ODT Online rugby contributor Jeff Cheshire looks at what worked for the All Blacks this year, and what the team needs to work on.
Things That Went Well
Defence
Of everything that was so impressive about this All Black team, it was the defence that stood out the most. They were so tough to crack and even when backed up on to their own line, they were able to hold teams out. Aaron Smith was the chief organiser in the close and made sure there were always defenders around the fringes, while the likes of Conrad Smith made sure nothing got through out wider.
The line always came up fast and was aggressive, meaning that the opposition was often being pushed backwards and could not get any forward momentum on attack. That so many players could be interchanged and cause little disruption also proved of value and shows the communication and cohesion within the whole squad.
The 30-0 win against France was arguably the best defensive effort, where the All Blacks defended their line for close to ten minutes at the start of the second half to stop France getting back into the game.
Squad Depth
One of the key things for this team was their ability to finish games off strongly, something the bench deserves a lot of credit for. While most other teams got weaker, and sometimes significantly, when they made changes, the All Blacks did not lose anything and in some cases got stronger. The way to get this is to have plenty of quality players and to make sure the reserves are involved in the team as much as the starters. It also meant that when there were injuries there was cover in almost every position and individuals were not being relied upon, which was crucial, particularly in the cases of Richie McCaw and Dan Carter.
Positions That Are Strong
As a follow on from that last point, there are a handful of positions where the All Blacks are particularly strong in. The most obvious of these is the outside backs, where there are five genuinely world class players who next season will be fighting for four positions in the 23. There is a good balance between them too, meaning they are capable of playing any style they want to. Israel Dagg has to be there, as his clearing ability under pressure is important, as is his safety under the high all and his ability to create. In Julian Savea and Charles Piutau they have two exceptionally strong and powerful runners who have both improved a lot in their skill sets, while Ben Smith and Cory Jane are both adept at finding gaps, chase hard and have great ball skills.
The loose forwards are strong too, with the starting trio of Kieran Read, Richie McCaw and Liam Messam all arguably being the best in the world in their positions. Behind them though is Steven Luatua, who is an explosive runner and a hard worker on defence who can make an impact in the second half, and Sam Cane, who has improved greatly and was outstanding on the ground in support.
First five-eighth is another position with plenty of depth, which is a far-cry from two years ago, when Dan Carter going down injured was something of a national disaster. Aaron Cruden and Beauden Barrett are both now more than capable of filling the void, both good playmakers and reasonable kickers. Given the importance of first five-eighth to the overall game, having depth here is important, as was seen in Wellington, when the All Blacks were forced to use their fourth-string No 10 in Tom Taylor.
High Skill Level Across All Players
The skill level of this team has been one of its biggest assets. Their ability to run, catch, pass and kick means that they limit their mistakes and operate far more efficiently. But it is not just a few players that do this, it is all of them, something no other team in the world can say. The tight forwards are all capable of running and passing, while the loose forwards all possesses good offloading games and can run well in the open, while also being physical in the tight. This makes them all the more threatening and far harder to defend. It has also contributed to them being so clinical, which has been another one of the key reasons for them winning games this year.
They Found a Way to Win
Ultimately it came down to this. When the going got tough, the tough got going. There were times when this team was faced with adversity, especially in recent weeks, but no matter what they always found a way to win and never said die. Their mental strength and self-belief was clearly a large factor in this, but so was their clincalness and their fitness, which saw them always capable of kicking in when they needed to.
Things That Need Work
The Scrum
The scrum at times was under pressure, giving away penalties and going backwards on too any occasions. Notably against Japan it did no more than maintain parity, which says as much about the All Blacks as it does about the Japanese. Scrums are not everything and inevitably they were a bit of a mess this year, but it would be good to get them sorted.
Kicking Game
In general the kicking game was not too bad and there were some outstanding displays of kicking, such as the second test against France in June. But the chips and grubbers in behind when on attack were used a few too many times and at the wrong times. While these have their purpose, particularly when the opposition defence is rushing up, there were times when they kicked away good attacking ball too and they should only be used when needed.
Positions That Need Greater Depth
This is not exactly rocket science, but the All Blacks do need to find some more cover at hooker and in the midfield. With Andrew Hore retiring and Keven Mealamu not getting any younger, there is going to be some new faces filling the No. 2 jersey over the next year or so. Dane Coles looked alright when he played this year, while Liam Coltman seems a likely candidate to come into the team next year.
The midfield needs some more cover too, as after Conrad Smith and Ma'a Nonu there is not a whole lot there. Ryan Crotty is fairly solid and may be worth persisting with, while Ben Smith did little wrong at centre and given the abundance of outside backs, could also double as reserve centre.
However, if this is going to be the plan, Crotty needs to see more game time even if it is off the bench, while Smith needs more experience playing centre.
It is hard to believe that we are in this situation as earlier this year centre was the position New Zealand was arguably the deepest in. Conrad Smith was the top dog, with Richard Kahui, Tamati Ellison and Rene Ranger all world class options in cover. If this shows us anything, it is how fast things can change with a few players leaving and hence the importance of building depth at the levels below.
