ODT Online rugby writer Jeff Cheshire looks at some key points from the All Blacks' test against Samoa this week.
Need to make better use of space
Rugby is a game of space. There is always going to be space somewhere on the field and to play well, you usually want to exploit where that space is, or do something to manipulate where that space is.
The All Blacks did neither. It was clear from the get-go that the Samoans wanted to get up fast, shut down the room the All Blacks had to attack and try to put in big hits. When teams do this there is normally space in behind and this game was no different. Indeed the All Blacks one try came from kicking into this space and forcing the Samoans to scramble.
But they did not do it nearly enough. They continually played into the Samoans hands, just shovelling the ball on and running straight into the defenders. It put them under pressure and resulted in a high number of handling errors. You have to ask why an experienced player such as Dan Carter would not have looked to use his boot more, putting in a few grubber and chip kicks to be chased. Even if you do not get them back, it forces the defence to stay back a bit in order to cover them, which in turn creates more space to attack with. But you have to do something to manipulate the space, rather than just handing it on to your players with virtually no room to work with.
Handling errors
It does not take a genius to realise that the All Blacks were poor handling-wise. They dropped too much ball and threw some very average, loopy passes. Of course a lot of these were under pressure and put the receiver under even more pressure, which does not make being accurate easy. Again, this is all the more reason to manipulate the space to create some breathing room.
Is the front row up to it?
Aside from the set-piece, the All Black front row was not amazing. When the Samoans were winning the physical confrontations and attacking the breakdowns, the All Blacks really needed their tight five to step up and be more prominent around the field. The locks were solid enough, but the front row was beginning to look their age.
It is hard to see that Tony Woodcock offers much other than scrumming ability any more. He is ineffectual in contact, usually taking the ball up and setting a ruck without any sort of leg drive. Likewise he is not a player you see sprinting around the park, like some of the other front rowers in the country. He will tend to pop up every now and then as a first receiver, but rarely elsewhere.
Similarly, Keven Mealamu is hardly the fast, energetic hooker he once was. His work rate is higher than Woodcock's, but again, he is not a player you see sprinting around the field. Both he and Woodcock have been good All Blacks, but there are players around that can do things that these two just are not doing any more, even if only as back-ups to Dane Coles and Wyatt Crockett. Their lack of mobility and intensity, particularly in support on attack, is an issue.
Owen Franks, meanwhile, does bring mobility. However, he has gotten into a habit of getting himself offside. It became noticeable during Super Rugby and was again noticeable in this game. He gets away with it a lot so it is normally okay, but it only takes one game where the referee is being pedantic, or one moment in a key game, for this to be costly. Of course you would still pick him, but it is something that needs to be stamped out of his game.
Rusty or just not ready?
Every year, rust is always a reason given for a scratchy All Black performance first up. Perhaps there is an element of truth in that. But there are simple things you would expect them to be doing regardless. Things such as showing urgency in their speed around the park and doing things with a purpose should be givens in any test match. The tight five were not playing at the pace you would expect of an All Black tight five, while the backs did not seem switched on enough to notice the need to change tactics.
Samoa on the other hand came out with huge intensity and rattled the All Blacks,staying in the game even when they were under all sorts of pressure. Sure, many of these men have not played in a few weeks and there are players to come back. But you cannot get around the fact that they were poor and they seemed to be making things harder for themselves by playing right into Samoa's hands. There is lots of room to get better, but it does show what this All Black team is capable of when they do not turn up.
Samoa will be a threat at World Cup
While you would not go as far as saying they will win the whole thing, Samoa are a team that teams will not want to come up against at the World Cup. Their physical, high intensity game is one their opponents will not like, particularly the European teams who tend to find it unsettling. In their pool they will compete with Scotland and South Africa to progress to the knockout stages.
You would have to favour them against Scotland, a team who are strong in the tight, although does not have the same raw intensity, while the even the South Africans could be rattled by them. If they get through they will face either Australia, England or Wales, three more teams who will not like that physical approach and could be thrown off their games because of it. Sure they were far from perfect. There were a lot of mistakes, but if they keep tackling like they did and at that same intensity, they will always given themselves a chance against anyone.
