Still plenty to do before real test
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Laurie Mains
There is plenty for the All Blacks to work on before they open up their Tri-Nations campaign against South Africa in Wellington.
Graham Henry won't be overly happy with their forward play.
They lacked a little bit of control and it was a bit untidy.
And when they needed to consolidate and drive the ball and keep it tight they didn't actually do that whereas England had slightly the upper hand in that contact play.
The All Blacks probably went out with a game plan to speed things up and keep things moving and I suspect that would be the reason for their inability to tighten it up and drive more.
They are going to need to do that before they take on the Springboks.
The coaches will want to tidy things up before the Tri-Nations.
Against good teams you have got to be able to vary your game a bit and there will be a much higher requirement to take the ball in and drive, have the odd pick and go and commit the opposition forwards against the Boks and Wallabies.
They are going to have to improve in those areas.
The highlight for me was seeing Richard Kahui play.
He was outstanding for the whole game always alert and always ready to seize on an opportunity and I don't remember him making any mistakes.
It now gives the selectors a real dilemma at centre. I would go Kahui every time. He is a class act.
Conrad Smith is a very good player but he's an average test player while Kahui has the X-factor.
The real concern for me after last night is if Richie McCaw has an injury that will keep him out of rugby for a while.
Our effectiveness at the breakdown suffered after Richie left the field.
The English forwards went well.
The pressure they put on the All Blacks was substantial whereas the English backs were woeful again.
It was a rare thing to see one of them run onto a pass last night and the backs coach should be ashamed because his charges blew all the good work their forwards had done.
As well as Kahui, Dan Carter also looked good again.
Some of the ABs' back play was laboured in the first half but they stepped up their accuracy in the second half.
They did it without the All Blacks forwards getting parity with the English.
There are too many in the All Blacks forwards that don't seem interested in doing a lot of hard work.
What do you make of Laurie Mains' views? Have your say on our comments system below.
- © Fairfax NZ News
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I gotta disagree with Laurie on his call about Conrad - an average test player??? How many "average" test players could rip apart Brian O'Driscoll (arguably the second-best centre in the world after Mortlock) like he did??
Kahui did a fantastic job, don't get me wrong, but his inexperience and youth will always be a concern, especially against Mortlock. Definitely one to watch though.
Geez Laurie is that all you got to say how about a pat on the back for Ma'a I know he hasn't fully proved himself yet but some signs have been encouraging, and we all know you didnt want him there but you surely have to give credit when its due at least for the time being
Laurie is not a reliable source of informed comment not that he dosent have a huge amount of actual experience at all ,its cause he dosent like anyone being an All Black coach but himself hes biased parochial and only wants to concentrate on negativity, what that game showed me is you can take two supposed key members out of the forward pack and the new guys can step up the scrum was actually better without Ali and something about him I have always heard through rugby insiders hes a big talker but dosent have a huge amount of power or strength
As a SPRINGBOK rugby fanatic I must honestly say the ABs are looking far sharper than the Boks at this stage, Laurie is corret in that the ABs must tighten up but the Boks have far more to worry about since their unconvincing performance against Italy. As usual the ABs are looking great......even so this Tri-Nations is too close to call, I guess time will tell.
I think Laurie is right, the All Black Forwards have to tighten up and when the chips are down they must bind up.I think the ABs lost their way abit when Richie and Ali left the field so early in the game and a lack of inexperience on the field we really need some experience back in the All Black pack or to call apon from the bench I guess all will take time.
i think on paper the boks has the best team this tri nations but its a matter of showing it on the field, i think they can win againest new zealand but its just a matter of showing that on the field, its gona be a intresting trinations.... and well done to Kahui
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At least he has stopped bagging Ma`a ( for now anyway ) but I get the feeling he`s just waiting for an mistake from Ma`a