mahoney had so many crucial plays in 2018 when they won even though he was way past his best 3 years ago! Today he's still at it; after missing on Savea, he worked his way back to winning that turnover because Havili took too long to pass, and Whitelock couldn't clear him out. That's desire. On the other hand, you have an AB team that was too mild. It didn't mean as much.
Next week, France will likely be a bigger challenge. France is better than Ireland. And they are not mucking around. They're playing most of their stars against Georgia. They will test us, especially if they load up on the big boys like Willemse Cros Alldrit to start, and have guys like Woki and Flament come off the bench.
I hope the French play as well as they can. the more we are pushed, the more we will be forced to act on our weaknesses instead of constantly advocating a sub-optimal system. Our coaches need to be better.
